Rraud:

Thanks in advance! Tried renaming, vst_grovel.log, SF just recreated, so did as suggested and deleted. There was a pregnant pause (though it might work-nope). I viewed in notepad, SF is attempting to load every .dll on computer. For this reason I don't think moving VST .dll files will work (not sure where they're located anyway). Renamed vst server, thought it might interrupt flow, but crashed. If I could just delete the search field... what a a doosie, won't do this again! Any further suggestions before I reinstall?

The VST .dll files are typically in your "Program Files" folder (usually "Program Files (x86" on 64bit PCs) under 'vst', 'Vstplugins' or Steinberg' folders. Having the entire 'Program files' folder selected could definitely cause problems, there's likely non-audio <.dll> files in there as well SF is trying to load.

If you do decide to uninstall/reinstall, I would suggest cleaning the registry before re-installation or using a third-party uninstaller, which should remove the old SF reg entries.. which are a known cause of problems.

Holy guacomole! The options>preferences>vst search field is definitely attempting to load many files (e.g. MS Word, etc.). Gave up and reinstalled SF.

Sure wish it was that easy... followed your advice with registry cleaner. Have used CC on my other systems, and works well. Found CC uninstaller however, not advisable as it didn't appear to do as complete job, as the uninstaller in control panel.

Meticulously reviewed every registry entry CC found. If it didn't reference Magix or SF I didn't delete it (everything else had other programs referenced in the string). So here I am on my 3rd attempt, yep count 'em 3. I have gone above and beyond cleaning out folders left behind after uninstall (e.g. users>appdata>local, etc.), using win explorer search. For some reason SF still attempts to load every .dll from vst search field when I start SF. Have searched and deleted anything remotely labeled with SF or Magix. How is it possible it is still linking? What is it still linking to? Do I need to delete the Steinberg folders too, any other plugins? Why would that matter? Anything else you could think of that might be linked to SF that's causing it to crash? Thanks!

Hi.

As you suggest, there is some part of SF that appears to not be being uninstalled. (I don't own/use SF but have occasionally been faced with the problem of a "partial" uninstall of other software, leading to a failure to be able to reinstall.)

My suggestion: find and download Revo Uninstaller (there is a free version which may be able to do this) or the paid version has a 30 day trial - in my opinion, the latter is well worth the money. Once it is installed, use its Forced Uninstall mode to search for, list and, if you allow it to do so, delete everything it can find pertaining to SF. Then reboot your computer and try the reinstall.

There is no guarantee this will work but I have yet to personally experience the process failing (dangerous statement, I know!)

HTH
Jeff

Thanks everyone for suggestions! I sure had hopes for this one. Downloaded Revo uninstaller, and uninstalled, used the additional tool "Junk files cleaner" even tried CCleaner to hunt for anything in registry... Still won't open - hangs in the very same point loading dll's and other unrelated files! Looked at the grovel log in notepad (included small portion below). Really losing my sanity here, sure glad I don't have clients relying on me. Here's the report it generates:

Problem Description
   Application Name:    Sound Forge Audio Studio
   Application Version: Version 10.0 (Build 295)
   Problem:             Unmanaged Exception (0xc0000005)
   Fault Module:    C:\Program Files (x86)\MAGIX\Sound Forge Audio Studio 10.0\sfvstserver.exe
   Fault Address:    0x61C14DAF
   Fault Offset:        0x61C14DAF
Fault Process Details
   Process Path:      C:\Program Files (x86)\MAGIX\Sound Forge Audio Studio 10.0 sfvstserver.exe
   Process Version: Version 10.0 (Build 295)
   Process Description: VST Server
   Process Image Date:  2016-09-06 (Tue Sep 06) 10:21:34

Grovel Log

INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:23 **** Grovelling path "C:\Program Files (x86)\*.*"... ****
INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:23 **** Grovelling path "C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD\*.*"... ****
INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:23 **** Grovelling path "C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD\CNext\*.*"...

INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:23 C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\CyberLink Media Suite\PowerDirector12\runtime\SEditorX\libebml.dll found in cache.
INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:23 C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\CyberLink Media Suite\PowerDirector12\runtime\SEditorX\libmatroska.dll found in cache.
INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:23 C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\CyberLink Media Suite\PowerDirector12\runtime\SEditorX\SE_CLMediaDetect.dll found in cache.****INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:27 Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\1033\ACCOLKI.DLL.
INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:27 Adding unrecognized .dll 'ACCOLKI.DLL' to cache.
INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:27 Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\1033\ACWIZRC.DLL.
INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:27 Adding unrecognized .dll 'ACWIZRC.DLL' to cache.INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:59 Adding unrecognized .dll 'Microsoft.Mashup.Document.resources.dll' to cache.
INFO 2017-07-26 15:54:59 **** Grovelling path "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ADDINS\Microsoft Power Query for Excel Integrated\bin\cs\*.*"... ****

Hi

The file path for the VST search is stored in the registry, the uninstaller would not remove the key because it is a User key not a computer key and programs like Revo etc also will not uninstall the registry key.

WARNING: using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to re-install Windows to correct them. Use this tool at your own risk.

If you Are confident in editing the registry then:

Open Regedit - Windows key + R, type regedit in the run dialog and press Enter key.

In the left pane navigate to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Sony Creative Software\Sound Forge Pro\10.0\Metrics\VstCache\SearchPaths

Note this path is based on Sound Forge Pro 11.0 - I am assuming 10 is the same

Assuming you added only one additional VST path in the program preferences you should see 2 Path entries, Path 1 should be the default path as installed. Make a note of the path but do not touch this key or any of its values.

Path 2 - (1) in image below - should have the file path (2) you set on addition of VST locations to search in the programs preferences.

Delete the Path 2 key - (1) in the image below.

Start Sound Forge it should now load.

Open the programs Preferences, VST Effects tab check the pane indicated below for VST plugins to load - if there are any - and uncheck any that you do not recognises or are not in the default path and click Refresh.

Close and restart Sound Forge - you should now only have the VST's that were installed.

If you want to add other VSTS to sound Forge then put them in a specific folder and in the Preferences point the second path to the folder containing the VSTs .

In the image above you can see I have a specific folder for them - indicated in Path 2 , this is also used in other Magix programs so I keep them in one place only.

HTH

John EB

Same stuff different day as they say - what a domino effect! Process became motivation to create recovery drive, which lead to file clean up and so it goes.

Thank you John - followed your instructions to the letter with regedit. There's no "path 2" only "path 1." Looking at your pix, (memory fading), seems like I may have cleared the "Default VST search folder" field, and not used the "Alternate VST search folder 1:" field. So shouldn't I clear "path 1" field?

Reviewing the registry instructions and my screen. Definitely can confirm my registry for Path 1 is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\

Is it possible to edit/change the path in the registry back to C:\ProgramData\MAGIX\Common\VST\

Hi

. . . . Is it possible to edit/change the path in the registry back to C:\ProgramData\MAGIX\Common\VST\ . . . .

Please heed the warning above.

Double click the value you want to change in the right pane, in this case Path (at 2 in the image) and type in the new value in the dialog that opens.

Be sure to enter the path correctly and then click OK.

Start Sound Forge and it should load correctly.

HTH

John EB