Then I think something must be corrupted in the BIAB installation. It may be some of the DLLs aren't in the right place, which might be fixable. Or it may be that some of the files are still corrupted despite you recovery. The "incompatible" popup could just as easily be caused by a corrupt executable that Windows just doesn't understand.
I think it is unlikely Windows is at fault if other things are running without a problem. So I don't think another factory reset will help.
You're probably going to have to resort to eBay or wait for the deals in December.
This is a long shot. I don't know if these files existed in your version. The fact that the program won't launch may be due to a corrupted configuration file(s).
Try this:
With BiaB shutdown, open your x:\bb\preferences\ folder. In that folder, rename the files intrface.bbw and Mysetup.dk (rename to anything, e.g. intrface_OLD.bbw).
(These files may be in the x:\bb\ folder depending on which version you have. You may need to search for the files: Mysetup.dk and intrface.bbw)
If you can find them, rename them.
Then try to start BiaB.
Good luck.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
Indeed Video Track’s advise is good . so give it a go. As far as running 16bit progs on W7 64 goes. A 64 operating system on a 64 bit pc can run 32 bit programs Normally windows put 64 prog In Program files and 32 bit programs in Program files 86, and runs them from there. Biab does not use these locations and normally put all its self into C: bb
So the 32 bit BIAB will run fine from here on a 64 bit PC W7. However a 16 bit program Al la BIAB version 10, will have to be run in compatibility mode with at least XP. It would also need to be installed in a 16bit compatibility mode as well, as the 16bit installer wont work in 32 bit mode. (don’t ignore this point).
Also, make sure you did not install it to either of the "Program Files" folder location; Windows puts special protections on those folders that keep BIAB from running properly (mainly because BIAB wants to write back to its folder, whereas apps installed in "Program Files" generally write back to the registry instead.
Again, I'll try to install it this weekend and see what happens. But I agree. Version 10 is waaaaaayyyyyy old (the latest patch for it is from June 2001). It's come so much farther since then.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
This is all too much for me to comprehend, I'm just going to give up on it all.
Thank you all for your help.
Well, we tried. If you still wish to use BiaB, I suggest to wait until December and visit the PG Music web site. There may be some good pricing offers available.
You will also be impressed with the number of excellent new features that have been included since your version.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
I just went through my old versions of BIAB and tried to install onto Windows 7 64-bit. It went as expected.
You cannot even install versions 8, 9, 10, and 11. They are 16-bit apps and will just not work on 64-bit Windows. That's why you get the error that it is incompatible with the version of Windows.
Version 12 will appear to install correctly (apparently the installer is 32-bit), however, it will not actually run BBW.EXE (because the main BIAB program is 16-bit).
Version 2004 is the first version that you can install and and should run in a 64-bit Windows 7 environment, but it didn't (at least initially). After a reboot, however, it did launch and seems to work. Also, as I recall, some of the add-in programs won't work, because they remained 16-bit.
From the BIAB 2004 user manual:
Quote:
All New 32-bit Program Engine Previous versions of Band-in-a-Box were a combination of 16-bit and 32-bit code. The new program is rebuilt with a 32-bit-clean engine. Program operations are much faster, including up to 3 times faster notation redraws, song and soloing generation. Playback timing is improved and rock-solid with all versions of windows, including the newest XP and Media Center operating systems. The GUI is enhanced with floating/dockable toolbars.
BIAB 2004 is also when we got DXi support, which allowed direct rendering of MIDI to WAV file.
That's where I stopped testing.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
Probably a stupid question (I have no shortage of those) but is it possible to purchase older versions of Band In A Box?
I was using version 10 until my computer crashed, now it's back online but the program just won't work anymore. My only option seems to be to repurchase the software, but at the moment I couldn't even afford the basic 2019 version.
So, is it possible to purchase older versions? Or am I just going to have to scrimp and save?
Hi all
What a waste of time this has all been. I don’t see how the case stated in the opening post can be so.
It appears it never could have worked, unless we are really talking about version 2010.
Lots of folk spent lots of time on this, and I’m sure we can all accept what John says from his extensive test. Version 10 don’t and never did work in this situation.
So where are we now? Just what are we trying to deal with here?
Mike Remember:"The Owls May Not Be What They Seem"
I also got hung up when he said it used to work on Win7 64-bit; I didn't see how that was possible, other than running it in a Windows XP VM (which I suggested, and which I have previously done successfully). So I tested it and confirmed my initial suspicions.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
I also got hung up when he said it used to work on Win7 64-bit; I didn't see how that was possible, other than running it in a Windows XP VM (which I suggested, and which I have previously done successfully). So I tested it and confirmed my initial suspicions.
John, if I remember correctly I did have some 16 bit programs work in 64 bit Win 7 when I updated XP to Win 7. After a while I was having problems so I formatted the drive, installed Win 7 and then the programs would not load. There must have been something in the registry that allowed these program to run that was taken out when I did a fresh Win 7 install. I'm fairly sure about this but as I have CRS and this happened awhile ago I may be wrong.
I get most of my exercise these days from shaking my head in disbelief.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
From everything I've read, 64-bit Windows will not run 16-bit applications, because the 64 bit version of Windows does not include NTVDM (NT Virtual DOS Machine) or any support for a 16 bit subsystem. You can set up NTVDM to run in a 32-bit version using a virtual machine, or something like DOSBOX or vDOS, or enabling and installing NTVDM on a 32-bit version of Windows.
Perhaps your initial upgrade to Win7 was 32-bit?
I have generally used XPMode (which is a Virtual Machine version of WinXP) to run the 16-bit Windows apps (but not all of them work). They took XPMode out of Windows 10 when they released it.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
What a waste of time this has all been. I don’t see how the case stated in the opening post can be so.
It appears it never could have worked, unless we are really talking about version 2010.
Lots of folk spent lots of time on this, and I’m sure we can all accept what John says from his extensive test. Version 10 don’t and never did work in this situation.
So I'm a liar as well, am I? I'm so sorry to have wasted your time time, Mike, as well as everyone else's. Seeing as though I no longer have the software, I guess there's no point me being here, especially when I now feel unwelcome.
For goodness sake no one is calling anyone anything just trying to make some sense of all this.
Despite all that has been said here I am running an old windows 95/98 copy of Yamaha XG Works 3 (daw) that was updated to XP when I was running windows XP.
When I bought my W7 64 for BIAB Yamaha xg works would not install under any compatibility mode (not surprising ) as even the installer would not run. However it soon got around the Yamaha Forums that if you had an installed copy on an old Microsoft XP build you could move the whole Yamaha folder to as under. Note I made myself way back then:
These programs will not install in W7 even under compatibility modes. Use this pre installed copy just copy the whole folder To program files (x86) in W7. Also copy font file to windows fonts. Mike Head 16-7-12.
And don’t forget the music font from the old machine,
Since that time left undisturbed in its own folder it has run in both W7 64 and is currently running in W10 64 tonight.
I am beginning to wonder if this may be the answer but you would need a working installed copy of BIAB version 10 complete in its folder from the windows OS that supported it. Maybe this in fact this is what you may have got from Ebay originally with instruction to copy to rather than install.
I have OCCASIONALLY seen clean retail copies on eBay that could be purchased and upgraded saving pretty substantial bucks. On the other hand there are lots of dodgy sources on eBay selling pirated good, "refurbished" versions with eDelivery. I'm amazed PG Music and other legitimate publishers don't go after eBay and make them halt this practice. I suspect a lot of unwitting purchasers send money to these clown only to find that they can't register their software once they've download it.
Sometimes your local brick and mortar music store or online stores like Sweetwater or AMS will have an older retail version of Band-in-a-Box left over when the new stuff is released. Typically it will be a boxed version of the Pro or Mega PAK released on DVD media with the serial number printed on a sticker attached to the white, DVD protective sleeve.
+++ HERE +++ is an example for a boxed version of the 2018 Band-in-a-Box for Mac Pro PAK.
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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