thats a lot to consider, I have a cannon printer attatched on the end of a scanner but niether is HP. I do usually have icq running (it runs at boot up) but I have tried to render without ICQ running which didn't make a difference unless it is because ICQ might be still hogging some memory even after I shut it down. I like wizzards idea, I think I will do that. Now just installing poser over the top of the existing one should be ok? I have so many library things in there I am loathed to reinstall them all hehehe. I went to the computer shop this afternoon after a stick of 256, but it would seem the the price is too volatile for any of these guys to stock it so I have to order it in and just be patient in the meantime. I will wait until I try all these other ideas first though, cause I really need some more HDD space first, or a digital camera, or an extra monitor ...... ahhhh the list goes on video in is something on my list too. hell I haven't even got my cdrom and hdd's screwed in yet after well over 3months. I keep waiting for the day I regrease up my cpu hehe so in the meantime with the covers off it sounds like a harrier jet in here.