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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I recently invested in a (long overdue!) new high-spec PC, and want to transfer/install *my* BIAB 2024 on to it.
When I first got BIAB it was on 2012, and as well as yearly updates I have since added bonuses, 49PAKs, new stylePAK releases and plenty of other this-and-that PAKs along the way including building up a large library of RealTraks.
After a bunch of research on here it seemed I didn't need to go back to 2012 and update it sequentially from day-dot as I had first thought, but instead I could start with the UltraPAK that I was advised to get in 2022, and then install 2024 PlusPAK.
But I really don't want to battle over the very many other PAKs, sets, Bonuses etc needing to be added before it becomes my full installation, and I wonder in fact if that is even necessary when there is already a perfectly set-up 'bb' folder sitting on the old-machine's 2024 installation.
So am I correct in thinking that populating the new installations 'bb' folder with the contents of the old one, sets-up the new 2024 with an already-ideal source and avoids the possibility of problems/issues when recreating it afresh from dozens of individual installers?
If that is indeed a viable way to go, are there any views on whether the sequence should be 2022 UltraPAK : copy-across 'bb' folder content : 2024 PlusPAK to tidy anything up if necessary, or should it be UltraPAK : PlusPAK to complete 2024 first, then copy-across 'bb' content? Either way, would there be something further needed to tie it all properly together for Windows, or does the 2024 PlusPAK take care of that itself?
I'd be interested in any comments/guidance if this is the reasonable step that it seems to me just now. Thanks.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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hannay
some comments.
1..this is a toughie cos people arent there to see your set up and anything special with it...so i dont know how usefull this comment is.
what i typically do is wait for the new year eg 2024 shipped pg drive and...
..immediately copy to the fastest m.2 ssd i can find for around 50 bucks includeing
enclosure.
..use the copy m.2 on my production pc off fast usb.. and store away the pg drive for back up.
..opt for a minimal install as ive found genning pg content off the copy ssd m.2 is blink of an eye in bb.
note...2025 will prolly come out at xmas...so you might take that into account ie new features etc etc.
2..even tho' you have a new pc ive seen many cases where a new pc isnt optimised for music production and thus probs can occur...hence you might see my tips re such in the pg tips forum.
might be usefull to read. particularly note step 1.
thats all i got...as i'm not there to see first hand your rig setup.
happiness.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 10/25/24 12:46 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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If you have everything installed now on a single drive / same bb folder should be fairly easy. I would attempt this:
On new computer, just install latest core version of BIAB software you purchased. Copy bb folder from your old computer to new, skipping identical files. (There should be an option "do this for all files"). Activate BIAB on new machine. Apply latest patch.
A better way would be to install everything fresh, but ^ should in theory work. Perhaps someone will correct me.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Hannay, I've changed computers many times since I purchased my first copy of BIAB in 2007. Every time I have moved onto a new computer my process has been... 1) Copy the entire \bb folder and all its sub-directories to a USB drive (or some suitable movable media). If you regularly use Realband, I also suggest copying the \Realband folder onto the USB drive. 2) Copy \bb (and sub-folders) and \Realband from the USB drive onto the new computer. (Steps 1 and 2 take a bit of time because the \bb folder and its sub-folders is large.) 3) Once copying is complete, run the installation program from your latest version of BIAB and do the minimum install into your new computer's \bb and \Realband folders. The minimum install will load the system files needed by Windows. This install will also get the softsyths, notation fonts and playable Realtracks up and running. 4) After the minimum install, download the latest updates for BIAB and Realband and run them. 5) Start BIAB and do a "Slow rebuild" in BIAB's Stylepicker. (This is needed for both BIAB and Realband to work correctly.) After this, everything will be ready to go on your new computer. Regards, --Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Justanoldmuso - Thanks for your suggestion, also for a broad smile because "rig" is far too ambitious a term to use! I have BIAB on my do-everything PC. I noodle around writing music/songs based initially on chord progression snatches. I chop and change that until it gives me a warm feeling. That then generates its own melody line/variation, by which point the emotional colours may well have started to make some lyrics come floating by. Then I (agonise over) create a full perfect lyric because anything less is complete failure. Well, it all helps pass the time  I'll certainly check out your tips, I'm sure there'll be things from which I can benefit.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Rustyspoon – Thanks, and I already have the old PC’s drive installed as a slave in the new PC to help move regular content across cleanly, so can do so that way for the bb too. Good to know that it all seems to be doable ... sometimes what seems to be logical is actually sabotaged by a bunch of unknowns, what I call the Spock Paradox.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Noel – That’s not SOME awe, that’s all of it!! Thank you so much. In any walk of life there’s no better advice than that coming from knowledge and direct experience. It also helps that in this case the Spock Paradox isn’t hiding round a corner somewhere waiting to jump out at me and say “nope, fundamentally that won’t work because ...”
So I’ll install via the 2022 UltraPAK first, then copy-over the healthy *old* bb content, then update with my 2024 PlusPAK plus whatever routine updates might additionally be waiting in the wings, and finally do the slow rebuild.
Just a quick check/clarification on one point if I may ask, to be sure I am interpreting your words correctly: you say “... and do the minimum install into your new computer's \bb and \Realband folders.” I wasn’t aware of a Minimal Install option, but I have now Googled it and also now appreciate why you say that is needed/important.
But .. “minimum install (the PlusPAK) into your new computer's \bb and \Realband folders.” Do I have that right? The whole thing? Or am I just taking it all far too literally and being a total pedant without realising? Won’t the minimum install simply go wherever it must anyway between Win, bb & RB folders? Or are you saying that’s counterproductive for this purpose and needs to be limited somehow (in addition to sidestepping duplications of course).
When I add PAKs, annual upgrades etc I use the Install Manager because that is clinically efficient/accurate (Spock permitting!) – I guess you can’t do a minimum install that way, so how best to handle that? I’m probably overthinking it, but when you don’t have experience to fall back on it is better to clarify first instead of redoing after! Long ago I had a Workshop teacher who used to say “You can experiment when we get the putting-on machine, but until then check everything before you do anything.” Wise words.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hannay,
Personally, I think you'd be better off copying over the old content before you install any version.
Installing over the copied \bb folders and sub-folders is easier than copying the old content over the top of a fresh installation. When copying over an installation, you'll need to be on-hand to give permission to overwrite files. When you install over the old copy that's been loaded onto the computer, there is no need to give permission other than allowing the installation to go ahead right at the start.
So my approach would be...
1) Copy all content from your old computer and put it onto your new computer.
2) Install BIAB 2022 (if that is your latest full version of the program). This will load all needed Windows drivers and files on your computer. I suspect that you can do this through install manager. (You won't need to run a minimum install.)
3) Run BIAB 2022, rebuild Stylepicker and set up your audio and midi drivers. Register the installation online with PG Music. In other words, get BIAB 2022 fully running.
4) PlusPAKs are special installations. They only update the program by adding new content to the previous year's installation. You'll first need to install PlusPAK 2023 before you install PlusPAK 2024. Again, install manager should allow you to do this. (I haven't done that for 2 years of PlusPAKs so I'm not sure.)
If you run into any problems, the blue circular icon at the lower right corner of this webpage will link you to a direct chat with PG Music staff. They will be able to help.
I hope that all this makes sense.
--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hello Noel That makes perfect sense, explained that way. Greatly appreciated, and I'll take a run at it like that .. watch this space
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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For the benefit of anyone with the same/similar query coming across this later, the process advised by Noel as above appears to have been entirely successful.
Copying-across the *old* bb folder first to the new PC's C: drive (system drive) took barely a couple of minutes, though handily I had already installed the old drive on the new PC as a slave for easy drag-and-drop of other content which similarly made moving the bb folder equally straightforward.
Installing the previous Full BIAB using the Install Manager required no attention once set going, and completed in around 15 mins to include associated bonus PAKs, 49PAK, RealTraks and a couple of other things in the same bundle.
Ditto the 2024 upgrade-with-extras, a couple or so minutes shorter though the times depend on your system anyway.
No problems or reported issues/glitching to redo manually afterward, and I've checked a little by looking at the What-Add-Ons-Do-I-Have panel and everything is there, also by opening a couple of past projects plus one in-progress, and everything that needed to happen happened and nothing that didn't need to!
Noel: A serious thank you, I'm grateful beyond words.
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Hi Hannay, Thanks for reporting back. I'm glad that everything went so smoothly for you Now you can enjoy your new computer and have fun making music! All the best, --Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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