The history behind Return To Factory Settings, or RTFS, may prove useful.

Whenever the program adds an additional feature the fact that the program does not use the Windows registry can adversely affect program stability. Each new feature can have unintended consequences on program operation. Historically there will be periods of relative stability and other times when the program is not as stable.

I should remind you, PG Music has good reasons for not using the Windows Registry. Because the program is not registered, the program can run on Windows XP up to Windows 10. The program can be used on multiple computers.

Since BiaB does not use the Windows registry the program must internally keep track of many of the details that Windows normally keeps track of. So BiaB is always busy in the background keeping track of details. It also means the background details can become corrupted.

Much of the background details are maintained in three files located in the bb/Preferences folder. When you initiate a RTFS command those three files are erased and then rebuilt by the program. I wish I could tell you the names of the three files but I don't remember all three. The one I do remember is "intrface.bbw" (note the weird spelling).

Band-in-a-Box did not always have a RTFS command. In fact the command is a relatively recent addition to BiaB. Before the command a user would manually delete the files as needed. Once the files are deleted the next time the program is opened, the program recognizes the files are missing and creates new files using the factory defaults. RTFS was added as an aid to prevent users from accidentally deleting the wrong files.

When the program starts acting strange, there is a pretty good chance one of the three files have become corrupted. When that is the case, the easiest way to get the program to act normal again is to perform a RTFS. That's why you see it suggested so much.

That brings up another issue, how can you be sure RTFS will solve your issue? What if RTFS doesn't work? Then you have the issue AND have to restore your preferences; which may introduce another issue by accident. PG Music recently introduced a new troubleshooting tool users can utilize, the "safemode.txt" file.

Use Windows Notepad or another text editor to create an EMPTY file labeled "safemode.txt" (without the quotes). Place the empty safemode.txt file in the bb/Preferences folder. The next time BiaB opens the splash screen will have "SAFEMODE" in red and the program opens with factory defaults. BiaB will ignore the three files normally used while opening until safemode.txt is removed from the Preferences folder.

So if you use safemode.txt and the issue remains, then RTFS will not help you. But, if you use safemode.txt and the issue disappears then RTFS will solve your issue.

Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home