Lynn
I have no such folder.  At least, nothing under ProgramData.

All I could recommend then is to search your system for "Xpand2.big" (without the "!").  If it's not found, your install failed.  Your system may have placed it in another location than mine.
 
Many of the AIR products supply their factory sample content in .big files.  No content, no sounds ...

I think the xpand2.big file is part of the installer. I don't have it on my computer and Xpand2 works as expected.

Nuts!  It didn't work.  This is the exact method that I performed in the first place.  I just don't get it, it opens in Sonar, the UI comes up, I pick a preset, make sure the routing is correct (same as all my other VST's), but no sound.  What next?

RSMCGUITAR
I think the xpand2.big file is part of the installer. I don't have it on my computer and Xpand2 works as expected.

The folder has the full name with "!", but the .big file does not.
 
Try searching for the name Xpand2.big without the "!" symbol.  If I rename the file, and open a project with Xpand!2, I get this error:
 

I stand corrected... I had it on another drive. Sorry, my mistake.

abacab
What are you triggering the VST with?  A MIDI file, a keyboard controller, or the Sonar virtual keyboard?
 
Let's test the audio output from the VST.
 
Unfortunately, this instrument has no virtual keyboard on it's interface. So let's use Sonar's!
1.  set the MIDI/Instrument track input to Virtual Controller MIDI ch1.  
2.  set MIDI/Instrument track output to Xpand!2 ch 1. 
3.  go to Sonar Views > Virtual Controller/Keyboard. http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Views.51.html

 
Make sure the track is selected and has MIDI echo enabled.  Make sure no other track has "Solo" enabled.
 
Try playing Xpand!2 with the virtual keyboard.

OK, this works.  I want to use a Korg Triton for the controller.  Shouldn't I be able to select omni (or none) in the input and be able to control it with the Korg?  This is how I use all my other VST's with no problem.  At least, I'm glad to know that I can get sound.

Lynn

abacab
What are you triggering the VST with?  A MIDI file, a keyboard controller, or the Sonar virtual keyboard?
 
Let's test the audio output from the VST.
 
Unfortunately, this instrument has no virtual keyboard on it's interface. So let's use Sonar's!
1.  set the MIDI/Instrument track input to Virtual Controller MIDI ch1.  
2.  set MIDI/Instrument track output to Xpand!2 ch 1. 
3.  go to Sonar Views > Virtual Controller/Keyboard. http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Views.51.html

 
Make sure the track is selected and has MIDI echo enabled.  Make sure no other track has "Solo" enabled.
 
Try playing Xpand!2 with the virtual keyboard.

OK, this works.  I want to use a Korg Triton for the controller.  Shouldn't I be able to select omni (or none) in the input and be able to control it with the Korg?  This is how I use all my other VST's with no problem.  At least, I'm glad to know that I can get sound.

+1
 
Glad to hear you have sound!  Crank it up to 11+
 
The Xpand!2 is 4 part multi-timbral, as you can see each part has it's MIDI channel number 1-4 (default is 1, layering all 4 parts).
 
Just match up the channel your controller is transmitting and the respective parts in Xpand!2 should respond.  Just like any rack synth with a multi part setup.

John, thanks so much for your help.  I got it figured out, but I must say, of the 15 or so VST's in my arsenal, this is the only one that gave me trouble.  I only paid a buck for it, and it has a ton of sounds, so I'll be happy.  I'm calling this one solved.

Lynn
John, thanks so much for your help.  I got it figured out, but I must say, of the 15 or so VST's in my arsenal, this is the only one that gave me trouble.  I only paid a buck for it, and it has a ton of sounds, so I'll be happy.  I'm calling this one solved.

Awesome!  I'm surprised that this one was the troublemaker, but you never know, it's the computer thing, right?
 
I've just gotta add, this thing has become my new go to sound source.  The 2500+ sounds are very good, and it's obvious that the sound designers took care to make most of the presets usable.  My Roland JV1080 and XP-30 sit in the closet these days.  The Xpand!2 synth is the ultimate rack rompler synth, replacing $1000 hardware, LOL!  For a buck, ha!

 
When I extract the zip file, I get the following directory structure. The "Xpand!2" folder contains "Xpand2.big". This is the file that gets copied to the "C:\ProgramData\Xpand!2" folder. The only file I had to run was the setup EXE. The MSI file is very small. Maybe that's only the patch names. Try manually creating folder in ProgramData and manually copy the .BIG file to it.