i couldnt pinpoint your problem specifically but try defraging your drive, it may help. also, check the appz you may have running in the background, to free up some of that precious processor. it may be that your system just isnt configured/optimized to execute the functions your requiring it to do because of a whole host of reasons im couldnt even begin to imagine... i mean really... a 450? im surprised youve gone as long as you have to learn bryce, on 128megs of ram! AND on a 450! ah'm just ribin' ya.. ;) maybe it is a bug...