So I opened SPLAT after a few weeks of no use to find that it tells me 'thanks for trying SONAR' and I need to register it and it's running in demo mode, and it tells me to login into command center to check activation status. I didn't know if all this is what to expect since they folded or if there is something I can do? I did the lifetime thing...
 
 

If you did lifetime, it should be working.
Try a login to command centre. What do you see?
 

burgerproduction
If you did lifetime, it should be working.
Try a login to command centre. What do you see?
 

That did it. Just by logging in to Command Center , which for some reason all the sudden prompted me for name and password, which I always had set to auto-fill, and then restarting SONAR it is now running normally. Thanks!

As long as the command centre keeps working, you should be able to reactivate Sonar if this happens again in the future.

This is not looking good is it????

It's demise is falling faster than I previously thought. Once the server goes down that's it no more working product. 

If the servers go down you just will not be able to do a new installation.
Sonar can possibly run forever on a computer that is not W10. 
W10 updates are what cause issues like this one and only a very few people have had this happen. 
Myself I'm optimistic that they will solve this one last issue for us. 
I'm fine because I have Sonar on a few different computers and use 3 different OS versions. All are working 100% at this point. 
 
 

dappa1
This is not looking good is it????

 

dappa1
It's demise is falling faster than I previously thought. Once the server goes down that's it no more working product. 

 
This isn't a "demise" its what happens if your logged out of Command center. Been like that for years.
The OP problem is fixed because of users who gave their time to offer helpful and useful solutions.
You ?
 

You could of course try the offline activation?

We have also been reassured on numerous occasions since Gibson decided to stop further development of SONAR that if the servers are to be closed we will be issued with a permanent offline solution.

The significant point above is "Gibson decided to stop further development of SONAR" they have not as yet killed the product off.

Offline activation still required the server to respond to your request for the code. 
The way Sonar software is coded right now there is no way to activate it without Cakewalk on line authorization. 
So even if they gave you a magic number, it would not work without first re writing Sonars coding. 
I think they are holding off on this move as this would downgrade Cakewalks anti piracy protection. Cakewalk was one of the most pirated DAW's back when. 
 
It is way easier to use Command Center still. I tried both just to see what was involved and CCC is much easier to use as it automatically makes everything work and keeps track of what you have installed and updated. Offline manual installation requires you keep track of all your serial numbers and make a check list of what you have installed.