The first thing to do is to list your system specs so we can help you get up and running here.
 
I'm sorry that you feel let down but as with all software companies, when there is a huge sale (i.e picking up on Cakewalks recent sale prices) Then you should know that theres a new release on the horizon.
 
All music production companies behave in this way.
 
I still think that the small price you paid in the sale for X2 studio on top of the upgrade price for X3 is value for money.
 
Anyway, please post up your system specs, theres PLENTY of lovely and helpful people on here to help you out.

If you asked some questions you'd find out that there is more to uninstalling sonar than just using the Control panel uninstall program/features or sonars own uninstaller. If your installation was corrupted in some way then it's usually because of a corrupted Registry entry, this entails a registry edit or 2

1. Use the uninstall utility. Either sonars or Windows/control panel/ uninstall programs or features
2. Start -> Run... -> "regedit"
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\X2 - delete the X2 key.
4. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\X2 - delete the X2 key.

Attention: I have Sonar Producer so after that entry in the keys I have the various Sonar Producer versions like X1, X2 etc. I would only delete the key for the version I was uninstalling. In your case you said you only have Sonar Studio\X2 so it should be safe to select the whole Sonar Studio key in both locations

Should be enough to clean Sonar out.

By the way I'm assuming you have seen this and don't qualify?
http://www.cakewalk.com/p...-free-SONAR-X3-Upgrade

The uninstaller works fine but the most common cause for installation errors is registry corruption and if the keys appear the same they are not over written. Blame windows for that one.

As to the extra content, you found, it's irrelevant to the operation of Sonar and is over written during a new installation.

The keys I gave you are the typical problem areas. I wasn't sure how clued up you were with registry hacks so didn't want to overload you with more than necessary. But yes getting rid of every trace when you only have 1 Sonar install is a good idea. For many of us we have multiple version coexisting. Eg I have 8, 8.5, X1, X2 and now X3.

Don't give up on Sonar. Despite the problems you're having by and large most issues are down to a conflict of Sonar and specific hardware/software interactions. Believe me I've been troubleshooting Cakewalk and other software for decades.

All the best.

someone probably should have posted this instead.   
(copy/paste this to a text file and save it for later use)
 
For a clean installation of SONAR X2 please try the following:
PRE-uninstall) Disable your Anti-Virus: this means all sheilds, most AV can be disabled right from the taskbar/notifications area by right clicking on your AV icon / disable permanently (this isnt actually permanently/See: *Important note). *Important to note- your Anti virus will not be disabled after your computer re-boots because it is set to start up in services. 
 
1) Completely un-install SONAR from your computer. This is normally done from Start | Programs | Cakewalk. This will not remove any of your project files or audio data.
 
2) Next you will want to open the Run Command              
a) In Windows Vista and 7 this can be done by holding down the ‘windows’ key and pressing ‘R’               
b) In Windows 8 this can be done by holding down the ‘windows’ key and pressing ‘R’ the typing in CMD in the message box/press enter.
   
3) At the prompt type regedit and click OK.   ***Backup your Registry before making edits - you do this by clicking the File menu, Export Registry File.  
 
4) Now delete the following Registry keys:   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\X2 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\X2   *Please note that this will remove any effects presets and key bindings you may have made in Cakewalk. You can back these up separately if you like, using Options|Key Bindings, Tools|SONAR Plug-in Manager, and Options|Colors.  Hit F1 in these views for detailed instructions on how to do this.   *go to C/Cakewalk content/SONAR X2 Producer.(the SONAR X2 Producer folder has all your track templates, Cal scripts, project templetes, pro channel presets and other things you might want to look at before reinstalling incase you want to back those up.
 
5) Open the 'Run' command again.
 
6) Copy and paste the following into the prompt:   %appdata%\Cakewalk.
 
7) This will open your Cakewalk Application Data folder, right-click on the SONAR folder and choose rename.
 
8) Rename this folder SONAR X2 Backup.  
 
9) Open the 'Run' command again and type msconfig Click OK and then click on the Startup tab at the upper right of the window that opens.  
 
10) Uncheck all items listed, click OK, then restart your computer. You can always recheck those items again at a later time.  
 
11) Then reinstall SONAR. Make sure to have any virus scanners disabled on installation. It is not required or recommended to turn off any windows services.
 
 
 

Sanderxpander
With all due respect to Cakewalk, I think it's a really bad idea for a company to recommend editing the Windows Registry to the end user, especially for something as simple as an uninstall. Is there any reason for this, other than not having programmed it into the uninstaller? There was another recommendation to edit the registry in order to change note selection behavior in the piano roll view, what gives?

with all due respect every software leaves behind traces of files in the registry which leads to corruption.
cakewalk is suggesting the best possible way to re install sonar.
not for nothing but I can see  you haven't had too much experience with re installing software in general ?
 
this is very typical for all software not just sonar.
please do a Google search.

chuckebaby

SanderxpanderWith all due respect to Cakewalk, I think it's a really bad idea for a company to recommend editing the Windows Registry to the end user, especially for something as simple as an uninstall. Is there any reason for this, other than not having programmed it into the uninstaller? There was another recommendation to edit the registry in order to change note selection behavior in the piano roll view, what gives?

with all due respect every software leaves behind traces of files in the registry which leads to corruption.cakewalk is suggesting the best possible way to re install sonar.not for nothing but I can see  you haven't had too much experience with re installing software in general ? this is very typical for all software not just sonar.please do a Google search.

You assume a lot, but I won't rise to the bait any further in that respect.

Your argument is entirely self-defeating though. Firstly, not only is there a fallacy in assuming that just because a lot of software leaves behind useless registry keys after uninstalling, it's ok to do so. In fact, you yourself said it can "lead to corruption". Secondly, it does not follow that it's a good idea to send people into regedit just because the uninstall procedure is a bit sloppy. You can screw up a LOT more than your Sonar preferences with regedit, and though people are recommended to make a backup of their registry (ever wonder why?) most of them wouldn't know what to do if they accidentally deleted or altered a vital key and created a boot problem.
And this is just for an uninstall procedure - in another thread someone quoted the reference guide suggesting to go into the registry just to alter note selection behavior. Why is this behavior not in a preferences window, or even an INI file?

I stand by my statement that in my opinion, it's a bad idea to send the average end user into the registry for common standard procedures such as reinstalling, uninstalling or changing basic software preferences.

These keys aren't "floating at all" and of course you can program an automatic removal. So I am knocking it, in the sense that if this is a standard operation to secure a clean install, it should be part of the uninstall process. Or otherwise it should be available as a separate tool. E.g. Korg has a midi driver removal utility that completely removes all drivers and registry keys of their midi devices, and also allows you to clean up left over registry references of other midi devices still left on your system. Very useful if you run into Windows' midi device limit, and no chance at all of messing up our registry. The worst you could possibly do is uninstall one midi driver too many.

You know as well as I do that you can seriously screw up your computer if you mess up in the registry. The fact that you and I are smart enough to edit safely doesn't mean it's a good idea to send the average end-user in with little to no knowledge. The average producer or musician is not an IT specialist and is completely unable to even realize what he could screw up, let alone how to fix it.

Thanks Charlie,
 
I also found files left behind after a "successful" uninstallation under C:\ProgramData\Cakewalk\ and duplicate copy of the registry entries under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Cakewalk Music Software\ - you may want to add this to the uninstallation steps you posted.
 
It'll be nice if X2 had an option in the uninstall steps to completely uninstall clean from system...  Maybe something for your R&D to consider in X2b
 
 

chuckebaby
someone probably should have posted this instead.   
(copy/paste this to a text file and save it for later use)
 
For a clean installation of SONAR X2 please try the following:
PRE-uninstall) Disable your Anti-Virus: this means all sheilds, most AV can be disabled right from the taskbar/notifications area by right clicking on your AV icon / disable permanently (this isnt actually permanently/See: *Important note). *Important to note- your Anti virus will not be disabled after your computer re-boots because it is set to start up in services. 
 
1) Completely un-install SONAR from your computer. This is normally done from Start | Programs | Cakewalk. This will not remove any of your project files or audio data.
 
2) Next you will want to open the Run Command              
a) In Windows Vista and 7 this can be done by holding down the ‘windows’ key and pressing ‘R’               
b) In Windows 8 this can be done by holding down the ‘windows’ key and pressing ‘R’ the typing in CMD in the message box/press enter.
   
3) At the prompt type regedit and click OK.   ***Backup your Registry before making edits - you do this by clicking the File menu, Export Registry File.  
 
4) Now delete the following Registry keys:   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\X2 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\X2   *Please note that this will remove any effects presets and key bindings you may have made in Cakewalk. You can back these up separately if you like, using Options|Key Bindings, Tools|SONAR Plug-in Manager, and Options|Colors.  Hit F1 in these views for detailed instructions on how to do this.   *go to C/Cakewalk content/SONAR X2 Producer.(the SONAR X2 Producer folder has all your track templates, Cal scripts, project templetes, pro channel presets and other things you might want to look at before reinstalling incase you want to back those up.
 
5) Open the 'Run' command again.
 
6) Copy and paste the following into the prompt:   %appdata%\Cakewalk.
 
7) This will open your Cakewalk Application Data folder, right-click on the SONAR folder and choose rename.
 
8) Rename this folder SONAR X2 Backup.  
 
9) Open the 'Run' command again and type msconfig Click OK and then click on the Startup tab at the upper right of the window that opens.  
 
10) Uncheck all items listed, click OK, then restart your computer. You can always recheck those items again at a later time.  
 
11) Then reinstall SONAR. Make sure to have any virus scanners disabled on installation. It is not required or recommended to turn off any windows services.
 
 
 

Whatever a user does to keep his system running smoothly is all fine by me. I just object to registry diving being in the reference guide as part of regular procedure (silently?) endorsed by Cake. Ryan has put my mind at ease somewhat in that respect, though.
I would still prefer an option during uninstall, perhaps under advanced and with a clear warning, that lets you remove all Cakewalk Registry Keys. The worst you could do with that is lose Cakewalk Preferences if you screw up. I also don't understand why Sonar Producer X2 specific keys are shared by Sonar Producer X3, but I'll take Ryan's word for that.

JimmyBoy
 
...I'll be re-installing X2 again to see if a fresh clean install without all the other noisy products previously installed make any difference.
 

That is absolutely what I would recommend.  Start with the minimum possible hardware and software, verify that works, then proceed to build on it.
 

I am not sure V-Vocal comes with X3 or not, but for sure you can get it with X2 install.
 
Bob Bone

It says upgrades. Didn't you say you got a full version? I may have misremembered.

JimmyBoy
...Anyway, I've re-installed x2 and x2a clean, I haven't yet connected Samson devices (graphite 49 control surface/midi keyboard and G-Track) but using the Scarlette 2i4 with success.  I want to stay away from using MME mode on my notebook as latency is terrible and the G-track seems only to work with MME.  I've tried WDM which I would have thought would be best since windows 8 is supposedly improved - however I think ASIO for the scarlette is working much better than using WDM...
 
  

Good to hear you've got X2a up and running!   I'm not familair with the Samson gear, but it sounds as though it may have been part of the problem before.
 
Regarding the Focusrite, though the WDM drivers work OK I've found the ASIO drivers to be a little more consistent/stable with my 18i6, running on Win7 64.   I'd personally recommend sticking with those for now.    FWIW, while the project is in its beginning stages I can keep latency all the way at the low end around 2ms, but even under heavier loads (usually while mixing) I've never had to go much higher than 20ms.  This is on a Q9300 so certainly not a high-end system by any means.
 
My only other recommendation would be to watch for X3 sales as the holidays approach.