I went to install Sonar X3 Producer and it seemed to go through the process of installation alright but it didn’t place an icon on my desktop as it should when finished. So I looked in my Program Files\Cakewalk folder and found it in there, but when I opened the .exe file the square grey Sonar intro GUI popped up for only a second or two then vanished. I looked in my list of installed programs and Producer X3 wasn’t there.  These are the details of exactly what I did in the installation process: Being still on Sonar version 8.5 I downloaded the X3 trial version about a month ago to check it out. I did a 64bit install on my 64bit windows 7 computer and I was up and running in minutes. I played around in X3 trial but never registered it. I purchased the full box version of Sonar X3 Producer and when it arrived, firstly I uninstalled the X3 Trial (I think it was about expired anyway) using the method of going to Programs and Features, selecting the program and clicking Uninstall. It uninstalled successfully. I loaded disc 1 of Sonar X3, then disc 2. When I went to load disc 3 (Dim Pro) it told me I already had a version of Dim Pro and needed to go online to download latest version, so I didn’t install disc 3. Disc 4 was just demos and tutorials so I didn’t put that on either.After finding that X3 wasn’t working I tried uninstalling using the uninstall.exe, but it said the uninstall .exe file was missing. I thought, if it is a problem with the disc installer then I will try to install the Trial version again, since that worked fine. The Trial version went through the install process but with the same end result as the full disc version—it didn’t place an icon on my desktop, it wasn’t listed in my list of installed programs, and when I went into Program files and tried to run it from there I just got the brief flash of the grey square “Sonar X3 Producer” icon. Any suggestions?

Here is a post which describes the process to completely remove X3 from the PC http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2919315 . I would also suggest removing the X3 trial version too. Once cleaned up, retry the install running as administrator.

There are things to be removed to completely remove a given install of a Sonar release, including: Registry keys, application roaming data, etc.
 
Hopefully that should be addressed in the above post's link to a thread on it.
 
And, please note that running an install from a user that has administrative privileges is NOT the same as launching Sonar with the EXPLICIT option of 'Run As Administrator'.
 
I will be up for a while if you have additional issues I will try to help tonight, 
 
Bob Bone
 

Hi Bob. I tried the complete uninstall as per instructions that you posted and that Scook kindly directed me toward, but still not installing. Only thing I didn't do is Run as administrator. I tried to by right clicking on the DVD drive where the disc is located but the option didn't come up. I am the sole user and Administrator by default in my Windows account, but as you say this may not be the same.
 
How do I run as administrator from the disc drive if the option doesn't come up when I right click?
 
Thanks

Cancel that last question, guess I am tired, I opened installer folder and right clicked the install exe file and of course it gave me the Run as Administrator option then did its thing. But alas, without success. This time, at some stage when my backs turned, my computer goes off and restarts by itself during the install. I would sit and watch it to see when/why but each time it installs it has to reload every sample from Dim Pro, etc. and it takes too long.
 
Next I guess everyone will start pointing the finger at my computer and I'll have to pull it to pieces. Strange that the X3 Trial version went on without a glitch just a month ago - no run as administrator or anything.
 
By the way, my audio computer is not hooked up to the internet so I don't have any firewalls or anti piracy stuff on. Just my good 'ol reliable set up I have had for 2 years. (I also cleaned my registry after manually uninstalling X3)
 
 

Does the machine have all the current Windows 7 updates?
 
Aside from all the extra software Cakewalk bundled with the full version that is not part of the trial version, at the end of the SONAR install just after Rapture is installed, the Melodyne installation is launched.

What Scook said... We often hear about issues with offline PCs. Most of the optional updates are recommended as well (skip the drivers). Running windows update several times until zero updates are found is recommended as well. If that does not work look at updating your drivers and firmware directly from the vendor sites (I would do it anyway).... Cheers..

At a bare MINIMUM, Windows 7 MUST have Service Pack 1 maintenance applied, due to Sonar dependencies on redistributable routines that only become part of Windows with that set of maintenance.
 
It is super important to have Windows 7 maintenance up to date.
 
Let's start with the above, and then we can dig into whatever is happening beyond that.
 
Please also list the details of your system's specifications, so that we know what we are working with.  You can look at my signature at the bottom of this post for an idea of what to list, or someone else's.
 
Since there are NOT widespread reports of Sonar failing to install, it is QUITE likely that we can get this figured out and get you up and running.  X3 is actually regarded as extremely stable, and one of the best releases they have ever put out, so I firmly believe this to be a solvable situation.
 
Once all Windows maintenance is applied, I believe another complete removal of the partial install of Sonar that had failed should be done, prior to attempting another install.
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks to all for your support.
 
Being offline, except in rare circumstances, my audio computer has never had Windows 7 updated. I will try to do this ASAP, though I am still puzzled that the trial version both installed and operated perfectly the first time. But when I tried to install the trial again after the disc install failed, it too failed.
 
Will post when I have tried the Windows 7 updates.

 I ran Sonar for 3 years using the original Windows 7 from a disk SP1 just fine. I actually ran into a few problems AFTER updating with some of my system and weirdness with the stupid " genuine" bull that was not true. Took a week to fix things. 
 
Any how I think what is happening is the trial has expired and left a bug to stop you from using it. They hide the bug and make it hard to remove for good reasons. 
I think if you activated the trail version first then re install might remove the bug.