KVR Audio

TS-12 · Post by **TS-12** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 1:53 am

Built new PC, will do a clean install because old computer has too much junk like conflicting drivers and also has been infected with virus last year (virus was from super audio converter).

Can I just copy all VST plugins .dll files to new PC and re-authorize them ?
Or do I have to go thru the long and painful way of reinstalling one by one ?

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 2:02 am

It depends. Some will work OK, especially effects, but others need files, like wavetables and stuff, that will be installed somewhere else. Some also store their GUI image files in a separate folder and stuff like that, so its safest to just reinstall them.

experimental.crow · Post by **experimental.crow** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 2:08 am

anything you installed by simply dropping a .dll file in a folder ,
then same / same ...
anything you installed w/ an installer , you'll need to use that
installation file again ...
some devs have ' centers ' , like NI , Flux , Arturia ...
you'll need to use those ...
those that require activation / authorization will need to be
re-authorized / re-activated ...
plus some other annoying things i'm not thinking of , probably ...

Cirrhosis · Post by **Cirrhosis** » Fri Feb 15, 2019 4:06 pm

In my experience, the best way to go would be installing everything one by one. Some are as simple as dropping the file into the new directory on the new machine, others require more.

You could just copy everything over, then just see what works and doesn't, but that can be frustrating when working on a project, adding a vst, only to find that you have to go and install it.

TS-12 · Post by **TS-12** » Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:42 am

bit the bullet and went with windows 10, now have my fingers crossed that my old old instrument plugins like sound burst Ethnosphere, steinberg virtual guitarist v1 and v2 and few other old ones will all work.

I guess this is a good time to go thru all the plugins and reinstall only the ones I really used.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Tue Feb 19, 2019 3:52 am

Absolutely. I'm sure everything will work.

Rivanni · Post by **Rivanni** » Tue Feb 19, 2019 4:26 am

experimental.crow wrote: Thu Feb 14, 2019 2:08 am those that require activation / authorization will need to be
re-authorized / re-activated ...

Some plugins first need to be de-authorized/de-activated on the the old computer before re-authorized/re-activated on the new one.

Kalamata Kid · Post by **Kalamata Kid** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 6:58 am

Rivanni wrote: Tue Feb 19, 2019 4:26 am
experimental.crow wrote: Thu Feb 14, 2019 2:08 am those that require activation / authorization will need to be
re-authorized / re-activated ...
Some plugins first need to be de-authorized/de-activated on the the old computer before re-authorized/re-activated on the new one.

I am in a similar situation.

1. Which plugins need to be de-authorized/de-activated? What happens if your PC burned to a crisp so there must be a way around the "de-authorized/de-activated".

2. Some plugins allow for more than one installation so these will work in any case.

3. Then there are some programs that do not allow an older version and a new version to co-exist in the same PC. A little note in the installation windows informing you of this fact is just about always missing.

4. I keep my samples in a separate Drive. To be safe is it best to delete the samples a re-install the samples as a fresh install?

DJ Warmonger · Post by **DJ Warmonger** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:26 am

1. Which plugins need to be de-authorized/de-activated? What happens if your PC burned to a crisp so there must be a way around the "de-authorized/de-activated".

Then you are screwed and dependent on technical support

Many plugins (on Windows) need some extra registry entry, license files or dreaded iLok. So you need to know stuff like that in advance and prepare all necessary files before moving to new PC.

4. I keep my samples in a separate Drive. To be safe is it best to delete the samples a re-install the samples as a fresh install?

What kind of samples? If they are free-roaming samples, then you can just copy them to any location as long as you keep consistent folder structure. If they're sample-based libraries for plugins, however, you may need to reinstall them anyway.

sku11b1ade · Post by **sku11b1ade** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 9:01 pm

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You can't just move the majority of plugins over like that unfortunately. There will be reinstallation involved.

If you want to make life a little easier, FX Recall can automatically log all your plugins and help with the reinstallation on the new machine. Available free for PC and Mac: https://www.fxrecall.com (https://www.fxrecall.com)

b4serenity · Post by **b4serenity** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 9:55 pm

When I built a new PC I did clean installs of everything and chose it as a time to pare down and stick with my tried and true. I knew I would be adding new stuff later anyway. And, not like I didn't have more than enough stuff anyway!!

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Tue Jun 16, 2026 2:30 am

It's moments like these where you begin to question your way of being. Do I need all of this, all over again? I even tried to do a new DAW installation on a new machine and NOT install any third party plugins. Did OK for a while, then missed a few things mightily and caved. But that machine is a lot cleaner than the one before it—no giant sample libraries at all.

Can I just copy all VST plugins .dll files to new PC ?