I've been using Sonar X2 on an HP laptop running Windows 7 with a Steinberg UR28M interface for a while now; it's always crashed randomly accompanied by a loud, constant tone coming out of the interface.  I have to ctrl-alt-delete and stop Sonar in task manager to shutdown the program and get the sound to stop.
I've lived with it since I've had this combo, but I've reached a point where it's driving me crazy.
 
What is the best approach to troubleshooting/rectifying this issue?
 
Thanks.

When SONAR is hung in the process list, it is waiting on the interface.
 
The first thing to do is make sure the OS, drivers and software are up to date
I notice there was a firmware update for the interface released in May 2014.
 
There may be some clues in the Windows Event viewer.
 
Look for usage patterns such as plug-ins used in every project.
 
It does not sound like the app is actually crashing with a Windows dialog or creating a minidump. If it is creating a minidump this could be sent to Cakewalk support for analysis.

scook
 
It does not sound like the app is actually crashing with a Windows dialog or creating a minidump. If it is creating a minidump this could be sent to Cakewalk support for analysis.

And if you really want to pursue it...   next time it hangs, turn down your monitors, Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open Task Manager, switch to the Processes tab, find the SONAR executable, then right-click > Create Dump File.  There should be something in there that references the cause of the hang. 
 

I updated the drivers and firmware today at lunch; I'll be mixing tonight so I'll know pretty quickly whether the issue is resolved.  If not, I will create a dump file and see if I can decipher it.
 
Thanks. 

BTW, what is the most up-to-date version of X2 that I'm eligible for as a paid user?
 
Thanks.
 

The updates for every Cakewalk product are in the Support by product pages http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/By-Product. The X2 support page is here http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/By-Product/SONAR%20X2. X2a is the most recent version of X2. The X2a update page is here http://www.cakewalk.com/S...13301/SONAR-X2a-Update