Can anyone explain to this very inexperienced PC guy. There's a lot of talk around Win10 update potentially killing my Sonar software dead. I've backed up my Sonar and other software and also cloned my drive. All in anticipation of Cakewalk servers going offline. I still feel users will get some sort of activation from Cakewalk to keep me using the software when the end game comes. Thing is, I don't see any obvious way to turn off or disable updates to Windows 10 in the systems settings or control panel. Don't need a very technical explanation,  but interested to know why an update to my operating system would have such a drastic effect on any software. 
 
I have a laptop that I was going to format and run Win7 and just my Sonar and associated music production software etc. Can I put my Sonar there also? Perhaps activate it as a second option and keep it offline? Am I allowed to put it on a second device, meaning I'll have two copies available for use as a worst case scenario as I'd hate to lose use of it.   

Yes you can put another copy of Sonar on another machine. As long as you only use one copy at a time. IOW, you can't use both copies at the same time. Cakewalk has never limited how many machines you can install Sonar on. As long as you abide by the ULA.
 
Windows OS is a very complex bit of software. There is no telling what they will do as far as new updates go. In all likely hood, nothing will go wrong in the near future. But as time goes on, the possibility of a major Windows update 'creating' a problem with Sonar that did not exist before, becomes greater.
 
HTH

I think that's an excellent plan. I have now installed Sonar to 7 computer. My main DAW I re did and used W 8.1 because you can control the updates. I think you can control the W10 updates on the Pro versions but not home, which is what I have. 

Stats show Sonar hasn't made money in years !
Windows was always a known issue ..10 made it worse !
The statement : you can put another copy of Sonar on another machine. As long as you only use one copy at a time
Is Over.... There is no more Company !
AS for the Files we payed for .. Gibson better host them for a good amount of time and act in good faith ...AS A Class Action Law Suit could be launched using Facebook  ... As its clear to me that Gibson did not act in good faith offering Life Time Updates ... then close the doors 10/11 months later .. to me there doing a tax write off...welcome to Bizz In America !

Cakewalk was the one offering lifetime updates, StarTekh. It was their prerogative. An AMA on Reddit revealed this: https://www.reddit.com/r/...mer_employee_here_ama/

To the OP, Win10 has broken Sonar at least two times for me. The only option is taking your PC offline.

I'm thinking of disconnecting all my computers from the internet and using a tablet or cheap Chromebook for all my internet needs. Transferring files is an inconvenient but viable solution to what has and may happen.

Search -> Control Panel, Select Large Icons if you are so able to do so. Otherwise / Then select Administrative Tools, in there, Services. Now find the service named Windows Update. Expect it to be running. Right Click on that Windows Update Servive and set it's Start Up Type to Disabled. Click Apply and or OK, close all your windows and restart.
 
And never worry about the Windows Corrupdate Boggie Man again.
 

damn forum

MMontgomery
Can anyone explain to this very inexperienced PC guy. There's a lot of talk around Win10 update potentially killing my Sonar software dead. I've backed up my Sonar and other software and also cloned my drive. All in anticipation of Cakewalk servers going offline. I still feel users will get some sort of activation from Cakewalk to keep me using the software when the end game comes. Thing is, I don't see any obvious way to turn off or disable updates to Windows 10 in the systems settings or control panel. Don't need a very technical explanation,  but interested to know why an update to my operating system would have such a drastic effect on any software. 
 
I have a laptop that I was going to format and run Win7 and just my Sonar and associated music production software etc. Can I put my Sonar there also? Perhaps activate it as a second option and keep it offline? Am I allowed to put it on a second device, meaning I'll have two copies available for use as a worst case scenario as I'd hate to lose use of it.   

 
I made a Windows 7 Pro 64-bit Micro-workstation to be my main DAW. My desktop is being retired from DAW duty, but it still has SONAR installed. I might leave it for a while as a backup, though.

I think the likelihood of Windows 10 killing SONAR in the short term is very low. Long term, though, many of the libraries SONAR used for some core components will eventually be retired, and at some point after that active support in Windows 10 will be stopped. At that point, SONAR might stop working in Windows 10. Which is why my micro-workstation is Windows 7 - what Windows 7 supports now will be what continues to be supported in Windows 7. The Windows 10 "Is The Last Windows" mantra means that as things are end-of-lifed they will likely be dropped from support in Windows 10 (Unless Microsoft changes their minds about "The Last Windows" and makes Windows 11 or Windows NextGen, or whatever, and leaves Windows 10 alone).