Hello all
Newbie here needing guidance.
I have recently started to try to use Sonar 8 producer, and as expected, I am having a few issues with it. So be forewarned, I will be squealing for help from time to time.
The first issue I seem to have is that every time I start up Sonar. I get the message 'Cannot open MASTERS.INS. No instrument definitions will be available'
Is this detrimental? and if so, what do I need to do to rectify this?
Thanks :)

 

MASTER.INS is where all the information for MIDI instruments is stored.  Sonar comes with a default MASTER.INS file, but it sounds like yours may have gotten deleted somehow.  You don't absolutely have to have this file if you don't have any MIDI instruments, but this could also be indicative that your installation is somehow hosed up. 
 
If I recall correctly, the MASTER.INS file is stored in the folder c:\Users\<user name>\App Data\Roaming\Cakewalk\Sonar 8, so look in there and see if you have a MASTER.INS file.  If not, there may be a saved version called MASTER.001 (or something like that) - make a copy of that file and rename it to MASTER.INS and you should be fine.  If not, then you will have to obtain a MASTER.INS file from some kind soul and put it where it belongs.

Leapinlizard
Thanks for you suggestion. I tried as you said. couldn't see it anywhere you suggested so found the file using the search bar on my puter but was unable to merge the file back into the program. So. bearing in mind that my installation maybe 'hosed up', I uninstalled sonar. did a system restore and a few clean-up jobs on my puter then re-installed sonar. and Bingo!! That did the trick and the offending tile no longer appears on start-up.
So many thanks for your help as I am now a happier bunny 
Thanks :)