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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10 |
I am attempting to transfer my existing BIAB 2018 to a new PC and am running afoul of activation and licensing. The prompt box says to use menu-Help, Activation. This activation feature is itself not activated (!!!) and I'm unable to find any way to get this relatively simple task accomplished. Trying the live chat help for PG Music is useless since they're apparently too busy to respond.
I have released the license, restored it, tried all of the multiple Activation buttons, poked around in FAQs here and at PG Music and tried every available button or option. I'd appreciate any suggestions and thanks.
*********************** "We know what we are, but not what we may be"
- Noted bluesman Blind Will Shakespeare ***********************
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420 |
Hi,
You should first install the latest 2018 build.
To activate on a different PC you just need to go to Help | Activate (Not "restore", that is for re-activating a license on the same PC). If not working, what is the reason given / error message?
Andrew PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10 |
I transferred all BIAB files last night from my old PC. In attempting to test BIAB, I get a prompt box stating
"Some features are disabled. Menu-Help-Activation to activate Program is not activated. Reason is: You can only use this copy of the program on one computer. If you want to use the program on a new computer, choose Menu Help Activation or Menu-Help=Restore".
So I read this as I'm being told to do something that the same prompt box said was not even activated. A search of the topics and index of the "help" doesn't even turn up any hits on the word "Restore" either, so I would appreciate a little help in what should have been a simple task and thank you.
*********************** "We know what we are, but not what we may be"
- Noted bluesman Blind Will Shakespeare ***********************
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420 |
It sounds like you also copied the activated license 'ticket' files from your old PC. To fix this problem, (on your new PC) go to C:\Users\Public\Ticket and delete the bb*.ticket and bb*.bin files. Do that with Band-in-a-Box closed, and when you next launch it you should be able to activate.
Andrew PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10 |
I have downloaded and installed BIAB as suggested above. I got what build was available from my account Downloads section, ran the .exe file and am still getting the same issues.
Anyone? Thanks.
*********************** "We know what we are, but not what we may be"
- Noted bluesman Blind Will Shakespeare ***********************
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420 |
Did you follow the instructions in my last post?
Andrew PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10 |
Thank you, Andrew, your advice worked perfectly. Tell your boss I said you are underpaid.
Cheers,
Ed
*********************** "We know what we are, but not what we may be"
- Noted bluesman Blind Will Shakespeare ***********************
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,496
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,496 |
It sounds like you also copied the activated license 'ticket' files from your old PC. To fix this problem, (on your new PC) go to C:\Users\Public\Ticket and delete the bb*.ticket and bb*.bin files. Do that with Band-in-a-Box closed, and when you next launch it you should be able to activate. Hmm, I may have to do something on my setup for this. At present I'm building a lot of songs on my desktop PC, because I have a comgortable place to use it and two screens. The PC I'll use when I'm playing will be a small notepad ... it's about 12" diagonal wide-screen, so not really convenient for the job of building songs. The obvious first issue is that I was under the impression I could install and use on multiple PCs, but your post suggests I'm mistake, unless I can flip back-and-forth with that restore. If that's the case, I presume I must remember to release the license on the desktop PC and reactivate the notepad, before I go to a session or I'll be stuck with no license on the notepad. Help->Utilities in the manual refers to: "Special Options for Activation/De-Activation" but that isn't present on my Desktop. I thought I'd activated the notepad, but I appear mistaken. The other issue appears trivial ... I plan to keep both PCs synchronised and obviously I need to exclude the license .bin and .Ticket files ... I presume licenses are fingerprinted to the particular PC.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420 |
Help->Utilities in the manual refers to: "Special Options for Activation/De-Activation" but that isn't present on my Desktop. I thought I'd activated the notepad, but I appear mistaken. The manual may need updating, since the system is simpler in Band-in-a-Box 2020. You just go to the Activation dialog and click Deactivate Online. This would deactivate the program on that PC and free up that one activation for another computer, using a single activation. To restore it, you can just click on "Activate Online" again (this was previously a separate button/dialog called "Release/Restore"). Activations are "per computer" and there are three available. The license files are stored in the C:\Users\Public folder.
Andrew PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,496
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,496 |
Activations are "per computer" and there are three available. That's what I thought I'd read, but failed to find it when I looked. So I can licence both the Desktop and the notepad. Excellent. The license files are stored in the C:\Users\Public folder. Oh, right. I wouldn't be synching that anyway. Incidentally, my notepad copy is working OK, presumably with features missing, and I'm well past 30 days on it chronological. Is it use on 30 days, not necessarily continuous, or should it have complained by now? Thanks Andrew. BTW, FYI: BIAB seems to work _quite_ well in a VirtualBox under Win7 on Linux. My main reason for switching to a Win10 bootup was that I had too little space in the VM for the UltraPAK. I probably could have put that on the fileserver, but elected against. Obvious shortcoming: the audio has occasional clicks, presumably related to time-sharing and possibly tuneable. USB connections from hardware to VM are very patchy, so a MIDI keyboard is difficult, at best, to use. I may even have activated it there, prior to upgrading to the UltraPAK.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,420 |
If it wasn't activated properly you would definitely know about it. Also, you should see that it says "activated" in the About dialog.
Andrew PG Music Inc.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
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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!
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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.
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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
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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.
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-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
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- 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:
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- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
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- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
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Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
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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!
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Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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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