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#139196 12/06/11 04:58 PM
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I just upgraded from 2011 UltraPlusPak to 2012. I have previously been installing all wav files on a separate HD and the rest in C:\Program Files (x86)\BIAB with not too many issues. Opening BIAB for the first time it popped up the yellow warning stating that it should be installed outside of the program files directory and preferably in the C: root directory. I don't remember this waring before.

Do I have to move this new version as suggested if I have full Windows administrative rights? Anyone else avoiding the warning and working out fine? If I have to move it should I uninstall and reinstall or just move it directly?

Thanks for any help that you may provide.

And thanks PG for a seriously featured filled update/upgrade.


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BiaB gets installed in C:\bb I think it looks there for other files.
That may be part of the issue. I remember others having issues when using the programx86 folder for the install.

Last edited by rharv; 12/06/11 05:14 PM.

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Thanks for the reply, rharv.

If that is the case then perhaps the installer should not give an option on where to install the main files.

Like I mentioned earlier, 2011 seemed to work OK with only a few issues here and there that may or may not have been because of the location.


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If it's a *new* warning, I bet it's there for a reason!

I'd suggest reinstalling to correct directory, not copying.


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Gotcha, thanks.


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I can confirm that attempting to make BIAB work from the /Program Files folder or /Program Files (x86) folder is a bad thing. There are other posts from several months ago when we discussed this, and the poster had permission problems that went away when the program was reinstalled in /BB. A staffer from PG Music came on the thread and confirmed this advice. Administrative UAC rights were not sufficient to solve the problem.

It's not that the /BB folder is anything magical; it's that Windows uses the one or two /Program Files folders for a specific use and, at least with BIAB, it causes problems. Put BIAB anywhere else.


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Thanks Matt.

I have been using the new version without any problems tonight setup like I described earlier. I must have missed those threads or I wouldn't have installed into program files.

To prevent any issues, I will uninstall and reinstall before I get too involved with any new projects.

Thanks guys for all of your help and insight.


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Along the same lines...Once I uninstall and reinstall to the root directory does it matter if I change the default folder name to BIAB instead of bb?

Also, will it be OK if I just drag any sub directories I have accumulated to this new directory such as user files, my midi styles, my styles, etc.?

I just noticed that C:\bb has a folder named BBHelper and RealTracksPatchNames within. Could that be dragged into the C:\BIAB folder or renamed as BIAB?

Sorry if my questions are a little petty but I want to get the best bang out of this great software that I can without running into issues that slow the creative process.

Thanks again for your help.


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I just looked in the Windows uninstall dialog and found the following PG programs to uninstall:

BIAB Server
Beginner Piano Master Class
Guitar Chord Dictionary
Master Flatpick Guitar Volume 1
Master Jazz Guitar Solos 3
Notematch
PG Music DirectX Plugins 2.0.0.0 (listed twice)
Piano Chord Dictionary
and
Realtracks Bonus Set 1

Most of these programs are installed independently into their own directories so I shouldn't have to worry about these. Problem is I don't see a BIAB or RealBand uninstall and I am not sure what the BIAB Server is.

Looking for suggestions before I make a bigger mess out of all of this.

Again, thanks for your help.


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I am reasonably certain you could change the main directory from BB to BIAB. I am not so sure about subfolders, and would guess you should not change them. As far as I've seen, the only folders you can redefine are for RealDrums and RealTracks.


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2nd post crossed. I do not believe there is an uninstall for BIAB, nor is one needed. Just delete the /BB folder and its contents.


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Sorry for the disjointedness but looking in the directory where I installed BIAB/RealBand I see a directory named "uninstall" with 21 .dat and application files.

What to do?

Thanks for your expert tutelage.


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It is given as a "tip", not a warning. The distinction is that you can turn tips off, in Prefs-Show Tips.
The specific tip about not using "Program Files (x86)" or its' sibling "Program Files" is because that folder has special rules, that change with each OS release. For example, files in that folder are hidden by the OS from users other than the user that was present when the file got written. The files get written to "virtual" folders, and other strange rules.

Essentially Windows wants to keep the Program Files folder safe from changes, so that one user won't come back to it and see a file that he didn't put there (another user did). All of this makes sense in an environment where there are admins and users sharing a PC, but are not that necessary when it's "just you" using the PC.

So, keep the program in "Program Files (x86)" if you want, we advise against it though. You can read more about it here http://blogs.scb.rit.edu/dave/2007/02/09/windows-vista-virtualized-files/


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Thank you, Peter. I misinterpreted the tip for a warning. I am the only one using this PC so unless an OS update changed that I should be OK.

But I respect your advise and will install in the root directory as noted.

Still curious about the uninstall procedures.

Thanks again.


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I don't think I said 'warning' but thanks, Peter for all that info. It is interesting and mysterious about Windows.

EDIT: Oh, I found it. 'Warning' was used in the first post and the title.

Last edited by Matt Finley; 12/06/11 09:05 PM.

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I remember now what my main issue was with 2011. 90% of the time BIAB would crash if I tried to save a part as a wav or tried to drag and drop in DAW mode as a wav.

On a lark I moved all of my BIAB files (except the Realtracks/RealDrums which are on a separate drive) to the C:\bb folder and still the crash happened.

As was suggested, I deleted the BIAB folder within the program files folder and am now reinstalling using custom install for only the non Realtracks/RealDrums data.

The install is now complete and I will try to save and/or drag and drop to see if the crash reoccurs.

Please bear with me.


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>>>...does it matter if I change the default folder name to BIAB instead of bb? ...>>>

I keep my BiaB executables in a folder called C:\Band in a Box\. I have done it that way for longer than I can remember, across many new-version installs. I keep RealTracks separately, on the hard drive I got from PG Music.

Works fine.


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Sorry for the bother but here is what I have found after reinstalling to the C:\bb directory:

Of course I lost my GUI customization but at least the drag an drop worked with the exception of the error "Server execution failed" but the wav file was properly dropped.

The save realtrack as wav file works without any errors thank goodness.

Now all I have to do is to customize my GUI and copy the user files over to be where I was before the update/upgrade. With the exception of all the nice changes to the program(s).

Thank you for all of your help.

And BTW, I absolutely love the direct guitar RealTracks so I can run them through my amp sim of choice like POD Farm, Amplitube, Guitar Rig, Head Case (guitarist really need to check this marvel out), etc.

Not that the effected RealTrack guitars were bad but choices are important.

Thank you for your reply, flatfoot. I normally like to keep all of my programs in a program directory and with a name I can associate with. No big deal here since I am cooking grease now :-) .


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