Hello everyone,

I’m having an issue with installing my legitimate copies of Omnisphere 2 and 3.
I bought Omnisphere 3 a few days ago and followed all the instructions provided, but it didn’t work properly.

I contacted Spectrasonics support, but the steps they gave me didn’t solve the problem either. So I decided to uninstall everything and start fresh.

Here’s where I ran into trouble: Revo Uninstaller and the regular Windows uninstaller can’t find any software named Omnisphere or Spectrasonics!
I tried deleting everything manually, but I suspect there are still some leftover files.

Now, when I try to reinstall from my Omnisphere 2 hard drive, nothing seems to work anymore.

Could someone please point me in the right direction? For example, why can’t Revo locate those files?

Thank you all!

 

delete any Spectrasonics folders or Omnisphere plugins from your VST2 & VST3 directories, delete C:\ProgramData\Spectrasonics and install one at a time, verify it works, then install the other

 

Thanks buddy, but I assume the Omnisphere harddrive is defective now... It always stops very early in the beginning of the installation and it says:
Error
An error occurred while trying to copy a file:
D:\STEAM\Omnisphere\Soundsources\Factory\Core Library\Composite Morphing\Composite Morphing 01.db

The source or destination file may be in use or corrupted.
The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid.

Click Abort to terminate the entire installation.
Click Retry to try installing this disc again.
Click Ignore to skip this disc.


That harddrive is also totally low-budget......
If anyone has still an idea, please let me know, I would be very thankful.

 

When did you get this error? During a fresh install or were you trying to install Omni 3 over Omni 2? Apparently, they don't play nice together yet and may make your CPU slow down.

Try deleting your D:\STEAM folder (assuming you have anything irreplaceable backed up somewhere else), create a new D:\STEAM folder then right-click on it and disable Read-only mode and allow your system to proceed changing all sub and child files and folders. Now try installing.

 

Hi @railkiller2376, I hope the AI can help you:

Spoiler: Source: Grok KI

I'm sorry to hear about the ongoing frustration with this Omnisphere install—it's a beast of a library, and these copy errors are unfortunately common with older physical media like the discs or USB drives, especially on low-end external HDDs that might have read/write issues, bad sectors, or insufficient power. The specific error on "Composite Morphing 01.db" (a large database file in the core soundsources) points to a corrupted source file on your drive, a verification failure mid-copy, or even the HDD struggling with sustained reads. Since it's stopping consistently early in the process, the drive does sound suspect, but let's troubleshoot step-by-step before declaring it toast. I'll outline practical fixes based on common resolutions for this exact issue.

Quick Prep Steps (Do These First)
These address the most frequent culprits: permissions, locks, or minor glitches.

1. Run as Administrator: Right-click the installer executable (usually Setup.exe from Disc 1 or the USB root) and select "Run as administrator." This bypasses file access restrictions.
2. Close Conflicting Software: Shut down any antivirus (e.g., Windows Defender real-time scan), firewall, or background apps like Steam (the game platform—not Spectrasonics' STEAM folder), iTunes, or cloud sync tools (OneDrive, Dropbox). They can lock files during copy.
3. Check Destination Drive:
   • Ensure D:\ has at least 70-80GB free (Omnisphere's full install is ~64GB, but temp files need extra).
   • Right-click D:\ in File Explorer > Properties > Tools > Check (under Error checking). Let it scan/repair any errors.
   • If it's USB-powered, try a powered USB hub or different port—low-budget HDDs often flake under load.
4. Disable Read-Only on Folders: Navigate to D:\STEAM (create it manually if missing). Right-click the STEAM folder > Properties > uncheck "Read-only" > Apply to all subfolders.

Retry the install after these. If it still bombs on the same file, proceed below.

Option 1: Manual Copy for the Problem File (Easiest Workaround)
Instead of relying on the installer for everything, copy the faulty file(s) directly from the source drive. This has fixed similar "corrupted copy" errors for many users, as the installer can be finicky with large .db files.

1. Insert the disc/USB containing the "Composite Morphing" content (likely Disc 2 or 3—check the disc labels for "Soundsources Factory Core Library").
2. Open the source drive in File Explorer and navigate to: D:\ (or E:\ etc.)\STEAM\Omnisphere\Soundsources\Factory\Core Library\Composite Morphing\
3. Copy Composite Morphing 01.db (and any other .db or .zmap files in that folder) to your destination: D:\STEAM\Omnisphere\Soundsources\Factory\Core Library\Composite Morphing\
   • If the destination folder doesn't exist yet, create the full path manually.
   • Use drag-and-drop or Ctrl+C/V—avoid the installer for this step.
4. If the copy fails (e.g., "file in use" or CRC error), the source file is likely bad. Skip to Option 3.
5. Relaunch the installer, choose "Retry" or "Ignore" when it hits the error (ignoring skips the file without aborting the whole thing), then let it continue. After install, Omnisphere should detect the manual copy on launch.
6. In Omnisphere: Go to the browser > right-click the Core Library > Refresh Soundsources. This rebuilds the index.

If the installer won't let you ignore/retry without aborting, run it in compatibility mode: Right-click Setup.exe > Properties > Compatibility > Run as Windows 7/8.

Option 2: Verify and Clean-Install the Source Media
Your low-budget HDD might have a scratched/burned-out sector on that file.

1. Check Disc/USB Integrity:
   • Download IsoBuster (free trial) or use Windows' built-in tools to mount the disc as an ISO and verify files.
   • Or, insert the disc > open in File Explorer > right-click the .db file > Properties > check file size (should be several GB—compare to Spectrasonics' specs online).
2. Clean the Drive: If USB/external, safely eject, clean the contacts with isopropyl alcohol, and test on another PC if possible.
3. Full Reinstall:
   • Uninstall any partial Omnisphere install via Control Panel > Programs.
   • Delete D:\STEAM entirely (backup if needed).
   • Reinsert Disc 1, run installer fresh, and point to a different drive if you have one (e.g., internal C:\ProgramData\Spectrasonics\STEAM for the app, external for data only).
   • After core install, run Spectrasonics' "Data Updater" from their site (free download) to patch any missing/corrupt files without re-ripping discs.

Option 3: If the Drive Is Truly Defective (Download Instead)
If manual copies fail repeatedly (e.g., read errors), the source media is probably hosed—common with aging Omnisphere box sets. Good news: Spectrasonics offers a full digital download/patch option for registered owners.

1. Log into your Spectrasonics account (spectrasonics.net) with your serial number.
2. Go to "Downloads" > Omnisphere > Select "Full Install Disc Images" or "Data Files." This gives you ISO files (~64GB total) you can mount virtually—no physical drive needed.
3. Mount each ISO (right-click > Mount in Windows) and run the installer from there, pointing to D:\STEAM.
4. Download takes time (use a wired connection), but it's way more reliable than flaky hardware. If your HDD is the issue, test the download on another drive first.

Final Tips

• Post-Install: After success, update to the latest Omnisphere version via their site (v2.8+ as of now). It includes bug fixes for install woes.
• Test in DAW: Load Omnisphere standalone first, then in your host (e.g., Ableton/FL). If sounds still error, delete zmap.index in the STEAM\Soundsources folder to force a rebuild.
• If none of this clicks, hit up Spectrasonics support directly ([email protected])—they're solid and can send custom download links for verified serials. Mention the exact error and file for faster help.

Hang in there; once it's running, Omnisphere's worth every headache. Let me know how it goes or if you hit a snag on any step!

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Thank you so much guys, I appreciate the help. I just found out that apparantly I can download a full version of Omni3 from Spectrasonics. I am trying to do so now. If I will not have success, I will let you know.