SF 11 refuses to start, even full re install

daniel-DIAZ2990 wrote on 7/6/2025, 4:52 AM

After years of using the same original install, Sound Forge 11 suddenly started crashing on launch.

I contacted support, and the only suggestion I received was to fully uninstall and reinstall the software.

I followed those instructions, but after a clean reinstall, SF11 still refuses to start.

During the reinstall process, I did see the usual registration screens. I selected “Register Online”, as I always have.

I'm on Windows 10 (same system as always).

Interestingly, yesterday I had to launch Samplitude X3, and it also gave me trouble — I had to click “Repair” to get it running. But it eventually worked.

So something may have changed on my system recently, but I’m not sure what. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Comments

daniel-DIAZ2990 wrote on 9/16/2025, 1:44 AM

@daniel-DIAZ2990 Have you tried to set the Windows compatibility mode for the registration utility to Windows 7?

I tried running SF on compatibility mode, the authorisation still crashes.

SP. wrote on 9/16/2025, 2:19 AM

@daniel-DIAZ2990 Yeah, you wrote that. But I'm not sure if the activation utilities are running in compatibility mode.

rraud wrote on 9/16/2025, 12:55 PM

Hi @daniel-DIAZ2990, If you currently need Sound Forge to work, consider upgrading to SF-18 .The UI is basically the same as SF-11 and you will not have to learn new software and your SF-11 DX and VST plug-ins will work as well. You can also get the upgrade discount using your SF-11 serial.

It's a shame that Magix support has a become abysmal.

daniel-DIAZ2990 wrote on 9/16/2025, 2:57 PM

It's a shame that Magix support has always been abysmal.

Thank you @rraud what you say about Magix support is the only reason why I don't upgrade right now. If they can ignore a simple authorisation problem sooner or later same thing might arrive with SF18 and it's not serious really.
It's not even a "legacy product" support, it's just that my serial is not activated any more...
Why?

SP. wrote on 9/16/2025, 3:07 PM

@daniel-DIAZ2990 Maybe try the following:

Install a virtual machine software, for example VirtualBox or VMware. Download an ISO file from Microsoft and install Windows 10 or Windows 7 in the virtual machine.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/software-download/windows10iso

https://archive.org/details/en_windows_7_ultimate_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_677332_202006

If you then can install and activate Sound Forge 11 fine inside the virtual machine, there's a problem with your current Windows installation. Something is bricked in your system. Otherwise it might be a general problem with Magix and SF11.