Ok so....I did a nice clean install of P5...updated BEFORE launch with SR3...did the figure updater and all..moved the runtime over and opened up a file which rendered fine before...and nothing....no render in any mode...any setting...nothing... It seems ok ...runs fast, goes through all the adding objects, shadows...blah blah..no files were missing....just when the render is done...its a blank white window. I've tried different scenes, lights, I even JUST tried to render a plain V3...she wouldn't even go past load textures - no clothes..no hair..nothing on her! Wait..I lied...a full scence it will render in Firefly fully loaded with ONLY black and blue blotches. Please tell me I didn't just waste the full price of Poser on a piece of software that doesn't even work! The program seems fine and runs fast until it renders....no idea... Any help would be appreciated before I call up CL and start yelling...

Forgot....I read through all the posts here and tried to follow the correct order of loading up a new poser install fully upgraded. Also...This version is running on a new HD...totally clean so no defragging issues there. Running on XP with 1 Gig ram and a clean 120 gig drive. This is an additional one..not the main.

moved the runtime over What files exactly did you move? Ideally, you would not move anything but just add your old runtime.

well...I copied the old runtime into the new one..I wanted a copy of the old version intact in case anything screwed up so I left the old p5 on the main drive. I fired it up and it still works fine but its on SR2. I just read a thread that it could be caused by a corrupt poser.rsr file. See thread: http://www.poserpros.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15971 I'm trying that now. Other than the blank render everything seems to be in its place and everything has speeded right up...I thought I was home free....lol

moved the runtime from where exactly? was this the original pre SR3 poser5 runtime? If it was then you've screwed up your install totally, parts are now SR0 & parts SR3 so it's not going to work properly unless you do a full reinstall.

x-posted there :) there are certain files in the runtime that get updated (no I'm not sure which) but Poser knows this when it's updated & sulks if the files are the wrong version like you've already seen .

Copying the whole runtime folter is a bad idea(tm). The runtime folder is not just objs and tifs but contains also a couple of vital libraries and ressource files for Poser itself. If you want to copy the old runtime folder instead of just adding it, take a look at the folder names inside the runtime and see what contains content and what not. The names are obvious (libraries, geometries, textures, etc). Don't touch folders like ui.

yes it was an original pre SR3...SR2 actually..sorry if I sound really silly, but I'm working on Poser on a PC and I'm usually on a Mac for EVERYTHING else...The original install was P5 SR2. I didn't even THINK about that! I wonder if running SR3 again would help. The reason I did the SR3 update on the clean install was because I had read to do that to avoid the anti-piracy thing before launch. I guess that makes sense since if I moved over the old SR2 files into the new one, it would be overwriting some of the SR3 and blowing things up. I'm not sure how to link a runtime...or if it would be a good idea since they are on two separate drives. I will try the SR3 update on what I've got...if that doesn't work I'll do a full reinstall, but I'm not sure which order to go in... 1. Install Poser 5 2. copy/move/link old runtime? 3. update to SR3, then figure update? ::feeling a bit out of my element now...never let a mac user on a PC!:: thanks for any help you can give!

WHOO HOO! I ran the SR3 updater again and it renders like a charm! Sending something that SHOULD have choked the SR2 to see if it can handle it...AND...BINGO...straight through and rendered beautifully... OH THANK GOD..I have a file due to a client tomorrow...and its much faster!

I wonder if running SR3 again would help. Sounds like it could work, try that. The reason I did the SR3 update on the clean install was because I had read to do that to avoid the anti-piracy thing before launch. There's nothing wrong with that. I guess that makes sense since if I moved over the old SR2 files into the new one, it would be overwriting some of the SR3 and blowing things up. Exactly. I'd recommend the following order: 1. Installing Poser. 2. Run figure updater. 3. Run SR3 update. 4. Link the old runtime, or, what I'd to, copy the old runtime to the Poser/Downloads folder. Personally, I keep all my 3rd party content inside the Downloads folder so that I keep the original Poser runtime as clean as possible. In case I should have to reinstall, I will only need to backup the Downloads folder and will be able to simply copy it back into place afterwards. You may need to install V3 and M3 separately to the main runtime folder, at least that's what I read in other threads. I have no experience with V3 or M3 myself.

I ran the SR3 updater again and it renders like a charm! Glad to hear that :v)

::dances for joy:: even the Firefly isn't hanging anymore! thanks so much for your help guys...! ::finally goes to bed::

hehehe didn;t think of running the update again, have to remember that for next time my install goes tits up :)

Another self solving problem solved.....