[Solved] X3 Demo killed my 8.5

Did you not have a backup?
 
Otherwise please run windows update several times (including optional performance updates, .NET and C++ stuff), if that doesn't fix it run this:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=30679
 
 Fingers crossed...

C++ dependencies aren't really Sonar's fault, this is a Windows thing...
Once you get this sorted you could probably install the demo again...
 
Maybe this tool will help you work out the library you need:, open up the file that is crashing to find any missing dependencies, full instructions on the website (and maybe youtube)
http://www.dependencywalker.com/
 

Edited previous post (sorry)...
Software often requires program libraries, Sonar is this case required C++. Multiple applications may be dependant on different versions of these programming libraries.
 
Normally if all software is totally up to date it isn't much of a problem, but with old software on newer operating systems that are receiving updates you could run into issues.
 
It's more of a windows thing anyway, and lots of software shares library component, and often these dependencies get muddled... Take a deep breath I'm sure you'll find the issue.
 
Also please check you windows event viewer log for errors.

You definitely ran exactly what I linked to in #2, not later or earlier version of the redistributable?
 

CakeAlexS
If so and still no joy try this:
http://www.microsoft.com/.../details.aspx?id=14632
 
Are you running 64 bit everywhere?

I always have both 32 bit and 64 bit versions on 'puter - I've done complete uninstall of 8.5, reinstall, same results. Your new link is to Visual C++ 2010, and I've run that twice today.  When reinstalling Sonar I see it runs C++ 2005.
 
EDIT:  More accurately - when I run that C++2010 package, it refuses to install because I have newer versions on the machine.
 
Here's a bite - I tried my X1 which I've kept though I loathe it.  It works, opens and plays fine!  But I can't stand it. It will be VERY last plan to just use it instead of 8.5 beauty I had until last night.  Obviously not springing for X3 update after this nightmare.
 
I think it's hopeless.  I've tried running from restore points three times today-they all fail.  Haven't been so disgusted with software since I don't know when - Oh I DO know when - when I first installed X1 soon after its release.  lol.

Sorry this looks like a Windows issue which was trigged by Sonar.
Your lawyer would have told you to back up your system first, please get yourself a 4tb external USB hard drive and a copy of Acronis True Image before you install any software next time (sorry not what you want to hear now but in future this may be good advice).
 
Anyways have you tried the 32 bit versions of the C++ libraries?
 
You say 8.5 is broken, 32 bit, 64 bit or both?
What is the error in the Windows event viewer?
Please can you explain what is happening in full detail.
 
(Oh and another thing, you could try a Windows recovery point). 

Randy your scaring the hell out of me as I just paid for the upgrade to X3 Studio!
 
But a few things that I'm thinking. 
 
First, this sounds to me like your downloads are not complete, Like there is missing data. And your saying both X3 and you re downloaded 8.5. Do you not have a copy of 8.5 stored to a disk or Hard drive? I myself am always reluctant to buy software via a download for this very reason.
For my purchase I am going to go to a location where I know the internet is stable and will not cut out. At my house this is not the case. I also have been at a few other locations where the internet cuts out for a few seconds. 
 
Another small possibility is something did go haywire with your computer and it is just a coincidence it happened at this time.  
I don't know if you have this option, but I would try to install on a second computer just to test this theory.
What I might do is install my X3 on a fresh C drive. This way I'll still have my original set up easily restored. Hard drives are cheap and a C drive doesn't need to be very big. All my data is on other drives so it's only the OS and software involved. Sure it's a PITA but I'm into 3 years with this drive so it is on my list of housekeeping duties any how.  I hate this kind of stuff.  

Seeing that the installation is accessing C++ 2005, I went to Microsoft and installed that again.  Yet again uninstalled 8.5, ran from old disc installers, ran the updates - same result.
 
Ever want to just turn the clock back and want to take something back?  Natch I wish I would never have installed that X3 demo - and on a computer, we're supposed to have a way to dial the clock back, with System Restore.  But that's mysteriously broken too - After running it - the report is the system restore fails.
 
It would be extremely hard to convince me that there was something squirrely in my download of the X3 demo.  It never worked, had its own error messages, was uninstalled.  I repeat myself - I'm just sitting here in a daze, finding it really impossible to accept that suddenly my Go To Program is gone.

Isn't the X3 Demo brand new? 
In the past we have always said that yes you can SAFELY install a new version of Sonar alongside of other versions. They apparently don't acknowledge each others existence but for the Plug in sharing. Didn't you say you had Sonar 7, Wouldn't that be the closest version? Wouldn't it use all your newer plug ins?
 
Another course of action would be to start fresh and re install your OS. I would almost guarantee that all would work again. After all, it's not like your install disk has changed. It is obviously a virus like symptom caused by the X3 demo.
I re do my OS as a matter of course to keep my hard dives new every 3 or 4 years. Sure it takes a few hours but works wonders for housekeeping. Certainly quicker than what's happening to you right now.
Anyhow, good luck I sure hope this resolves itself as I agree that 8.5 was the best so far.
I'm only grabbing the X3 studio version because for $99 it's got to be worth my time to learn the new system before 8.5 no longer runs at all. And like you, Melodyne intrigues me.     

Hmm, takes me about 3 hours, OS, Sonar, drivers, Win amp, Wave lab, done. Oh, copy plugs to vst folder.

Which is
 
1) Backup
2) Go to administrative command prompt
3) Run: sfc /scannow

I'm really sorry to hear of all the problems you're having. Things are not working as they should.
 
By any chance, was an anti-virus or anti-spyware program running in the background during installation? That is often the cause of mysterious "Windows is doing weird things when I did my installation" problems.
 
I think at this point you need to contact Cakewalk support. Something has happened deep within the system and if it's unique to your system then it's likely they can fix it; if it's something that could happen to others, Cakewalk needs to know about it.

"Cactus," Alex, and Craig - You need to know how much I appreciate your assistance.  I'll file an update report in case there's anything telling in it - but, jumping to the bottom line - there's still no change.  8.5 won't run.

Cactus - This computer isn't really a DAW station.  It's my Everything computer.  I have hundreds of programs.  I have a document reminding me of all their locations and routines, but when I first set this machine up about 3 years ago now, it was a gigantic project.  Unfortunately, the last system image I did is far too out of date for me to rely on.  So - just don't want to face an entire re-do.

Alex - I downloaded and reinstalled C++ 2008, using your links.  Yesterday I thought I'd updated all of them, but to be sure, ran these again.  They don't really completely reinstall, they repair.  So I can see when looking at the list, that the install dates are still from 2011 and 2012.

I Did discover that I didn't have C++ 2012 on the machine at all - Installed those today.  No change - 8.5 still not working.

After doing more of these updates and installs of C++, I uninstalled 8.5 yet again to do a fresh install - No change.  AND - something odd, the 64 bit version CAN'T BE UNINSTALLED now - it's missing the uninstall file "unins000.dat."

Maybe I should uninstall and reinstall each CC++?  Scared I could screw things up more.

I ran sfc /scannow and it completed successfully with the message  "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations."  So, that confirms that the system files being used are OK.

NOTE:  The MIDI activity icon, as I reported yesterday, stays on after attempting to run Sonar - That's new behavior.  I can't see anything in Task Manager with anything that's using MIDI.

When I try running Sonar again after these various fix attempts, I usually need to use the Task Manager to close the Process.

Cactus, I saw that thread yeseterday about the X3 Demo installation updating various Cakewalk plugins.  Scared me - but - there ya go.

Craig - When I've done anything, uninstalling, reinstalling etc - I've always turned Avast off, and run things as Admin.  I guess I do need to get on the phone and see if a Support person can talk me through a fix.  I don't have much faith now of anything helping, but - guess I should give that a try.

Meanwhile, looks like I'll be working in X1.  Oh joy.  If I can't stand it, then I'll try Sonar 8.  There's no change with any of the old versions, they're all still working fine.

Enough of trying to fix this for now - Have projects to finish!

THANK YOU ALL - If there's anything in this update post that gives any of you an idea, natch I'd like to hear it.

Randy

The C++ libraries should be backwards compatible, this in fact is the latest:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=40784
 
Speculation but I suspect it's looking for a the 2008 version of MSVCR90.dll in some other folder, maybe in Cakewalks application folder.
 
Anyways - yes support.