Is there anything I've forgotten?
 
I've got a fresh install of X2 64-bit installed on my lovely new laptop, but my wife wants everything off the old laptop so she can use it ("and your stuff messes up everything"!).  I originally went up from Sonar 6 to 8 to X1 to X2 on the old laptop - all in 32-bit and I've made copies on the external drive of everything in:
 

Program Files\Cakewalk
ProgramData\Cakewalk
Libraries\Documents\Cakewalk

The reason I'm worried is because when I opened Dimension Pro on the new laptop, some of the patch directories were missing and I had to manually copy them over, including:

Digital Factory Classic Keys

Digital Factory E-Mu Proteus

Expansion Pack 1

Expansion Pack 2

Hollywood Edge Effects I've also copied over all my songs and checked most of them.  There were a lot of rgc:z3ta instruments that had to be substituted for z3ta 2 (I just upgraded to that too).
 
Anything else you guys can think of?
 

I am using Dim Pro 1.5 x64, and all of my programs live in: C:\ProgramData\Cakewalk\Dimension Pro\Programs.  I am imagining the 32-bit version uses either the same or something similar.

There is a registry key with some sub-keys for the location of the contents folder and the multi-samples folder for Dim Pro.  That registry key is: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cakewalk Music Software\DP, and the sub-keys are: 'Contents Folder' and 'Multisamples Folder'.

Maybe the above would help you locate your sounds before they get girlfriended, 

Bob Bone

Hi Bob

Thanks for the feedback, I'm pretty sure I've got the Dimension Pro folders because having noticed that some were missing I went through all of them and checked.

Not sure how to get to the registry key you mentioned; I can't find a folder called Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\....  I think my limited knowledge of Windows 7 could be the problem here.  Do I need to check the registry, because I don't know how to do that?

Simon

Make sure you have all of your CWPs and their associated audio files. Remember CWPs don't contain the audio tracks. If you're using Per Project folders, you're probably ok, but you should check them on the new computer. 

as soon as my cat gets off my chest i will post detailed instructions.  it is not hard

bob bone

Thanks Dave, I'm checking all of the old projects now.  So far so good!

To check the path in the registry for Dim Pro content:

1.  Hit the Windows Start button
2.  Type in 'regedit' and hit enter (without the quotes)
3.  Click yes/ok that you want to let the program make changes blah blah if UAC is on
4.  Once in Regedit, you will see two panes - on the left will be a navigation tree,and on the right, detail for whatever key or subket you have in focus from the navigation pane
5.  You will expand your way down to where the sub key for DP is.  Computer is the upper-most level, it should be expanded already.  If not,just click on the arrow on the left side.
6.  You should see some main keys on the left.  Expand the one that says HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, by clicking on the arrow on the left side of it.  This will open that key.
7.  Now expand the SOFTWARE key.
8.  Now expand the Cakewalk Music Software key.
9. Now click directly ON the key labelled DP - this is the Dim Pro key we are looking for
10.  You should now see in the right pane, Contents Folder - and Multisamples Folder.  These probably have the same path but anyways, this is where Dim Pro looks for programs (sounds).

Once you have the paths, you are DONE with regedit, and you want to close out of it BEFORE changing ANYTHING, or else your computer will explode (unknown bad things can happen by changing registry values by accident).

Now you know where to go look - which you may have already done, but anyways, this is where Dim Pro keeps its trail of bread crumbs to the sounds.

Hope this helps, 

Bob Bone

If it was me I'd just delete all the Sonar icons and make the Sonar folders hidden and leave everything there! Just in case for a while. 
My wife generally does not look outside the domain of the desktop icons. You can even delete shortcuts from the start menu. 

One thing to report ....

I've now been through all of my old projects and they're working fine except for a couple of Pentagon patches.  As soon as I select certain patches in Pentagon, it locks up the track with the meter showing maximum and no sound except for a couple of nasty sounding crackles.  I've found more than one patch that does this, but others are fine.

It's late now so I can't get into the details but has anyone else come across this?  I'll post more detail later.

Cheers,

Simon

I was just thinking about all this earlier, because I'm thinking of doing a fresh install of Windows 8 soon and was wondering how to go about transferring Sonar and everything associated with it to a new computer or OS install. Cakewalk should do a step by step guide and make it a sticky!