If I open the preferences dialog, it takes 10s after clicking "OK" or "Accept", before the system is usable again.  IF I make the mistake of hitting "accept", it takes 10s, and then to close the dialog with OK, it takes another 10s, even if I haven't changed anything.   I have timed this with a stopwatch - its actually 11 seconds.  IT even does this with empty projects.
 
First it puts up the stopwatch for about 5s, then it displays a dialog where it reloads my audio drivers for another 5s. As I use the demo more, this is getting to be a PITA. It occured to me that this may be a configuration bug, because no normal user would put up with a 10s wait to close a dialog, especially if he did not change anything.  Is there something I should be looking at?

You have the latest audio drivers and firmware installed? For an experiment try using non ASIO drivers. Might be an idea to list your specs in your signature (see my signature). Thx.

Also make sure Sonar is set to exclusively use the driver (don't share with other apps).

(Update -sorry appears signatures aren't being displayed on my cellphone (so fraustrating!) so you may very well have done it).

This has to do with your sound card drivers and your PC specs. Mine takes 1 to 2 seconds after clicking OK.
 
CJ

CJaysMusic
Mine takes 1 to 2 seconds after clicking OK.
 

 
Same here.

I found that this is related to certain projects.  A new project I created is not doing this.  It takes about 4 seconds to close.

That's still too long.
 
Without knowing anything about your system, none of us can help you in the slightest

200bpm
If I open the preferences dialog, it takes 10s after clicking "OK" or "Accept", before the system is usable again.  IF I make the mistake of hitting "accept", it takes 10s, and then to close the dialog with OK, it takes another 10s, even if I haven't changed anything.   I have timed this with a stopwatch - its actually 11 seconds.  IT even does this with empty projects.
 
First it puts up the stopwatch for about 5s, then it displays a dialog where it reloads my audio drivers for another 5s. As I use the demo more, this is getting to be a PITA. It occured to me that this may be a configuration bug, because no normal user would put up with a 10s wait to close a dialog, especially if he did not change anything.  Is there something I should be looking at?

I have this issue too, but not anywhere near 10 seconds, for me it's about 3-5 seconds.  If I don't use ASIO drivers the problem disappears, but I have to use ASIO for other reasons.    Please post if you find a solution, I haven't found one yet. 
 
JG
www.jerrygerber.com
 
 

Whose ASIO drivers? Maybe there's a common thread in here somewhere. The OP had another thread about his interface not working properly.

Anderton
Whose ASIO drivers? Maybe there's a common thread in here somewhere. The OP had another thread about his interface not working properly.

He did? And yet all his lag issues are "bugs". I asked him repeatedly about his system and he fought me the whole time insisting it was most awesomest computator EVAR.
 
lol

Yup he didn't even bother to respond to #2. In fact no confirmation of even reading the thread whatsoever to be honest (we might as well be talking to ourselves here). No please, no thankyou either. Not that I should care but it gets old after a while.

OK I will stop commenting about this guy now, I might end up looking like a troll myself if I'm not careful.