Sounds like something missing or is it possible that somehow your download got corrupted?
Or maybe some other program is conflicting with it?
When you reinstalled did you turn off your antivirus and other programs that were running?  Sometimes that can really mess up a new install.

I have a 1 gig PC and am only using 384 meg of ram right  now..[ my pc is oooold! ]  and I have no problems at all with Bryce 6.1   
I'm also using XP [home edition]

 

“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.”

[Stuart Chase]