For various reasons, I stopped updating BiaB with version 2013 (build 364), though I have purchased every release since then. I think I am now ready to upgrade to 2016. Should I update each version one-at-a-time (2014, then 2015 then 2016), or should I skip 2014 and 2015 and go directly to 2016? Note: 2013 has no control over number of installs. I believe that was first added in 2014.

When you say you purchased every release, which package did you get. If you only purchased the PlusPak (which only includes the new version of the application plus only new RTs/RDs/etc and you get it either on DVD or as downloadable content), then yes, you'll need to update your 2013 with each successive version in turn.

If you purchased the UltraPlusPak or the EverythingPak on external USB, then it contains all the content (from 2016 back to the first MIDI styles supplied by PGMusic), then you can do the upgrade directly to 2016 by just installing from the USB drive. However, if you purchased any of the additional paks (such as a 49-pak or similar), then you should probably install those, as well, as they often contain additional content which are not part of the main program distribution.

The answer to your question depends on how you upgraded. Also, what package are you using... e.g UltraPlusPak, MegaPak, etc.

In the below, I'm correctly or incorrectly assuming that you have purchased the UltraPlusPak.

With each new release that you list, did you (a)buy the PlusPak and download it or (b) did you get the full version on a USB drive?

If (a) is how you upgraded, you will need to install each upgrade directly over the top of your present installation.

If (b) you will only need to install the latest version. Again, install this directly over the top of your existing version. If you purchased bonus paks along the way, these would also need installing.

Regards,
Noel

P.S. I see John answered before I finished typing. You gotta be quick to beat him!

Answered well already. If you want to be certain, and you purchased from PG Music, their Sales dept. can tell you for certain what you have ordered.

I have been trying to rebuild my BIAB program on a new computer after my old computer decided to die. I have been purchasing BIAB programs since 1996 when I bought my first BIAB at the NAMM show in Nashville. All the programs since then I have purchased from PG Music. I have been having a problem getting the programs I purchased because the only thing showing on my account is the purchase of the 2016 program. What ever happened to the records of purchases before 2014? Was there some kind of failure that erased all of them? Fortunately I had bought the hard drive version of 2012 so I started there and copied that into my computer and Anthony sent me the links for 2013. But I'm being told there were no purchases showing between 2013 and 2016. I had made a backup on a hard drive in July just before my computer went bad and tried to restore them but I can't pick out the files that I need to restore because they are all just numbers and letters that make no sense to me. So they are useless. I thought they would show up in my account but the note down at the bottom of my account page, in red ink says that no programs purchased before Oct. 2014 are registered. What gives?

If PG Music can't answer, we users certainly can't. But there is no reason you would need to go back to install anything from older versions UNLESS you purchased bonus paks. I save the .EXE files for those in case I ever have to start over, but as for BIAB itself, the latest version should suffice. Then run the latest updates, which are always cumulative.

I'm also assuming you back up your own songs and styles.

Depending on the backup program there are different schemes to save the content of your harddrive. Some have cryptic names, some have real names. Some cram everything into container files. In most cases file properties of backuped files are different than the "real ones" even if they have the proper names.

If you have a backup, acquire (borrow, buy...) a harddisk that is large enough to hold all the data and do a complete restore of your backup. You only need it for a day or so. Then you, most probably, will have all the files including their original properties back. After that you can copy what you need.

Since BIAB and RB can be copied "as is" you will have everything back as before. Copy it to your new working disk and everything should be alright.

vzudell, what program did you use to do the backup, Win 7, XP, Acronis, etc? You will need that program to reinstall everything.

Also you stated that the computer died but did the hard drive die with it? If you can have or can get an SATA to USB converter like this

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/861670/StarTechcom-USB-30-to-25-SATA/?cm_mmc=PLA-_-Bing-_-Networking_Cables-_-861670

you may be able to copy the BB directory to your new Hard Drive. Pull the old HD out of the computer, plug it into the converter, and copy the folder(s) you want. If you don't feel competent to do that any computer store should be able to help. Note I have seen computer failures where data from the HD was able to be saved. But if the HD hardware failed then this will not work.

I hope this helps.

Hello amsmith930,

Please contact our sales department at sales@pgmusic.com or 1-800-268-6272. They can look up your purchase history and tell you exactly what you'll need to reinstall, in what order, and provide you with download links if needed.




Hello vzudell,

PG Music didn't add the account history feature to the website until October 2014. Nothing purchased before then would show up on your online account. For a complete purchase history, please just contact our sales department and they can send you a summary, invoices, or download links as needed.

Thank you Alyssa! I will again request my purchase record and see what they have for me. I know that in at least a couple of instances I updated two years at a time but I can't remember which years that I did that. But I'm quite sure I didn't go directly from 2013 to 2016.

Thank you, Mario for your suggestion but yes the hard drive suffered a complete failure after I had gone to Windows 10 and tried to return to Windows 7, It took me directly into recovery from the whole operating system where I lost all my programs and it was like starting all over from scratch. I tried restoring my programs from my external hard drive but ran into so many difficulties (with the constant high CPU usage) when ever I enabled Microsoft automatic updates)Had it in for repair, cost $179. and still had the same problem which they refused to fix so I decided it was time for a new computer. I'm almost 83 years old and finding it extremely difficult to sort thru all these computer issues, being only self taught what little I do know. I think my best solution is to download everything to an external hard drive and run my BIAB from the hard drive. I hope it works!
Thanks again for responding to my post!

Thanks Matt, I think I will try copying everything over to an external hard drive (have a 1 Terrabyte) I think that should hold everything. Was kind of hoping to hold on to the old interface with the large chord symbols which were so much easier for me to read but I guess that's not possible! Thanks for responding. Val

Val, version 2016 made an important change in Display Options (right click on the chord sheet) that allows us more control than before. I don't think you'll lose anything; just the opposite.

I thought I had posted a thank you to Matt Finley for his suggestion on how to change the font size on 2016 but I must have got in a hurry and didn't press post. So here again I want to say thank you so much, Matt. It worked beautifully and now I can see to work on my music again! For 20 years I have been using BIAB and loving every minute and every upgrade, then in January I had added 2016 to my collection but my aging eyesight had made it nearly impossible to work on 2016 (as downloaded) until you came up with the solution which I had overlooked. I guess I will have to start printing out the manual as I can't hold the instructions in my mind long enough to return to BAIB and implement them. But I did want you to know how much I appreciated that you took time to "clue" me in on this procedure. Val Zudell

My pleasure. The new Display Options got some mention when 2016 was introduced, but I don't think everyone realizes just how much more powerful that dialog box became. You're not alone.