VST Loading has become Very slow. "Application not responding" Windows pop-up regularly appears

[Under A Mile]

Project / VST Loading has become extremely slow in the latest version. (I think VST related)

"Application not responding.... Do you want to end this session?" Windows pop-up regularly pops up, don't think I ever saw that before.

I tried disabling Norton AV, didn't help. I tried loading a smaller project, still really really slow. I gave up after waiting 30mins.

I will give up and  try again tomorrow in case it's a Stealth Windows update (nothing visible) or the PC playing up, but don't think so.

2025.08 Build35

[Helios.G]

2 hours ago, Under A Mile said:

Project / VST Loading has become extremely slow in the latest version. (I think VST related)

"Application not responding.... Do you want to end this session?" Windows pop-up regularly pops up, don't think I ever saw that before.

I tried disabling Norton AV, didn't help. I tried loading a smaller project, still really really slow. I gave up after waiting 30mins.

I will give up and  try again tomorrow in case it's a Stealth Windows update (nothing visible) or the PC playing up, but don't think so.

2025.08 Build35

I think if you fill out your signature like some of us have (check mine for reference), then folks can help you much quicker, cause they can see what you're working with without having to guess what's going on.  Try it and see.

[Promidi]

30 minutes?   That does sound like a PC issue rather than a Sonar issue.... 

Other than that, you need to give use more information....   Like which VSTs and architecture (32bit or 64bit)? 

Personally I would ditch Norton and use something else.... or even just leave the job to Windows Defender. (with exceptions configured for Sonar, project and content folders)

[Bristol_Jonesey]

Are people still using Norton in 2025?

I agree with @Promidi ditch it for something more efficient, less resource intensive.

[Under A Mile]

7 hours ago, Helios.G said:

I think if you fill out your signature like some of us have (check mine for reference), then folks can help you much quicker, cause they can see what you're working with without having to guess what's going on.  Try it and see.

Thanks, point taken. Added signature as follows:

Win11 (10.0.21600 64bit) Pro Intel Core-i7-10700 2.9GHz 8 cores, 16GB RAM

Audio Interface: ESI U168XT. 24bit 44.1KHz, 512 samples latency ASIO. Driver 0.00D0 Firmware 0.0 (2)

Arturia MiniLab

 

[Under A Mile]

7 hours ago, Promidi said:

30 minutes?   That does sound like a PC issue rather than a Sonar issue.... 

Other than that, you need to give use more information....   Like which VSTs and architecture (32bit or 64bit)? 

Personally I would ditch Norton and use something else.... or even just leave the job to Windows Defender. (with exceptions configured for Sonar, project and content folders)

I did disable Norton AV for the loading.

A new day, left it and came back within an hour and it had loaded. No Windows nags this time.

I then tidied the project: freeze/archive quite a load of tracks. (I accept it is quite a big project and it was created in 2021)

I then tried some recording, (comping), there was no issue at all. Mixdown was also just fine. This is not PC performance, but VST loading issue, I'd venture.

Saved, Retried and still taking a long time to load.

PS I have UNticked "Replace if possible on Preoject load" - see screenshot of VST load settings. 

[Xoo]

Any large sample libraries on a disk that may be failing?

[Helios.G]

1 hour ago, Under A Mile said:

Thanks, point taken. Added signature as follows:

Win11 (10.0.21600 64bit) Pro Intel Core-i7-10700 2.9GHz 8 cores, 16GB RAM

Audio Interface: ESI U168XT. 24bit 44.1KHz, 512 samples latency ASIO. Driver 0.00D0 Firmware 0.0 (2)

Arturia MiniLab

 

Have you tried excluding Sonar and all of your DAW software from being scanned by your antivivrus?  I did this a long time ago after having similar issues and haven't had problems since.

[JonD]

Something is using up over half your memory (according to the screenshot).  if you click on the right-arrow on the left of each program, it will show you the breakdown of the processes and how much memory each one is using.  That might provide a clue...

[Under A Mile]

hi, thanks for replies.

For one, Edge browser takes a ton of RAM, and also I noticed Windows backup can choose to run maybe when you'd rather it didn't.

Re Windows Idle memory, I saw this: What is sysmain, and why does it sometimes use a bunch of CPU? Can I disable it, and what happens if I do? - Microsoft Q&A

 I gather that if the memory would be needed by Sonar, sysmain would yield it. I'm not maxing out though so it probably doesn't need to.

I tried a couple of times and managed to reduce load times to under a minute, even less, by selectively killing MS Edge processes and stopping backup.

I am not 100% convinced, but hope this will help tackle it.

PS Another thought, re my SSDs, they are between 3-4 yrs old, I have a C drive for OS and a separate SSD for D drive for projects/wavs. Lexar/Western Digital so should be ok SSDs. I did also check through this, and I have all the recommended best practices. I don't use hibernate. I have not turned off Paging, and have not setup those Browser cache  tweaks. Extend Your SSD's Lifespan on Windows 11: Expert Tips & Tricks | Windows Forum

[Bristol_Jonesey]

8 hours ago, Under A Mile said:

I tried a couple of times and managed to reduce load times to under a minute, even less, by selectively killing MS Edge processes and stopping backup.

What happens if you close Edge completely and disconnect from the internet?

[Wookiee]

@Under A Mile remove Norton's from your machine it is an virus, it is maleware, it is a trojan. It invades every single aspect of your OS, it is a system killer. No serious DAW user runs Nortons.

If you want a third party AV/Anti-Malware protection use Malwarebytes.

Unless you can't stay away from sites with questionable content or warze, or other basically dodgy sites, Microsoft defender is actually one of the best AV/anti-malware programs out there.

[Chaps]

4 hours ago, Wookiee said:

Unless you can't stay away from sites with questionable content or warze, or other basically dodgy sites, Microsoft defender is actually one of the best AV/anti-malware programs out there.

 

I've been using just Microsoft Defender for many years with no problems, and it's updated several times a week (through Windows Update). Microsoft Windows also has a nice Malicious Software Removal Tool (MRT found in C:\Windows\System32).

Edited 21 hours ago by Chaps

[Under A Mile]

On 9/15/2025 at 11:17 AM, Xoo said:

Any large sample libraries on a disk that may be failing?

thanks, I can check that too, since using Arturia Analog Lab V

[Promidi]

3 minutes ago, Under A Mile said:

thanks, I can check that too, since using Arturia Analog Lab V

Maybe run your disks through CrystalDisk info as well.

The Windows Event Viewer might yield something as well.

[Under A Mile]

15 hours ago, Bristol_Jonesey said:

What happens if you close Edge completely and disconnect from the internet?

killed Edge processes and  unplugged network cable - nice and quick - "Under A Minute" - didn't use a stopwatch to compare with just killing off Edge. Comparable times , not much in it, anecdotally.

If I have to do that to get over these loading humps and get these big projects over the line,  then so be it.

Thanks

[Under A Mile]

23 minutes ago, Promidi said:

Maybe run your disks through CrystalDisk info as well.

The Windows Event Viewer might yield something as well.

thanks have downloaded it, will try tomorrow, as it's getting late here.

[Under A Mile]

19 minutes ago, Under A Mile said:

killed Edge processes and  unplugged network cable - nice and quick - "Under A Minute" - didn't use a stopwatch to compare with just killing off Edge. Comparable times , not much in it, anecdotally.

If I have to do that to get over these loading humps and get these big projects over the line,  then so be it.

Thanks

Tried also having Chrome open . inconclusive but might be OK, couple of mins to load, but not quite A/B test. It's getting late here.

Re : Killing off all Edge processes - Under Search you'll see "Webview2", which if you kill it, restarts itself continuously. Not considering uninstall ATM.

So, thanks to all I have some tools and tricks to get loading done in a minute or too. Unplug Ethernet cable may give the fastest.

I have not seen the 30mins loading again - the acid test will be if that recurs, will these tricks work - the answer is hopefully yes!

 

[Max Arwood]

Freeze as much as you can.

You should also click the box in VST scanning that says in Sandbox.

Look at your per plugin CPU numbers. You can usually  find the CPU bandits! Hover over the plugin name.