Thanks for the input. Yes the MIDI file is set to Automatic and I did reboot the server.
Since I am running the MC on Windows 10, I had to add CoolSoft MIDIMapper that installed as MIDI Output device and force itself as MIDI Device #0 (as the original built-in Windows MIDI Mapper was eliminated since Windows 8 ).
For whatever reason, MC24 pipe the MIDI via the CoolSoft MIDIMapper and play the MIDI file to my instrument via the USB port, but MC25 does not and gives me the "Failed merit based rendering" message.
Could any of the following contribute to the issue?
1. I am running MC24 and MC25 on the same server, but never at the same time. I shut down one before running the other.
2. When I first installed MC25 , I have Restored the last backup of MC24 into MC25 in order to maintain the configuration and Playlists