A big "Thank You" to all those people that have contacted me
personally, and offered advice through MMD, on this tedious matter.
Here is a summary of things to try:

- Revert to Windows XP (from several people disillusioned by Vista).

- Get Cakewalk Sonar 6 or above (I am assured that this will play the
old files).

- Several very high tech dissertations, which I would need to take
a degree in Computer Science to understand!

One or two people didn't quite get the point: I can play the old
files in QuickTime, but that is no help in editing and orchestrating
the music for my band organ.  Cakewalk is a program that I have learned
to use over the years, and I do not wish to have to spend a lot of time
learning to use something new, although I may be forced to.  Music and
computers do not occupy the whole of my life, I have many other
interests, and since retirement, I just can not imagine how I found
time to work for a living!!

My own take is this: I just spent money on this new computer with
Vista.  In the same way that expect to be able to get into my car and
drive it, without fuss or problems (I don't need a degree in physics
or chemistry to do that), I expect my computer to switch on and be
instantly available to use, which it now is.  I expect it to be able
to run all the programs that I want.

The first computer I used was in 1972.  37 years later I still cannot
trust computer technology in the same way I can trust my car.

I sincerely hope that the creators of Vista will get things right,
before embarking on Windows Cosmos, or whatever they decide to call
their next wondrous marvel!  Although, I have to say, that everything
else that I could do in XP, I can now do in Vista.

I am going for the Sonar 6 option and will report progress, I hope!

Season's Greetings
Nigel Perry