New Computer: Should I just delete and re-install?

Paul d' · 2025-01-23T20:38:51+00:00

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I am not a techie.

I have a new computer, and I'm honestly not sure where my Native Instruments downloads are. I've opened Native Access and clicked on the various libraries, and have repaired, located some, but I have no consistency in location.

I want to have the Native Access app (is it NA 1 or NA 2?) on my new studio mac, but the LIBRARY on a new external 40T drive. I can't seem to do that. (I also have a lot of Spitfire libraries and the ones tied to Kontakt 8 need repair/location, etc. too)

(I CAN get libraries to play if the folder is on my Studio Mac, but that takes up too much room, etc.)

I have looked at articles online, etc., and that hasn't helped me. I'm spinning.

My knee-jerk now is to trash all the NATIVE INSTRUMENT folders I have and can find, and just re-install everything. Moving various folders around doesn't seem to help—honestly I have too many stupidly created folders over the years on a few external hard drives.

One of my objectives with the new computer is to streamline what I haven't previously.

As I keep ending up going around in the same circle with the same result…

I know this is pretty basic for most, but not for me. (I do have a cognitive deficit…)

I've never entered a community chat before.

Thanks!

Paul

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Accepted answers

Mert_NI

Hello Paul,

I know these things can be complicated, especially if there are too many products. This question can have different answers for different parts, so I will try to cover most of them as much as I can do.

First, you can use the products in your computer without a need to de-register or uninstall it from the previous computer. Here is the Knowledge Base Article that can help you with this subject:

On How Many Computers Can I Activate My Native Instruments Product?

This Knowledge Base Article also includes additional articles as "Installing Native Instruments Products on a New Computer" that can also help you further with this case.

According to using the Repairing Function, here is the Knowledge Base Article that can help you with this subject:

Using the Repair / Relocate Function in Native Access

According to the changing the file locations from or to the external hard drive,

By changing the installation preferences you change the paths of your future installations,

I always highly advise following Native Instruments recommendations regarding file handling, this can help prevent several issues from occurring in the future.

How to Change the Install Locations in Native Access

Applications are best left default, the download location is negligible and the content location may be external if the format is supported.

We recommend using NTFS on Windows and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) on Mac OSX 10.12 and lower, APFS for 10.13 and higher.

Notes on Hard Drive Formats on Mac Computers

To change the paths of installations you have already made please see:

Moving a Native Instruments Product to Another Location on Your Computer

Moving a Native Instruments Product to Another Location on Your Computer [VIDEO]

And these should help you about this subject.

If you will have any further questions, please let me know so I can help you further to solve that.

I hope this helps☺️

All comments

mykejb

You need to be using the latest Native Access 2, which is version 3.16.0

You can find where your libraries are installed by clicking the three dots under the library image in Native Access then clicking "Installation Paths". That shows where Native Access thinks they should be located.

You can move all your libraries to an external disk then use Native Access to repair them.

Is the Mac new, or do you have lots of other software already installed? If you don't have much other stuff installed the simplest way forward would be to reload MacOS then install things in the location you want them. For anything installed with Native Access you set the install paths for Content in the preferences to a folder on your external disk. If you already have a lot of software installed you could maybe reload MacOS to the point before you installed the Native Instruments software using Time Machine?

Paul d'

Thank you, mykejb!

I have been clicking on the 3 dots, etc. and installation paths, thank you. If I install them on my computer (the default path), they work. But I don't want them there. I need to figure out how to get the new path workable within the "3 dot choices." As I attempt to install/move a library to the external hard drive, I get "that path is invalid." I was thinking if I could just locate the folder that has my NI Library on my studio mac, I could just move it to the new Hard Drive. (I have too many NI folders created over the years…

I "migrated" things from a mac mini to the Studio Mac (Sweetwater installed Pro Tools and a couple other things before shipping it to me.) Then I did the migration. I know it'll all work out once I get things talking correctly. :)

It's a new Mac. I'll follow your feedback and see how it goes. (Can't start that until tomorrow.)

THANK YOU! Paul

Mert_NI

Hello Paul,

First, you can use the products in your computer without a need to de-register or uninstall it from the previous computer. Here is the Knowledge Base Article that can help you with this subject:

On How Many Computers Can I Activate My Native Instruments Product?

This Knowledge Base Article also includes additional articles as "Installing Native Instruments Products on a New Computer" that can also help you further with this case.

According to using the Repairing Function, here is the Knowledge Base Article that can help you with this subject:

Using the Repair / Relocate Function in Native Access

According to the changing the file locations from or to the external hard drive,

By changing the installation preferences you change the paths of your future installations,

I always highly advise following Native Instruments recommendations regarding file handling, this can help prevent several issues from occurring in the future.

How to Change the Install Locations in Native Access

Applications are best left default, the download location is negligible and the content location may be external if the format is supported.

We recommend using NTFS on Windows and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) on Mac OSX 10.12 and lower, APFS for 10.13 and higher.

Notes on Hard Drive Formats on Mac Computers

To change the paths of installations you have already made please see:

Moving a Native Instruments Product to Another Location on Your Computer

Moving a Native Instruments Product to Another Location on Your Computer [VIDEO]

And these should help you about this subject.

If you will have any further questions, please let me know so I can help you further to solve that.

I hope this helps☺️

Paul d'

Thank you, Mert_NI!

You have provided me with a wealth of information which should guide me to a solution—thank you!

I'll get to work on this tomorrow. I have a Mac OS 15.1 and plan to use a new blank 40T glyph for the location of the library. (App I'll leave on the studio mac.)

THANKS SO MUCH! Paul

Mert_NI

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/206089#Comment_206089

Hello Paul,

Happy if i could help. Please let me know if you will have more question so I can help you further to solve that.

I hope this helps☺️

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