Potentially dumb question, LOL...
 

Getting ready to transition to the new Hoster...currently have 3.315 on the pc with XP, gonna transition to the current 4.06 upgrade on a laptop using Vista 64 bit...

Concerns niggling at me as I plan...'

1. Has there been any format change to the KMA files at all or will all my old KMA files from 3.315 integrate perfectly with any new versions...? Yes, dumb question, but I am asking because I am upgrading to avoid having to rerip discs, and I just have to say it out loud before I commit, LOL.

2. Any downside to using hoster with 64 bit Vista? I dont need 64 bit Vista, but it came with the laptop, and I am wanting to be sure Hoster has no known issues with the 64 bit o.s.

3. I dont intend to use the PC for shows any longer. Do I need to connect that machine to the internet somehow to upgrade, or can I DL the upgrade to the new machine using the code from the old machine?

4. Once I have the new laptop set up, how would I then install Hoster on a second machine as a back up unit? Maybe I could keep the PC set up as a back up, but that is a lot of hardware to tote around as a spare tire.

THANKS!

before you upgrade make sure you have all the recommended and the custom updates and installed, and you " must do all the recommended changes in vista in order for the new version to work right " THIS IS A MUST" PER ADMIN.

No problem there, I am a chronic updater, LOL. Thanks. I was hoping I could just drag those KMA files over, then add my new additions to them once I rip the new discs. Thanks for the reassurance.

Not a dumb question at all. Yes they will work. You will be asked to convert any zip files you may have loaded. Say yes and let it do it's thing. It is only going to unzip inside the kma and will not change anything else.

Vista can be problematic but I think MTU has found all the problems and workarounds. When you do the install, it will see that you have Vista and give you a link to a web page with all of the recommended tweaks to Vista. Just use the link, read through and do ALL the steps required. Don't be scared, it won't hurt:) Any hoops you may have to jump through will be worth it for the new features. The singers database, in my opinion, is worth it's weight in gold.

After the upgrade, just copy your KMAs over to the new system and rebuild your database.

edit: I see I was a little slow on the trigger.

There has been a change in the KMA files, but it will not effect playing in any Hoster versions. There was a change in the header to add two more fields to it and when you install version 4.06 it will rebuild your database to add that change. As Marklwood said if you have any zip files it will ask to convert those too.

Any computer you intend to upgrade will have to be connected to the internet during the installation so you can register it with MTU. They no longer allow floppy disk or memory stick usage to register.
You can install Hoster on 2 computers, so when you get the new one it should install ok. However if you are buying the upgrade instead of the full license you will have to install the previous version (3.315 will work) before you can upgrade. Upgrade licenses now require that the previous version be on the computer in order to verify you own a full version and not just buying the cheaper upgrade.
Other than that follow what the others have said too. It is very important that you set Vista exactly as listed in the instructions to prevent problems with Vista.

Thank you...so logistically, I will take my old PC, upgrade it to the new version.

Then when I want to install on the second machine (my new Vista laptop), do I have to copy something from the old pc to the laptop, or do I just take the laptop to the MTU website and it will install it for me there?

Similarly, I am curious of the process of removing Hoster from the old PC in the future, and adding to my backup laptop.

THANKS!!

I don't know if this will help you, but if you go the section of the manual ,that is titled "Installing On Your Computer", you will find complete instructions on how to install and uninstall Hoster software.

Thanks Laddie. I will check that out on the next bootup. I guess you can tell I bought my Hoster preinstalled on my machine, LOL. Duh.

Thanks again.