Steinberg HALion 6 & HALion Sonic 3

[Hadrondrift]

Do you have any idea what components are missing in Windows 7?

You need to install a Direct2D update for Windows 7.

It is part of the "Windows 7 Convenience update (KB3125574)". I personally recommend to install this so-called "Windows 7 Service Pack 2" anyway. Alternatively, just install the "Platform update for Windows 7 SP1 - (KB2670838)"

Having installed the convenience update, I don't have any problems here, HALion 6 works like a charm on Windows 7. It works perfectly, but you will currently not get any HALion 6 support from Steinberg for Win7.

via Steinberg forum: (klick).

[Daags]

What's the situation with Win 7 support ? Have they decided to officially support it, or is it working fine on Win 7 anyway ?

[fmr]

Do you have any idea what components are missing in Windows 7?

You need to install a Direct2D update for Windows 7.

It is part of the "Windows 7 Convenience update (KB3125574)". I personally recommend to install this so-called "Windows 7 Service Pack 2" anyway. Alternatively, just install the "Platform update for Windows 7 SP1 - (KB2670838)"

Having installed the convenience update, I don't have any problems here, HALion 6 works like a charm on Windows 7. It works perfectly, but you will currently not get any HALion 6 support from Steinberg for Win7.

via Steinberg forum: (klick).

Yes, I have it running here without problems too, so, if it's that, I likely have one of those installed. And since I don't remember haven't choose specifically to install any of them, probably they were already needed for something else that got installed, or a regular Windows update. Anyway, if it's so simple, why is Steinberg arguing that it's not possible to support Windows 7?

EDIT: I checked, and I have KB2670838 installed since 09/March/2013 So, it was probably an automatic update.

[Daags]

Do you have any idea what components are missing in Windows 7?

You need to install a Direct2D update for Windows 7.

It is part of the "Windows 7 Convenience update (KB3125574)". I personally recommend to install this so-called "Windows 7 Service Pack 2" anyway. Alternatively, just install the "Platform update for Windows 7 SP1 - (KB2670838)"

Having installed the convenience update, I don't have any problems here, HALion 6 works like a charm on Windows 7. It works perfectly, but you will currently not get any HALion 6 support from Steinberg for Win7.

via Steinberg forum: (klick).

I guess you posted this while I was typing my Win 7 query that came right after.

Good to know it's working perfectly for you, albeit unofficially.

[Compyfox]

My apologies again for the lack of information prior to the release and the inconvenience of the add-on license. Unfortunately there is a technical barrier between the USB eLicenser and the soft eLicenser, that blocks HALion 6 from covering legacy products like HALion 5 or Hypersonic. If it would have been possible to allow the multi-license coverage, we would have done it.

Excuse me, but what the heck has that to do with anything?

Unless there is a f*ck up if you move from the soft eLicenser (aka HDD eLicenser) to USB eLicenser - there should be no issue whatsoever.

I still take it (and understand it that way) that the Halion 6 update NUKED pretty much all previous versions (no matter if you managed to run it side by side or not), and that has NOTHING (aka: zero, zilch) to do with the soft eLicenser.

So that's just another excuse IMO to calm down the masses. I mean... people BOUGHT physical copies of Hypersonic back in the days, and can't use it now because "Halion 6 - upgrade corrupted everything else" - which is stupid. Halion 5 doesn't work on another rig or dual boot or whatever, because "Halion 6 - upgrade corrupted everything else". It's like as if current day Waldorf licenses would corrupt the old Steinberg Waldorf Edition... (which it doesn't - because the old CP was a CD check, the current CP is Serial)

This doesn't make sense!



I really, really hope they don't pull this stunt for the upcoming host updates.

And I'd still like to know (in fact, I asked Steinberg several times about this - so far no answer) what they consider "2-3 OS versions back"?

But I guess, it's down to the old routines:
don't communicate and absolute minimal damage control... let the "unsatisfied bunch" weed out themselves, and "it's not our fault that you're still on an old rig".

Do you have any idea what components are missing in Windows 7?

You need to install a Direct2D update for Windows 7.

So it DOES work on Windows 7 ("we refuse the support" does not equal "unofficially working") - and no feature is missing. No refuse-to-launch like C8 if you didn't have AERO activated...




More and more contradictions... What are they even doing?!

[lfm]

My apologies again for the lack of information prior to the release and the inconvenience of the add-on license. Unfortunately there is a technical barrier between the USB eLicenser and the soft eLicenser, that blocks HALion 6 from covering legacy products like HALion 5 or Hypersonic. If it would have been possible to allow the multi-license coverage, we would have done it.

Excuse me, but what the heck has that to do with anything?

Unless there is a f*ck up if you move from the soft eLicenser (aka HDD eLicenser) to USB eLicenser - there should be no issue whatsoever.

I did that when going from Cubase Elements to Pro, first moved license to usb licenser.
Then made uppgrade. No issues.

Wasn't it possible to run Halion 5 and earlier on usb licenser as well?

And is main problem that people were not informed to move soft elicenser first or something?
Once entering Halion 6 license, it is too late since H5 is replaced?

At least I got a response from Steinberg support that Windows 7 is reinstated as supported, and they are testing that - due to demand from userbase.

But on question when Cubase might loose Windows 7 support he could not comment on that. A bit worrying I think.

[BassMasterK]

My apologies again for the lack of information prior to the release and the inconvenience of the add-on license. Unfortunately there is a technical barrier between the USB eLicenser and the soft eLicenser, that blocks HALion 6 from covering legacy products like HALion 5 or Hypersonic. If it would have been possible to allow the multi-license coverage, we would have done it.

Excuse me, but what the heck has that to do with anything?

Unless there is a f*ck up if you move from the soft eLicenser (aka HDD eLicenser) to USB eLicenser - there should be no issue whatsoever.

They recently posted they were stopping support for C6 so C7 will be on the chopping block next but I would guess not until they have C10 out. By that point they would hopefully have all the bugs worked out. My 7.5 has been rock solid for me.

I did that when going from Cubase Elements to Pro, first moved license to usb licenser.
Then made uppgrade. No issues.

Wasn't it possible to run Halion 5 and earlier on usb licenser as well?

And is main problem that people were not informed to move soft elicenser first or something?
Once entering Halion 6 license, it is too late since H5 is replaced?

At least I got a response from Steinberg support that Windows 7 is reinstated as supported, and they are testing that - due to demand from userbase.

But on question when Cubase might loose Windows 7 support he could not comment on that. A bit worrying I think.

They actually told you they will nkw support Win7? This is great news. I haven't seen that on their forum yet. I"m in if that is the case.

[Daags]

At least I got a response from Steinberg support that Windows 7 is reinstated as supported, and they are testing that - due to demand from userbase.

excellent. it really puts comments like these into perspective:

W7 is dead, and for good after MS cutting off all support in 2020. You probably won't even be able to install H6 on it, because of some prerequisites. Live with it.

And as EvilDragon mentioned, Windows 7 is running out as an OS. It was released in 2009, and the enhanced support will be running out in 2020 (basic support, which means feature enhancement, and stuff like that, already ran out in 2015). You know, i do get that people are still using it, but, it won't get any younger... Steinberg will surely know what they do, when they're not supporting it anymore with their software plugins. I'd be damned if they don't have an ear on their customers.

If Steinberg had announced prior - as they did with the switch to 64bit, and the last few Mac OS iterations - that they were phasing out win7 with their upcoming software releases, then fair play to them. But they didn't.

Ok, i'll bite. Why would that have been fair, and why is this unfair now? You either buy, or you don't. They're not obliged to support every OS with one of their standalone software products. If people who use Windows 7 don't buy this, then that's all that there is about it really.

@ BBFG#: I'm pretty sure it rather has to do with keeping work, and expenses within the scope, when you don't support an OS you don't consider as support worthy anymore (sorry to say, but, Windows 7 is heading south, there is no doubt about that... at the latest in 3 years, most people will have stopped using it). It doesn't make sense for most companies to support Windows Vista for several years now.

Not to say i'm not sorry for the people not able to run it (althought it seems to work), but... you don't have to buy. It's really hard to feel sympathetic about it, when it's entirely your own decision whether you buy or not. There's enough alternatives.

etc etc etc. these apologists would be better off spending their keystrokes in a different manner, rather than trying to hinder the efforts of others.

[BassMasterK]

At least I got a response from Steinberg support that Windows 7 is reinstated as supported, and they are testing that - due to demand from userbase.

excellent. it really puts comments like these into perspective:

W7 is dead, and for good after MS cutting off all support in 2020. You probably won't even be able to install H6 on it, because of some prerequisites. Live with it.

And as EvilDragon mentioned, Windows 7 is running out as an OS. It was released in 2009, and the enhanced support will be running out in 2020 (basic support, which means feature enhancement, and stuff like that, already ran out in 2015). You know, i do get that people are still using it, but, it won't get any younger... Steinberg will surely know what they do, when they're not supporting it anymore with their software plugins. I'd be damned if they don't have an ear on their customers.

If Steinberg had announced prior - as they did with the switch to 64bit, and the last few Mac OS iterations - that they were phasing out win7 with their upcoming software releases, then fair play to them. But they didn't.

Ok, i'll bite. Why would that have been fair, and why is this unfair now? You either buy, or you don't. They're not obliged to support every OS with one of their standalone software products. If people who use Windows 7 don't buy this, then that's all that there is about it really.

@ BBFG#: I'm pretty sure it rather has to do with keeping work, and expenses within the scope, when you don't support an OS you don't consider as support worthy anymore (sorry to say, but, Windows 7 is heading south, there is no doubt about that... at the latest in 3 years, most people will have stopped using it). It doesn't make sense for most companies to support Windows Vista for several years now.

Not to say i'm not sorry for the people not able to run it (althought it seems to work), but... you don't have to buy. It's really hard to feel sympathetic about it, when it's entirely your own decision whether you buy or not. There's enough alternatives.

etc etc etc. these apologists would be better off spending their keystrokes in a different manner, rather than trying to hinder the efforts of others.

I understand their sentiment, Win7 is now the oldest OS and yes, it will be the next to no longer get support, but that is in 3 years. And like what happened with XP, the user base may be so large that they end up extending that. I built my system around 3 years ago, Win10 wasn't even out yet and there was no way I was using Win8 and I refused to take the free upgrade to Win10 because my system was rock solid and still is to this day.

As we have seen, Win7 has more users than Win8 and Win10 combined. It almost has more users than ALL other OS's combined. To drop that big of a user base for having an OS that will be supported for at least 3 more years just didn't make sense. I am glad they have reversed course on this.

[fmr]

Do you have any idea what components are missing in Windows 7?

You need to install a Direct2D update for Windows 7.

So it DOES work on Windows 7 ("we refuse the support" does not equal "unofficially working") - and no feature is missing. No refuse-to-launch like C8 if you didn't have AERO activated...

More and more contradictions... What are they even doing?!

Yes, it works under Windows 7. I said that since day ONE. And since they solved the problem with HALion 5 (they sent me a new license for it), HALion 5 is working alongside HALion 6, without any problems so far, which also contradicts what they state.

Clearly, Steinberg didn't try Windows 7, so, they have no idea what works and what not.

[zvenx]

Do you have any idea what components are missing in Windows 7?

You need to install a Direct2D update for Windows 7.

So it DOES work on Windows 7 ("we refuse the support" does not equal "unofficially working") - and no feature is missing. No refuse-to-launch like C8 if you didn't have AERO activated...

More and more contradictions... What are they even doing?!

Yes, it works under Windows 7. I said that since day ONE. And since they solved the problem with HALion 5 (they sent me a new license for it), HALion 5 is working alongside HALion 6, without any problems so far, which also contradicts what they state.

Clearly, Steinberg didn't try Windows 7, so, they have no idea what works and what not.

I sincerely doubt if they had no W7 beta testers.
My guess is they didn't really pay it any mind and maybe wasn't tested internally at HQ.
rsp

[aMUSEd]

Do you have any idea what components are missing in Windows 7?

You need to install a Direct2D update for Windows 7.

So it DOES work on Windows 7 ("we refuse the support" does not equal "unofficially working") - and no feature is missing. No refuse-to-launch like C8 if you didn't have AERO activated...

More and more contradictions... What are they even doing?!

Yes, it works under Windows 7. I said that since day ONE. And since they solved the problem with HALion 5 (they sent me a new license for it)

Still nothing from support for me...is there a specific form or something for this?

[fmr]

Still nothing from support for me...is there a specific form or something for this?

I opened an incident in "My Steinberg" and I received a reply like the day after. After a couple of e-mails, where I explained that I still needed HALion 5, for matter of compatibility with 32-bit hosts, they just sent me a code to download a new license for HALion 5. Really have no reason to complain for support.

[aMUSEd]

That's what I did but all I got was an autobot reply then nothing despite sending 2 further requests.

[Compyfox]

Yes, it works under Windows 7. I said that since day ONE. And since they solved the problem with HALion 5 (they sent me a new license for it), HALion 5 is working alongside HALion 6, without any problems so far, which also contradicts what they state.

But the problem is still - why did this happen in the first place?!

Why did it NUKE previous license versions (including Hypersonic)?

Since I don't have either of these VSTi, I can't further comment on this (neither confirm/nor deny). I can only go by what's being reported. But WHAT is being reported, is the most troublesome stuff I've ever read.

And this locked out legit users for how long? 1-2 weeks?!

Imagine that happening with a host update!
Example: You're on Cubase 8 (for example) and Cubase 9.5 hits the market. You hesisted to upgrade until now. Yet there is no demo to test (still) and you want to run the host side-by-side to transition and "learn" the new features. "Whoops - sorry - won't work, you can't use your previous copies of Cubase anymore - might as well throw away your install discs and boxes". Yeah, great move.

Imagine that would have happened from Wavelab 6 to Wavelab 7 (complete rewrite of the UI, new features, etc). Or from WL8 to WL9 (another complete UI rewrite and 50% feature overhaul - heck even key switches are different!).


This... is more than nonsense and a really dangerous game for people that are reliant on these tools.

Clearly, Steinberg didn't try Windows 7, so, they have no idea what works and what not.

Can't imagine that though. But then again, I also already heard excuses back in the days "we had to dig out an old PC and reinstall an older OS to check ourselves". Always looking forward is one thing, cutting support for an OS that is considered "outdated" and Microsoft stopping support in late 2020 (still 3 years!) is another.


But NUKING other licenses so that you can only use the most recent version and no "off branches"... that is unacceptable IMO.