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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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OP
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Over the years I've accumulated numerous BIAB files (I think I even have the original BIAB floppies lying around somewhere).
I would have flunked out of library school first semester for sure.
I have things like various separate styles, soloist disks, Ultra, Mega, Everything etc. PAKs etc. etc. on CDs, multiple hard drives, etc.
I want to (if possible) consolidate all this BIAB stuff onto ONE external SSD
I just installed the 2024 BIAB upgrade.
So, two questions:
(1) What are all the file types that are used in 2024 BIAB, e.g. Styles, Soloists, Melodist (?), Song, etc., etc.
(2) Can I just sort through all my hard drives for each file type/extension, wherever they are, and (laboriously) copy them all to each
respective single file or subfile folder in my new 2024 BIAB, like D:/bb/Styles, or D:/bb/Soloists, etc. ?
The add-ons of various types, names, numbers, etc. available for BIAB are so complicated and confusing to me that's why I never bothered to try to organize
everything before onto one hard drive. Every year and with every additional add-on it got worse and worse. And I'd bet I'm not alone.
And even with titles like "EVERYTHING" PAK, or "MEGA PAK", I am never sure when I open BIAB that it is seeing all the Styles, etc.
I've accumulated over the years on the various CDs, drives, etc.
That's why, if possible, I want to cowboy up, don my big boy pants, and once and for all try to organize them all hopefully under
ONE BIAB bbw file location. So I KNOW when I'm selecting a Style, for example, that I'm seeing all that's available
Any tips, suggestions, gotchas ? Take up whist, mahjong, or pickleball ?
Newb Bob
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Best approach would be... depends on what is the latest upgrade you purchased.
Was it 2024 Ultrapack, or something else?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2024
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OP
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It's worse than I thought.
Going over my drives I find things that are apparently relevant to BIAB like:
RealBand
RealTracks
AllPak
101 Riffs
Drums
DX Settings
Ear Training
Jazz Styles Upgraded
JazzPrac(tice ?)
MIDI SuperTracks
SoloDemo
Soundtrack MIDI Fakebook
Artist Performance Set 1
If I copy all this stuff to the new drive D:/ where I installed my new 2024 BIAB and put it under the /bb folder, will BIAB see it all ?
For example, there are BIAB files under the 101 Riffs subdirectory which I purchased some time ago. Will BIAB when I open it see them ? Or do I just open them from the 101 Riffs subdirectory ? And how do I know when BIAB is seeing things in the "AllPak". Do I need to open AllPak and send the files somewhere under BIAB ?
I'm out on a ledge now, unfortunately only 2 stories high, in Liberty Hill, TX, our highest buildiing. Talk me down....
Newbie Bob
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Here is a pacifier...
Original question: What did you upgrade in 2024? Was it an Ultra Pack or something else? Knowing this will narrow down your request.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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OP
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I just got “Band in a Box Pro Upgrade 2024”
Bob
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Ooops. I think you were asking what was the underlying product I was installing my 2024 upgrade ONTO ? I’ll have to check. It’s different on each computer. Pretty sure I have either the Ultrapak or Megapak though on at least one PC
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Yeah...
In this case, I would suggest contacting PGM directly, so they can look over your account and tell you exactly what you need to download to make your BIAB the most complete - what you paid for.
I don't think asking this question on the forum will be fruitful, as only PGM knows exactly what you have/ bought.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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If you have 2024 Ultrapack, it will simplify many things.
If you have a prior to 2024 version, I would suggest contacting PGM directly.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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My strategy has been to buy everything then buy every upgrade and always install into my existing installation. That appears to have worked for the past 12 years although I'll occasionally find something missing.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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… If I copy all this stuff …
Newbie Bob Versions before 2018 have files in different places than they are now. You can do it manually but only if you are confident navigating the depths of your drive and using a file manager. I recommend you follow RustySpoon’s suggestion to contact PG Music Support. See the Support tab, above.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Don't know why his post doesn't appear here.
But MoutiPass passed on this tip:
"You have "C:\BB\Data\BB_Cleanup.exe" which does the job. I recommend it."
I've never heard of it and wonder how ANYONE would ever know or find it.
Best,
Bob
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We know about it because it was run automatically as part of the installation of the 2018 upgrades. There were a few cases reported afterword of some files not in the right place and the advice was to run that utility.
That’s possibly problematic for people who upgraded after 2018 from versions before 2018. I recall having to deal with a few situations from forum questions. Your situation is simply the latest case, but it’s more difficult because you have several versions from several years that cross the 2018 date.
I’m not sure if you can, but DO NOT run the Cleanup utility on any version before 2018.
Does it make more sense now why a few of us have advised you to seek assistance from PG Music Support?
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Nobody so far has mentioned Help->"What add-ons do I have", which may help.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 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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Gordon,
that will not solve OP question, as he himself doesn't know what he has (bought) and what he don't have. PGM would be able to see that. We do not. It would be a time waste try to piece something together blindly. Best course of action would be for PGM point OP to specific packages on his account, so he can download all he has (or reference against the list) and consolidate all in one place...
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... though he says his strategy was to buy upgrades and install over the existuing installation.
He does though also say that he has multiple PCs with different installs, so perhaps PGM can offer a simpler and more consistent solution.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 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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I will be contacting tech support soon for help, as I clearly can't go it alone.
Case in point: I have the "Ultra" or "Mega" pak I got on a hard drive. I just checked, and it is not even listed in "My Products".
Bob
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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For years it has been very frustrating to me trying to figure out when I see a product how much of it I may already have and what each of the products is, limitations and
what it plays in- OmniPAK, MegaPAK, Ultrapack, RealCombo, MIDI Supertracks, MIDI styles, Artist Performances, SynthMaster Styles, Melodists, MIDI soloists, Real
Styles, RealBand, 101 Riffs, and on and on. One of the most confusing and complicated product mixes I have ever seen.
Bob
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Yeah, lots of components. However, once you do a clean install of all, it should be fairly easy to maintain for the future. Now that we got Download manager, a lot of things got simplified. You can likely download everything you bought over a few hours with average connection and just have all installers (program and content) in a single folder for backup/future migration purposes and forget about all the previous hard drives.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2018
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Expert
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Expert
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I will be contacting tech support soon for help, as I clearly can't go it alone.
Case in point: I have the "Ultra" or "Mega" pak I got on a hard drive. I just checked, and it is not even listed in "My Products".
Bob A clue: If you bought products a few years ago, before personal accounts managed by the online manager existed, or if you bought the product through another channel, the system cannot remember things that it does not "know", or has never known. At this point it is up to you to register your product in the system, and then, miraculously, it will know.
Biab Audiophile 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks all for the encouragement guys. I WILL get this fixed. I've learned my lesson the hard way and will never end
up here in the creek again. Anxiously awaiting response and my paddle from Tech Support.
Best,
Bob
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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