Hello it has been a while since i needed help, I am a dinosuar I know.. been running cubase last version update from 3.7 TO 5.1 - my old pc running XP slowly died and crashed and no longer works, tears… so i got some money together anfd got a new laptop great spec etc.. now because i can no longer input a cd in to install software then hopfully get an upgrade, how does one get cubase back onto my new windows 11 system?
Depends on what you’re asking…
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Are you asking how to buy Cubase 14 for your new Win11 computer?..or…
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Are you asking how to use your existing elicenser dongle and then install an old Cubase 5.x onto your new Win11 computer?
I do indeed have Cubase 5,6,7,8,9,10 elicenser-driven versions installed on my win11 pro 24h2 systems for routine experiments…and all the old versions work great.
However …SB itself won’t assist with user questions (understandably)…because hey…that stuff is no longer supported.
At any rate…the gist for 5 is… if you have your working elicenser dongle, have a working original cd of your program …and…simply buy a new usb cd drive from Amazon…connect it to your new computer …download and install the teeny tiny elicenser driver from sb (so that your computer FIRST can even “see” the dongle…then install your cubase 5.0 from your newly-bought cd burner/drive…or better yet…download cubase 5.5 (the last ver 5 cumulative) and install…WITH your elicenser attached…
voila…installed. All the auth necessary is in your dongle. Nothing further to do …as…Sb no longer supports it.
And as long as your dongle works…there you go …you’ve got version 5 on your win11 computer.
If there are ANY…ANY 3rd party “things” on that old cd of yours …prepare mentally that some, many, all if THOSE …may possibly not install at all. Gone for the ages …history…toast.
Also …as to version 5…
When dongle is accidently eaten by your dog next year …well …then you’re permanently out of luck with version 5.
Perhaps just buy version 14 now (no elicenser dongle involved) and be done with it.
Your choice. Versions 3,4,5,6,7,8,8,10 ARE certainly wonderful runners on 2025 Win11 Pro systems here for me
But because they’re all dongle-driven, I know it’s just a matter of time before I have to accept they’ll die.
Hi and welcome to the forum!
I assume you have a USB eLicenser.
In that case you can download Cubase 5.5 (ISO Image) here:
Afterwards, just double-click on the file and Windows 11 will run a virtual drive.
There is no dedicated Cubase 5.1 version but Cubase 5.5 will open previous versions, too. Version 5.5 was an update and not a new version .5 so you can run it without problems.
Don’t forget to plug in your USB eLicenser 
Enjoy 
EDIT: Following @DosWasBest 's suggestion here’s the link to the latest version of the eLicenserControlCenter
Is this Cubase VST? Or already the Cubase that is based on Nuendo?
That image ecc driver won’t like the dongle itself…on win11. He’ll have to grab the final released ecc driver separately and install that first.
1 Like
Thanks @DosWasBest , I added a download link for the latest eLCC 
Yeh I want latest version or something close to. Thought they maybe an upgrade once I add my licenced version on.first so I can check all is working properly.
Graham Temple-Sowerby
If your actual dongle itself is registered in your steinberg dot net user account (which of course it is, right?), there is a discount to buy Cubase Pro 14…at the moment…at the Steinberg site…at Sweetwater etc.
If on the Steinberg “buy Cubase Pro 14 now” page for example, click the way top upgrades box to then see a dropdown menu…which includes a $250 price for you instead of $580 (or whatever full price normally is)…
that dropdown shows good for owners of-
From Cubase Pro 11, Cubase Pro 10.5, Cubase Pro 10, Cubase Pro 9.5, Cubase Pro 9, Cubase Pro 8.5, Cubase Pro 8, Cubase 7.5, Cubase 7, Cubase 6.5, Cubase 6, Cubase 5, Cubase 4
The crucial thing is Steinberg being able to see your registered dongle at your user acct area at sb dot net.
Actually first “installing” version 5 will have no effect…actually having the elicenser dongle attached will have no effect…other than if you are just using ver5 only…
..updating to 14 doesn’t remotely involve Cubase 14 “looking” for your old version 5 install…completely different ballgame now…zero interaction in the licensing too.
If I may add: Even if Cubase 5 hasn’t been registered in your MySteinberg account, yet: As long as the dongle is working there is a way around. In this case, you’d have to contact support but they’ll offer a way to update your current version.
Doswasbest…why thank you for this i am looking at the artist version is there a big difference to the pro do you know?
Like are all the same plugins included?
Graham Temple-Sowerby
There are quite afew differences between Artist and Pro, not just the number of plugins but also specific recording/editing features etc, maximum track count and things like the Control Room. I’d suggest looking at a few youtube vids etc to see what sort of features might be useful to you in Cubase 14 and then use this comparison chart to check which of those features are included in the Pro/Artist/Elements versions. https://www.steinberg.net/cubase/compare-editions/
Personally, buy 14 Pro rather than Artist. Esp if your use history is full version 5…which while old…it was still a full-featured version for its time.
$250 is a good price.
There are ALWAYS just enough gotchas in artist/element versions…imo…that you’ll hit a snag & say, “gee, shoulda just bought Pro”.
My opinion.
Where us that 250 price so I can buy it please for pro yes?
Graham Temple-Sowerby
Hi,
assuming your Cubase version is already registered in your MySteinberg account just go to Steinberg.net.
Here, you click on Buy Cubase - Buy Cubase Pro -Full Version - Pro version - Update (the one that lists Cubase 5 - VERY important)!
If your Cubase version has not been registered yet please contact Steinberg support first. Depending on your location, you might want to try telephone support.
Enjoy Cubase 14 - you’ll be amazed what’s possible today coming from Cubase 5!