scook

Chances are you are running SONAR as administrator and NOT running CbB as administrator. Here is a fix to the registry eliminating the need to run as administrator to load Pentagon.

Make sure some other media player makes sound.
Make sure Windows and Cakewalk are set to the same sample rate.
 

notes browser

The "offline help" option was removed from preferences because BandLab only offers web-based help at this time but the local help logic is still in CbB. This is all covered in a previous thread
Detailed help for plug-ins is separate from the CbB help system. Help for plug-ins is installed locally with the plug-ins.

The track view grid line option is in the track view menu View > Display > Vertical Grid Lines
The PRV has a similar option in its view menu called "Show Vertical Gridlines"

sounds like offset mode

Depends on the Track FX setting in freeze options. Right-click a snowflake for the context menu to access the freeze options dialog.

Yes, software (IOW synth plug-ins) and hardware synths read MIDI data and generate audio from it.
Opening a GM MIDI file in CbB will automatically add TTS-1 and make the appropriate instrument assignments as long as there are no MIDI output assignments in preferences. Of course, one can manually make the assignments or use other synths but the automatic TTS-1 feature is the easiest way to get started.

I believe deselecting "Show Update Notifications" in preferences is what you want.
Also signing out of BA or disconnecting from the internet should suppress the messages regardless of the preference setting.

http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=NewFeatures.10.html

One other thing to consider, when running at low latency, plug-in load balancing may be turned off even when the option is enabled. The documentation covers how to adjust this feature.

Change the filter at the bottom of the page next to "Show All Posts" from "30 Days"  to "from the beginning"

Everything is still there.
I have asked @Jesse Jost if it is possible to change the default to show all posts. Using Google with "site:forum.cakewalk.com" as part of the search criteria is still the best way to get info from the old forum. To browse the forum, set this filter to "from the beginning."

Check out the new features section in the help http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=NewFeatures.03.html
 

Check it out in the Event List View. There are a lot of duplicate notes. Notice the start times of the notes. For example, there should only be one F#4 at 00:00:00 in track 13. I count 4. It appears the clip X has 3 duplicate notes and clip Y is duplicated once.
 

Delete or rename %appdata%\Cakewalk\Cakewalk Core\TTSSEQ.INI

To create a new project at the same directory level as the original.
On the main menu click File > "Save As"
Click the icon pointed to by 1
Enter the new project name in the field pointed to by 2

Notice the Project and Audio Path fields at the bottom of the dialog are automatically filled in with the new paths.

ripple edit

What you want to do is export the clip.
There are several ways to export clips. Drag and drop to a folder in Windows Explorer or a folder in the Media Browser (you may recall I provided a link to the Media browser in your other thread) may be your best options. Both do the same thing - create MIDI clips as files on the hard drive.
As far as naming the clip, this can be done in clip properties in the inspector or once the file is created.

Creating MIDI loops for chords will work. Use the Media Browser to store them in a folder in the MIDI Groove Clips (a predefined area in the Content Location menu) or anywhere you like. You can extend the Media Browser as you see fit, add folders, create new entries in the Content Location menu, drag and drop MIDI and audio clips from your project into folders....
Ultimately if you spend any amount of time in the Piano Roll View, you will get a keyboard controller for data entry. Does not have to be expensive, have a lot of keys or control options, Just something to bang in the notes. Of course, if you play keyboards the size and feel are issues. If not practically anything beats using a PC keyboard, mouse and copying loops when entering data in the PRV.

When running a DAW it is a good idea to disable Windows sounds completely.
If you are running ASIO4All, this is not a real ASIO driver. It is a wrapper for WDM drivers primarily designed for programs that only support ASIO drivers. Sometimes it works better than the native Windows drivers; other times ASIO4All is a problem and must be uninstalled to restore the machine back to proper operation.
AFAIK, the native Realtek ASIO does not work very well either.
MME is the driver mode of last resort. Typically the worst performer.

May want to read up on Groove Clips.

Cakewalk includes the Studio Instrument Suite. A collection of plug-ins for drum, bass, electric piano and strings. Cakewalk can use any 64bit DX, 32/64bit VST or VST3 plug-in developed for Windows. There are thousands of them, some free, some commercial.

For a list of unread posts click the "Unread Content" on the right below the Search entry.

An output set to None or set to hardware no longer available to the DAW will generate this message too.
There is a global setting to prevent the messages from being displayed - set WarnSilentBuses to 0 in Preferences > File > Initialization File.

It does not matter - some force everything into the Cakewalk default folder, some use a folder outside of Program Files, some use manufacturer defaults. There is no standard location for VST2 plug-ins. The VST3 spec provides a standard location and VST3 installs should use it but even then Cakewalk will load VST3 plug-ins found anywhere in the scan path. Some programs are not as forgiving.