Downloaded the new version(3.9) but it won't show up in sonar x2? two other daws I have installed show it. tried a reinstall, rescan plugins, rescan failed plugins. it doesn't show in the excluded list. really confused

Strange, I had to install the 3.9 version to try out the new gear from the shop yesterday, works fine here.

Are you using a customised Plugin folder?

Check plugin manager, that Sonar is "seeing" it.

When I installed the new version I'm pretty sure it remembered where it was installed last (Custom location here on my ssd drives) but can't hurt to double check.

It still installed all the presets on my C drive with no way to change that even though I have custom location for everything else, this should be fixed.

Does it still show the old version or did it the old version disappear to?

old version is gone.

What is strange is that it shows up in the x2 browser but not in the pop up menu for fx bin? 

Maybe you are using a plugin layout that doesn't include it?

Also remember that if you check the "configure as synth" in the vst window, it will show up under vst instruments and not under the fx menu.

Have you tried just dragging it from the x2 browser to a track?

yeah works dragging from browser, i switched all the layouts. it doesn't even show in the main listing of the plugin manager. kinda strange but it does show in the browser.