Updating SynthEyes — A Tutorial

Know there's a great new SynthEyes update, but not how to get it? There are two easy ways: automatic or manual. We'll start with the automatic way, since that's easiest and the work may have already been done for you! If you have installed SynthEyes on a machine with no internet connection, or if you are using Vista, you will need to follow the manual process below.

You should have already received your permanent SynthEyes authorization. If you have not (generally because you have not sent registration data), you will need to complete that first, see the registration and authorization tutorial.

If you have trouble, see the Updating FAQs below.

Automatic Updates

SynthEyes has an automatic update feature that will fetch updaters automatically, if you have configured it correctly. Note that in the manual, auto-update is described in the "Customer Care Features and Automatic Update" section of the reference guide.

Machines running Vista must use the manual update, Vista will not permit the update to start nor allow you to access it manually.

Checking for an Auto-Update

  • You need to have a live, always-on, internet connection for automatic updating, or you should open the connection before starting SynthEyes. 
  • Start SynthEyes
  • Wait 20 or 30 seconds. You may see the D/L button at top right of SynthEyes turn yellow, that's great, the update is downloading. Wait for it to turn green. (Normally this happens as you are working in SynthEyes.)
  • If the D/L button turns red, it means that the updater is misconfigured or the web site is not accessible (ie no internet connection, or a firewall blocking the way).
  • If the D/L button stays gray, it probably means that either the updater is misconfigured or is not configured to check. You can click it directly, and it will immediately check for an update and begin downloading it if one is found.
  • If the D/L button is green, click it to launch the installation of the new version.
  • NOTE: See below for special Windows-64 instructions.
  • You do not have to re-register the new version.

Configuring the Auto-Updater

These are the steps required to reconfigure the auto-update so that it has the information it needs to work correctly. Note that normally this process is accomplished successfully during your initial registration. The process will also ensure that the Msg (check for messages) and Sug (make a suggestion) buttons work properly.

  • Start SynthEyes
  • Click the menu item Help/Register
  • Locate your original, complete, serial number. It is not on the splash screen. You will find it with your permanent license data, in the email entitled "SynthEyes Registration (SAVE THIS MAIL)". It will look something like SN-3-9999-9999Z. Make sure you have the latest email, if you have previously upgraded. Sometimes people break the auto-update by entering a SynthEyes 2006 serial number, for example, if they upgraded from 2006 to 2007.
  • Enter the complete serial number into the SynthEyes registration dialog by copying and pasting. Be sure to include everything from the initial SN, SM, IM, or S6 through and including the final letter.
  • Fill out the rest of the registration form with some plausible real or made-up information.
  • Click the OK button. Not either of the other two! If a message appears that the form needs to be filled out correctly, go back and enhance your entries. If a message about a typo in the serial number appears, make sure you have pasted the entire thing.
  • You will receive a message "Send this message to register@ssontech.com". BUT DO NOT DO SO! Cancel the email message and proceed with these directions.
  • Click the menu item Help/Set Update Info. 
  • Locate your permanent authorization mail, entitled "SynthEyes Registration (SAVE THIS MAIL)". 
  • Identify, in the mail, your customer care login information—it is the same information you use to log in to the customer-only support site.
  • Enter the user id and password into the respective fields of the customer care login information dialog. Use copy and paste to avoid typing errors.
  • Set the "Check for updates" selector to either "on startup" or "daily".
  • Click OK to close the dialog.
  • Click the D/L button at top right.
  • This will either successfully check for updates, as described in the previous section, or produce an error message. 
  • Assuming you have done the setup accurately, by far the most commonly-encountered problem at this stage is that there is a firewall preventing SynthEyes from accessing the ssontech.com website on the standard HTTP port 80. In a larger company, this may be a company firewall box, you will have to check with your systems administrator.
  • Or, it may be firewall/security software on your own machine, in which case you may be able to configure it to allow SynthEyes to make its checks without interference. See your security software manual for instructions.

Manual Updates

You can directly download and install the new version from the customer-only web site as follows. If SynthEyes is installed on a machine with no internet connection, do the process below, then sneaker-net the installer to the final machine.

  • Locate your permanent authorization mail, with a subject line of  "SynthEyes Registration (SAVE THIS MAIL)". 
  • In the mail, locate and click the link following "You can download later builds of SynthEyes with this link:" If you click the support-area link instead, just click the link to the latest.htm page.
  • Enter the Customer care login information from the email, it is a user id and password.
  • In the email, locate your full serial number, above your permanent license information. It will look something like SN-3-9999-9999Z
  • Copy and paste the serial number (without the colon and without any of the <mumbojumbo> license information) into the serial number field of the latest.htm page.
  • Click the Download button and save the new installer.
  • On Vista (only), you must uninstall SynthEyes before installing the new version. This is not necessary on other operating systems.
  • Install the new version.
  • You do not have to re-register.

Windows 64-Bit

The 64-bit version of Windows does not want to automatically start the updater, so after the download completes, and you try to initiate the update installation, SynthEyes will close without the installer launching. You must launch it by going to the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\your_username_here\Application Data\SynthEyes

The Application Data  folder is typically hidden on Windows even though it is the designated place for such information. You will see Syn0764Installer.msi in that folder, double-click it to launch the update installation.

Updating FAQs

Q: I am trying to log in, but my login information does not work.
A: Assuming you are copy/pasting, usually this means that your 1 year of SynthEyes technical support, and access to upgrades, has expired. See also the next question.

Q: I keep getting my same old version of 2006.5
A: If you are a SynthEyes 2006 licensee, but have not upgraded to 2007, you will need to purchase the upgrade to 2007(½). See the online store, select the appropriate platform, and enter the correct quantity in "Upgrade from 2006" etc.

Q: I already upgraded to 2007, but when I try to download 2007½, I keep getting 2006
A: You are using the wrong mail & serial number—from 2006. Locate the registration mail for 2007 and use your 2007 serial number.

Q: I can't find the email labeled "SynthEyes Registration (SAVE THIS MAIL)"
A: This means either you did not register, or that you did not save it. Either register if you haven't already, or flay yourself with wet spaghetti noodles and then contact support for help. Please be sure to clearly identify who you are and use your company email address, not your yahoo dungeon handle. Thanks.

Q: I messed the updater up with an old 2004 serial number and may have cut the download off in the middle. How can I reset the autoupdate features.
A: (Windows) From Start/Run, enter regedit. Double-click on + signs to open the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then SOFTWARE, then SynthEyes. Select AUdlf, then right-click and select Delete from the popup menu. Select AUdlb and right-click and select Delete from the popup menu.  Go to C:\Documents and Settings\your_username_here\Application Data\SynthEyes and remove thesSyn07setup.exe or Syn0764Installer.msi file.

Q: I am running Vista and SynthEyes will not start. I get a message about its side-by-side configuration being incorrect.
A: You must uninstall SynthEyes before installing an update. Uninstall then reinstall and it will be fine.