When I installed X3 I left X2 on my DAW.  VC-64 was therefore still available.
 
When I installed X3 only on my notebook without previously installing X2 VC-64 is not available.
 
What is the X3 only replacement for VC-64?  I used to use the Master Mix preset.

There isn't a direct replacement as such.

You can do a custom install of a previous version that does include it though and it will then be available to you.

Just select "custom" when installing and deselect everything except the VC64.

I found the BT Brickwall BW2S with a Fast Release Mastering preset that seems to be pretty close, but it looks like I will need to reinstall X2.

SONAR comes with quite a few compressors and EQs which could be used to produce a similar effect chain. The Master Mix preset signal flow is:

1. An EQ used as a high pass filter, roll off at 40Hz
2. An EQ with a low and high shelf, boost at around 100 and 10K
3. A compressor set to 1.48:1 with a 100ms attack and 2000ms release
4. A compressor set to 4:1 with a .1ms attack and 225ms release

 
 
The two EQs could be folded into one Quad Curve instance or try the Quad Curve for #1 and the BT PEQ2B for #2
The PC4K S-Type Bus Compress may be a good choice for compressor #3
The BT Brickwall might be a good choice for #4

What I'd like to see is something to replace the VC-64's parallel signal path options.

I would think a signal splitter in the ProChannel could go a long way to that goal

But this is a topic for a different thread in another forum
 

Bluegrasser
I found the BT Brickwall BW2S with a Fast Release Mastering preset that seems to be pretty close, but it looks like I will need to reinstall X2.

To be clear, you do not need to install X2. Just run the X2 installer, select 'custom installation' and only install VC64.

I still have the HD w/ the old version of 8.5 and S1 installed.  I'm wondering if just copying the dll of VC-64 to the new system is enough to install it?  If not, are there other files or registry hacks that could enable it? 
 
I never used VC-64 that much, but I did use it occasionally, and it'd be nice to have it on the new system.  IMO, it's especially nice for quick placement of lesser instruments in a busy mix.

Ian,  in the VST settings in X3 add the path to where you stored the VSTs in 8.5 and/or X1.  Then do a rescan.  You'll get everything you had previously installed.
 
Use the editor to sort them and remove/hide the ones you don't want.
 
For future reference, it is common practice to always load VSTs to the same path on your system, so when you install X4 or X5 you give it the same old path you've always used and it picks up all your old VSTs automagically.
 
If you uninstalled 8.5 by removing the HDD, as I think you implied, your best option would be to run the 8.5 or X1 installer in "custom install" mode and select all the VSTs and VSTIs you want to add to X3.