I am unable to start my Sonar Artist program and am getting the following message: 
 
"Sonarart.exe. Bad Image C:\Program Files\Cakewalk\Sonar Artist\CWVideoEngine.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support. Error Status 0x0000020."
 
The last two times this happened there was a new version which fixed this when I launched the update, this time there is no update and I am stuck with a dead program
 
[<font]Something seems to be damaging my CWVideoEngine.dll extension as it is set to 0kb now. Cakewalk advises a full uninstall reinstall but I think that all I really need is a good version of the CWVideioEngine.dll extension to replace the bad one. This is probably going to keep happening and I want to avoid a full uninstall every few days and all of its headaches.
 
[<font]Anyone have a copy or any suggestions? Thanks in advance. 

I think I got it fixed, did the roll back and copied extension for future use since it seems to be going bad often. Hope this helps anyone else with the problem.

I've got exactly the same problem with Sonar Producer X3.

same problem. Install updates, roll back each time just to get it to load. Any Solutions ?
 

What are you guys using for Anti virus ?
Have you made sure you are installing the software by: Right clicking on Command Center / OR Right clicking on the installer and choosing "Run as Administrator".
 
It would also benefit you both by leaving some details on your operating system, like which version of Windows are you running?

It's not anti virus Chuck I don't have AV and I have this issue as well. ,, this issue I've nailed down to updates of W10 buggering all sorts of different dll's. And this thread now adds more evidence that this is W10 and not Cakewalk. Same issue- 3 different versions of Cakewalk. All have in common the dll will show as 0bytes. The dll seem almost random as I read posts here with now about 10 or more different dll's mentioned. 
The OP figured it out. The only fix is to have a back up of the folder where the original was stored and overwrite the bad dll. 
Of note is I have never seen anyone including myself with this issue if they are using W7 or 8. 
 
I guess the best course of action is to complain to Microsoft. 

a windows update could cause it to fail, but not to be 0Kb in size

pwalpwal
a windows update could cause it to fail, but not to be 0Kb in size

So then why is it happening and it seems this just started with the Creative update sequence. 

Cactus Music

pwalpwal
a windows update could cause it to fail, but not to be 0Kb in size

So then why is it happening and it seems this just started with the Creative update sequence. 

to become 0kb it is being written over, and that write seems to fail for unknown reason... but windows update won't be overwriting 3rd party app dlls, only its own system stuff - and a change in system stuff relied on by sonar could cause a crash etc but not over write a file
/in theory

pwalpwal

Cactus Music

pwalpwal
a windows update could cause it to fail, but not to be 0Kb in size

So then why is it happening and it seems this just started with the Creative update sequence. 

to become 0kb it is being written over, and that write seems to fail for unknown reason... but windows update won't be overwriting 3rd party app dlls, only its own system stuff - and a change in system stuff relied on by sonar could cause a crash etc but not over write a file
/in theory

 
The basic issue here almost sounds like it's a failing drive, but it's odd that so many people are having it, so I'd rule that out.

This seems to happen after Windows Updates/Upgrades. Are these point release updates or major ones like going from W7 to W10?

One possible theory is the update snapshot mechanism is somehow choking on our DLLs? CWVideoEngine.dll isn't in X3, IIRC, but it was likely another similar dependent DLL that got corrupted.