Sound Forge Studio PC 14 - fail to start launch on Windows 10 desktop

lewist57 wrote on 1/3/2021, 8:43 AM

Just purchased Sound Forge Studio 14 PC from the Windows store. Installs and runs just fine on the laptop. But on my desktop (both running Windows 10), the splash screen appears, I see references to starting the IO manager and audio engine, then the splash screen disappears and the program does not start. I have tried to uninstall and reinstall, and run as Administrator, but no luck. I do have an old copy of Sound Forge Pro 10 on the desktop, but did not want to uninstall it until I was sure the 14 would run properly.

 

ideas?

Comments

rraud wrote on 1/3/2021, 10:40 AM

Any error messages? Try disabling antivirus and such. You want want to contact Magix Tech Support

I do have an old copy of Sound Forge Pro 10 on the desktop, but did not want to uninstall it until I was sure the 14 would run properly.

FWIW and IMO, I would not consider going from any Pro version (10 in your case) to Audio Studio an 'upgrade'. . Unless you just want a 64 bit version (no big advantage) and the Ozone Elements plug-in... which btw, can be used in Pro 10 once ( the VST-2 version) installed and activated.

Otherwise, multiple versions of SF coexist on the same PC without issue. Even though I have Pro 14, I still use Pro 10 on some projects due to the forked up modal plug-in chainer that started with Pro 11. The record UI was changed as well. I will spare you my beta tester rant.

lewist57 wrote on 1/3/2021, 1:38 PM

Thanks for your response. I have put in a ticket with tech support already, but thought it would not hurt to post over the weekend.

Yes I agree the Studio version is not an upgrade to the Pro version, but for less than $40 USD, for my very limited needs, the Studio version is adequate.

Turning off the antivirus (Malwarebytes) does not make a difference. Malwarebytes is installed on the laptop and Sound Forge installed on it just fine.

No error messages. Just the Splash screen, "creating the file IO", then "initializing audio engine", and then the splash screen disappears, and nothing. Using Windows, tried to "repair" the installation, and then "reset" the installation, no difference. Uninstalling and reinstalling made no difference.

I will also try to think of any other significant differences between the laptop and desktop that may be contributing to the startup problem

lewist57 wrote on 1/3/2021, 1:49 PM

I did turn on Task Manager, and watched the Processes as Sound Forge tried to start up. SF starts up, and then Microsoft Defender Antivirus goes from very low power usage to very high, and then SF startup terminates. I went into Windows settings and turned off Defender, but alas no difference in startup.

rraud wrote on 1/3/2021, 4:40 PM

Sorry I do have an idea what the problem may be. Please keep us updated with what Magix tech sez.

Disabling Microsoft Defender is good. Only one antivirus app should be enabled anyway.

lewist57 wrote on 1/16/2021, 4:15 PM

Well, just to close the loop, after many helpful emails from Magix support, Googling and Youtube videos, nothing was able to allow my desktop PC to launch SF Studio 14 to completion. Works just fine on my laptop.

A few notes:

1) I purchased a copy of SF Studio 14 from the Windows Store in early January as an end of the year sale, $10 USD cheaper than buying from Magix, with the promise of installing on up to 10 PCs (although I only needed two). If I knew I was going to waste days and nights trying dozens of different thing to try to fix the program, I would have just bought directly from Magix and not worried about the $10 savings.

2) The program does run on the laptop just fine. Magix asked for the serial number so they could register it. Guess what? The Windows Store version does not have a serial number for registration!

3) Tried to get my $35 USD back from Microsoft, evidently for this program it is non refundable. Once again, would not have bought if this was made clear up front.

4) For my limited use of SF, I do not see (so far) any significant changes or tools between SF 10 Pro and SF 14 Studio; I am not saying there are not improvements or extra features, but for me I have not discovered any compelling reason to use the 14 version over the 10 version. Plus the 10 Pro version can input video files for audio processing, and the Studio version cannot.

So I am keeping SF Studio 14 on my laptop since I am not getting a refund from Microsoft, and I can not register it with Magix since it does not have a serial number. The support from Magix was great, but I am still a little leary of a mature program that will not launch properly on (my) Windows 10 desktop in 2021.

 

Overall recommendation? Don't buy software from the Microsoft Store.