Since my old computer finally died, I purchased a dell XPS, running an intel core 2 quad Q6600 processor.  This system came with windows vista 32,  I hate it and cannot get some of my important apps to even install (Zbrush).  I want to install xp on this system, but It will not install just keep getting an error and it shuts down.  What am I going to have to do? Any help would be great.  I have not tried to install poser yet, but if I cannot get Zbrush to install I'm sunk to begin with.

Just know that if you install XP on that system, you forfeit your warranty with Dell, because they will only warranty a machine that has the OS that they have installed on it.

Personally I can't stand Dell and if it were me I'd send it back and buy something locally.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2684977

God, I feel your pain.  Vista is horrible.  I bought a new system, I spent all night and day just working with Vista.  Thankfully Poser 7 works fine, but I'm having some trouble with Miki and a few objs

just did the same thing here.  2.2ghz with duo core etc etc. and Vista 32.

Live in the Control Panel for 3-4 hours and you will be fine.

1st thing - turn off all the new bells and whistles.  Just select Classic where ya can.
2nd thing - turn off the permissions.  This is the feature that asks you every damn mouse click if you really want to do what you thought you were doing in the 1st place.
3rd thing - uninstall all unneeded programs and games and trials etc that came with the Dell.  My Acer has a 500gb hd and 200gb was filled with uter crap.

I still hate the new File Explorer and how it thinks it's really groovie to tell me all about my mp3 files and my pictures and my applications.  I like classic, I couldn't figure out how to change this back.

I did all this with my fathers new Dell - the machine was basically dead to him and he couldn't install any games etc.  I spent 13 hours cleaning and turning everything off and now it is a screaming machine.

Vista is so much faster with the duo cpu and a lot of memory, my machine is blazing fast now, but like you when I turned it on out of the box is was a complete frustrating joke.

Stick with it, just keep turning crap off in vista and go with classic as much as possible and I think you'll be happy in the end.

oh and remember to breath - and if ya smoke cigs - many many cig breaks!

Oh and from Zbrush install page:

http://www.zbrush.info/docs/index.php/Installation

check out the Vista section about running as administrator and security.  That may help too.

You have to re-learn evrything you thought you knew with Vista, once you have you'll never want to go back!
As others have already suggested, turn the UAC off to begin with and make sure you run everything as an Administrator, this isn't default, you have to tell it!
You may even have to make sure all permissions are set to full as well!
I gotta say though that seeing as you went for a Quad 6600 you should have gone 64 bit as well because that's where it's all going now, 32 bit is a dying breed!!

I use Vista Ultimate 64 and would never go back to xp now!

This is very informative...

Meanwhile,

I been reading up on ZDNet and whereabouts on XP ending its shipments with Computer systems June 30th (some End Of Life), and to be honest it's quite alarming. 

On that note, with MachineClaw's info on turning off all the pretty 'eye candy' and going Classic, I think that way is the best bet.

In fact, I was thinking right along the lines on going Classic should I have to get a system with Vista on it being SP1, and yet Windows 7 is on the horizon -- sheesh -- what's next...

I know, don't ask. 

JB

I have also a new system (april 2008) with Vista 64 bits .I have many graphics softs installed ,Zbrush 3,1 ,Poser  5,6,7 and 7 Pro, Vue  6 infinite included
Everything running good  and i like Vista (sorry) better than my old XP
I thinks , like the Fixer, it is better to run as administrator and turn UAC off Take in place  of UAc a good  internet security suite (i suggest the one from G-Data or Karpersky)

Two suggestions:

1. Make sure that you have Vista SP1 installed
2. Visit this site and follow their advice: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2238

I've had a perfectly working, highly stable Vista64 systems after doing that.

"Just know that if you install XP on that system, you forfeit your warranty with Dell, because they will only warranty a machine that has the OS that they have installed on it."
Easy enough to get around that get a second drive and install XP on it and dual boot. The Warranty will still be good on the system due to you still have the original OS on it.
I know that this will not violate the warranty on the system due to our rep (works) with Dell stated this. He said as long as original hardware and software are still installed they will support the original (dell installed) configuration. They will not support the XP. Most hardware on the system should have drivers for XP.
Another Option is to run XP using a Virtual machine environment.

Thanks everyone for the help.  I have just now been able to get online to read it.  During my last visit my phone line went dead and was not fixed till this morning. (when it rains it pours!)

I have no idea why this system came with vista 32 bit, the cpu and all supports a 64 bit OS.
I have to have these apps: 3DS Max, Zbrush 3.1, Poser 7, and photoshop.  What I would like to know is this:  Are there those of you out there running these apps on Vista 64 or Xp pro64? How do they do? I am seriously considering switching the OS to a 64 bit since the machine will support it.

MachineClaw: thanks for the Zbrush link.

I don't know what UAC is but I will find out.  martial: I have Karpersky 7, you have Zbrush and Poser 7 on Vista 64, thats good to know.  They work fine? no problems?

I think my problem with installing  may be with this UAC thing.
 
Dual boots an interesting idea then I could check out how each OS performs.  I really want to switch to a 64 bit OS this machine comes with the drivers for both 32 or 64 on a CD.  Any advice?

UAC - User account control. Go into the control panel, search UAC, turn to off and reboot. Life suddenly gets a whole lot easier. =D

64 bits are the future, no question. Only problem is it only becomes viable if you have a program that supports it, or if you have more than 3gb of ram. But I've been running Vista 64 for the past 10 months or so, and had very few problems that weren't solved by a quick Google search.

Microsoft will sell you a 64bit OS for a 'nominal fee'...;) Vista comes in (at least) 5 flavors, so I'm sure you could have ordered the one you wanted with Dell.

That being said, are the apps 32-bit or 64-bit programs? If 32-bit, you might see a small performance increase, but the code is still written in 32-bit. If there's 64-bit code in your program, it would be worth the conversion. However, you'd probably have to buy 64-bit versions of the software, could get spendy.

Also, I think they meant turn on all the permissions, in that you want to allow the maximum amount of freedom for each action. Not having permissions for certain actions is why it's asking all the time for confirmation...

UAC = User Account Control

check out this link before you turn it off. http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2006/09/20/763275.aspx

If you are a single user on your own pc, and are careful about surfing web sites it may be ok to just disable it .

Gee.. Sounds like the Dell pc that I  just sent back to the company, except it was XP.   My 10 year old  windows 98 pc works better then it did..  I now have a brand new  HP,  Vista 32 bit,  & it's a dream to use.  

I use a dual boot system. I installed the extra 500gb drive for xp64. I have everything installed to 64 bit now and use the 32 bit more for storage. Everything runs better on the 64 bit. The only thing that doesn't as far as I know is Quicktime and to tell the truth, does anyone really care? My DivX now plays .mov and mp4. Al my 32 bit apps work a little faster and all the ones that take advantage of 64 bit run great. I don't use ZBrush, but my Modo runs so much faster on 64 than it did on 32 and it is still 32 bit, for now. 

Quote - I use a dual boot system. I installed the extra 500gb drive for xp64. I have everything installed to 64 bit now and use the 32 bit more for storage. Everything runs better on the 64 bit. The only thing that doesn't as far as I know is Quicktime and to tell the truth, does anyone really care? My DivX now plays .mov and mp4. Al my 32 bit apps work a little faster and all the ones that take advantage of 64 bit run great. I don't use ZBrush, but my Modo runs so much faster on 64 than it did on 32 and it is still 32 bit, for now. 

 
Well sounds like 64 is the way to go,