considering he does not have a Mac and is helping a WINDOWS user, how is he moving the blame??

so WAKE UP yourself and READ the posts.

I am reading the post I am Pointing out that the problem is apparently UNIVERSAL..

no, universal and everyone would be yelling about the same issues.
right now, I see 2 ppl having the issue. You and the OP - 2 does not mean 'universal'

 Don't shout. It doesn't endear you to anyone.

And if BB says it's not a Poser dialogue box.. then it's not a Poser dialogue box. He should know.

Is everyone having a problem with My accent..?

I have been using Poser since version 2
There are issues with Poser 8 

Until these problems made the program unusable on My machine I have never had the need to post in any forum..

All I am looking for is HELP..!!!

Kalbach...  Please read your own Disclaimer and apply those words to Me.

But please be alert to the fact that I am running a Mac..

an accent in text?

for you information I speak english with a london accent and have no issues with the aussie one.

we get you need help. the issue is with the way your forcing yourself into threads yelling for it.

I am getting the point a few capitals and members are upset enough to ignore the issue and concentrate on the apparent insult.  I apologize..

But help is still needed..

quote NoelCan: 

Quote - The last comment by bagginsbill sounds and feels like an attempt to put the blame anywhere else except Poser 8 ..

I am experiencing several similar issues,  i.e. slow internet, Poser crashes when accessing libraries.

AND I AM NOT USING WINDOWS...

Bagginsbill is right (he usually is!   ^_^), the OP's problems are the system/security interfering with Poser, rather than vice versa.

And both Bagginsbill and SM in general have acknowledged several issues with Poser 8, and they are working on the problems, but these things do take time.  Patience.  :)

If you already had P7, I recommend that you continue to run it alongside P8 in the interim.

As I  have stated in other threads (Perhaps "Ranted" ) I have gone back to using Poser Pro..

All I am doing, and I understand that is what this particular thread is for is expressing annoyance and frustration about an SR1 that is very slow appearing..

Since I have UNINSTALLED  ( yep a shout. ) Poser 8 My internet speed is back to normal..!

ok NoelCan but i think the annoyance is that you can't just hijack a thread in which ppl are trying to assist the op and expect them to drop everything and help you.. if you had come in with " i am also having similar issues" give some specifics or even start another thread with your specific then you too will get help from those who may have the same experience or the community would provide help to you just as they are trying with Zippy. that's all.. as you see it has taken two pages for us to get the op to the point where the issue is being narrowed down. for you I would think it best to reduce the confusion of helping you and helping the op is that you start a new thread and give the specifics of your issue that way the confusion of two maybe different issues can get resolved
no harm no foul
some of us here enjoy trying to solve issues...
as much as we enjoy working in poser
become a habit after 6 versions

That is what I did in both cases..  I give up on using the forums for help.. If One is not known in the forums or has an issue that no one else has.. There are more critics than helpers.

Thanks anyway

NoelCan, let's start over.

I want to help. We have the OP claiming Poser reconfigured his system. Yet he reports (with incomplete info) that something popped up and told him something was going to be "fixed" for him. This something is not Poser 8. Furthermore, after this supposed "fix", his Internet access is slow until he uninstalls. Doesn't matter if Poser is running or not.

This is very mysterious, and hard to diagnose since the component that "fixed" the system is unidentified.

Did you get this mysterious dialog or no? If not, then even if you have the same symptoms, we need to follow a different path. The OP has not come back and I can't help if I have no idea what software he's running. But I can assure you that while Poser is not running, and is simply just a pile of files on the hard drive, it cannot influence anything about the computer's performance or behavior. So there must have been some terribly wrong registry change made by the mystery program. Uninstalling Poser may have something to do with a registry change. Or it may be that the mystery program replaced a shared DLL, and then uninstalling Poser restores that DLL.

We don't know, and I can't help without the OP coming back and telling more about the mystery dialog.

Googling the phrase "There are compatibility problems which will be fixed" produces zero results. I have never, ever, in all my time of searching for program dialog warnings or errors, been unable to get at least one hit on any phrase shown in an error message.

I conclude this is not what it said.

I can't make any progress with this. But there is something running here that isn't Poser that trashed the system.

The person You are Quoting is a WINDOWS user,  whereas I am using an iMac with
"Snow Leopard"  OS 10.6.1

And no.  I have had no mystery messages about things being fixed..

I know he's a windows user - this is his thread.

Look, you've given no information about your system components, your network settings, your firewall settings, nothing. We have no information to go on.

I understand you think I'm trying to shift blame. That's getting in the way. There's something different about the combination of things you have in your system, but if you reveal nothing other than the name of your OS, there's nothing to proceed with.

When two programs interfere with each other, one of them is the cause, and the other is merely involved, not the cause. I'm suggesting that since the claim is made that Poser interferes with Internet access even when it isn't running, that there's more to the story. Further, I have already found and fixed many problems for people involving Poser, but not actually caused by Poser. So, if I had taken your approach and stared at the code in Poser, then I would never have solved those people's problem. Is that what you want? Should I put a knife through my chest and assume the problem lies in Poser, and never consider the possibility that there's another piece of software involved, and thereby never actually solve the problem? Sounds illogical.

zippy,

Nowhere in your description did you say you rebooted. You said you ran Poser, and exited and the system was slow. Then you uninstalled P8 and it wasn't slow anymore. That's without rebooting - just an uninstall?

What if you leave it installed, run it, and reboot. Is it still slow?

While it is slow, with Poser not running, what shows in task manager for processes, and CPU usage? What about network usage without Poser running?

What antivirus did you install?

Also, install Poser 8 but do not add any old runtimes - what happens?

Ok.. I have tried rebooting before,  all is fine until I started running Poser.
Once poser was started the issue remained until I rebooted, then all ok.
And no I won't re-install poser 8 until SR1 is available for download.. I can't afford the band width loss or constantly rebooting.
I am using a standard iMac with 2.16Ghz intel core duo and 2Gb  ram..  nothing unusual
everything is running from a 180Gb internal HD..  Again nothing unusual.

NoelCan,

I suspect when you closed Poser, it didn't really close. I think it was hung with no window open anymore. But since you won't run it, I can't ask if you can use the Mac equivalent of Task Manager and check.

I do know that there were some serious file I/O problems on Macs and SR1 fixes them.

Bagginsbill, I do not have either Norton or Macafee. I run Avast Pro anti virus, and SM have no problem with that. Avast has been told to totally ignore my Poser installations, but that makes no difference to the problem.

I've had enough...this is the last straw!!!!! SM are now asking me to move my P7 runtime about just to see if it makes a difference. Great, considering it is over 9GB and Windows says it'll take 9 hours to move. NOW they tell me, NOW they tell me, and I quote, "Vista doesn't like runtimes in the program location",. Good grief! If SM KNOW that Vista doesn't want the runtime in the default location, then why does the first P8 install option (the only one to mention Vista) put the runtime where SM now tell me it shouldn't be**, and that with Vista they say any runtime should be installed into another entirely isolated Documents folder away from the main program folders. So okay, in that's the case how come Poser 7, under Vista, has no problem with its runtime being where SM says it shouldn't be? that makes no sense.

it just beggars belief. I don't think SM have a clue what they are doing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????**

SM also now tell me (finally admitted it) there are compatibility issues with Vista and Poser 8, - "There are compatibility problems which will be fixed" -  which shouts to me that this is the problem, I've been sold software that isn't fully working. So I'm not wasting any more time and requesting a full refund. This is the very last Poser I am buying!

Yes, you bet I'm now ...upset!

zippy is in exactly the same situation as Me. Frustration at every turn, it is disheartening.

If rebooting My machine is not properly closing Poser ,  what else can I do

Quote - zippy,

Nowhere in your description did you say you rebooted. You said you ran Poser, and exited and the system was slow. Then you uninstalled P8 and it wasn't slow anymore. That's without rebooting - just an uninstall?

What if you leave it installed, run it, and reboot. Is it still slow?

While it is slow, with Poser not running, what shows in task manager for processes, and CPU usage? What about network usage without Poser running?

What antivirus did you install?

Also, install Poser 8 but do not add any old runtimes - what happens?

Both installed and uninstalled, I told technical support I was constantly rebooting the computer. I did that after every action to clear the RAM, just in case something got stuck.

Prior to system reinstall, I had a Vista gadget monitoring CPU's and and memory, and there was no unusual activity. Task manager showed nothing that shouldn't be there. There was no network usage as I said I hadn't yet installed any networked software, and was only connected to my router.

Don't get mad at me, too, but you're saying things that confuse me.

First of all, the installer says in plain English that if you have Vista with UAC enabled, you should use the option they show you first. If you told it to install in the program location, it meant you were making a decision for which you should have knowledge of the implications. I, for example, had no problem with P8 on Vista installed into the Program Files, because I have UAC disabled. Why are you mad at SM when you made a mistake on installing it?

Second, moving a 9 GB folder takes 2 seconds. Sounds like you're copying, not moving. They are completely different operations.

Quote - > Quote - zippy,

Nowhere in your description did you say you rebooted. You said you ran Poser, and exited and the system was slow. Then you uninstalled P8 and it wasn't slow anymore. That's without rebooting - just an uninstall?

What if you leave it installed, run it, and reboot. Is it still slow?

While it is slow, with Poser not running, what shows in task manager for processes, and CPU usage? What about network usage without Poser running?

What antivirus did you install?

Also, install Poser 8 but do not add any old runtimes - what happens?

Both installed and uninstalled, I told technical support I was constantly rebooting the computer. I did that after every action to clear the RAM, just in case something got stuck.

Prior to system reinstall, I had a Vista gadget monitoring CPU's and and memory, and there was no unusual activity. Task manager showed nothing that shouldn't be there. There was no network usage as I said I hadn't yet installed any networked software, and was only connected to my router.

I don't understand your answer. You didn't answer my question.

You run p8. It is slow. You exit P8. Your system is still slow. What does task manager show? Not your interpretation, I mean show me.

Then reboot. Don't run P8. Is it still slow?

Quote - > Quote - Just how did they get on my computer if I hadn't accessed the internet, and was only running P8?

The new library palette uses Flash player embedded in a HTML page which is displayed by an HTML rendering control, this uses the IE temporary files area in the same way IE does when it communicates with the server embedded in P8.

If you look at the "Internet Address" column when looking at the temporary files, you see the its "http://127.0.0.1:11530" which is the special IP address for the local machine and the port Poser uses.

So nothing unusual going on, and the temporary files cache will only take up as much space as set in the "Internet Options" in IE.

Interesting. Shouldn't the temporary cache size be controlled from the program you're running rather than one that you are not? 

BTW. I never thought of this before. Would it be a problem if someone accidently ran a loop-back test during a Poser render? 

Just currious.

Quote - zippy is in exactly the same situation as Me. Frustration at every turn, it is disheartening.

If rebooting My machine is not properly closing Poser ,  what else can I do

What? Nobody said rebooting is not properly closing Poser.

I said closing Poser may not be properly closing Poser.

You claimed you had the same situation that zippy has - i.e. that it is enough that Poser is installed and your system is slow, even if you don't run P8.

You guys are both giving very confusing replies.  There's a huge difference between saying your system is slow because P8 is installed, versus your system is slow because P8 is running. Further, if upon closing P8, the window is gone, but the program is still running and chewing up CPU, then that totally different.

Just slow down and answer the questions. I'm the doctor - you're the patient. You need to answer the questions, and stop getting frustrated. The questions are precise, and if you answer some similar, but different question then I'm asking, then we'll get nowhere.

Zippy left UAC enabled and installed Poser's runtime in a protected area. This is not you're problem, NoelCan, so I think it's fair to say that you have different causes, even if the symptoms are similar. Measles, versus chicken pox - look the same, but not the same.

NoelCan,
I'm using Poser 8 on a 2008 iMac.  While I do have problems that are being fixed in SR1, I haven't seen the Internet slowdown that you've observed.  However, I'm running Mac OS X 10.5.7.

Just to make sure there wasn't anything slowing down my Internet connection, I ran Activity Monitor and selected the network display.  I also brought up the speed test page on Speakeasy.net.  Next, I launched P8 and watched Activity Monitor for network utilization (didn't see anything).  Then I ran the speed test on Speakeasy and got my full DSL bandwidth.  I loaded some content into P8, started a render and repeated the speed test.  Same full (normal) bandwidth results and no network activity except for the speed test.

I then opened P8's preferences and selected render in a separate process and repeated the tests again.  I just can't repeat your experience on my Mac.  Having said that, I haven't upgraded to Mac OS X 10.6.1 as you have.  My results may vary if I were to upgrade to 10.6.1.  Would you be willing to try the same sort of tests?  Perhaps they would reveal a clue as to what's going on.
Thanks and take care! :)
Lee

Quote -
I think I see an inherent problem. Shouldn't the temporary cache size should be controlled from the program you're running rather than one that you are not? 

What program are you referring to? The IE component running inside Poser is still the IE component, and all IE settings apply. This is Microsoft's intentional design - that all apps that use web technology, regardless of where the data comes from or whatever, is going through the same service and configured in one place. Similar to using a printer driver - the printer driver settings are the same regardless of which application is doing the printing.

The IE browser is like a printer component, except it doesn't print, it display HTML/Javascript content on your screen in a standardized way.

I forgot that this thread raised the issue of thousands of cached XML files. I'm surprised they're cached at all. They are not documents that are to be retrieved over and over again. Something is misconfigured in this case. On all my systems, dynamic content delivered to a Flash application is never cached. By definition, these files are useless, since the application wants new information from the server on each request.

Quote - BTW. I never thought of this before. Would it be a problem if someone accidently ran a loop-back test during a Poser render? 

No.

Quote - zippy,

Don't get mad at me, too, but you're saying things that confuse me.

First of all, the installer says in plain English that if you have Vista with UAC enabled, you should use the option they show you first. If you told it to install in the program location, it meant you were making a decision for which you should have knowledge of the implications. I, for example, had no problem with P8 on Vista installed into the Program Files, because I have UAC disabled. Why are you mad at SM when you made a mistake on installing it?

Sorry...I'm honestly not mad at you!

I'm 'upset', not mad, that I'm having to spend weeks following technical support's instructions without getting anywhere, and whenever P8 is installed I cannot use the rest of my computer. So that's why I have to keep taking it off, then putting it back to answer technical support's questions.

Technical support told me to use install option 1, and not any other, which I did. This is recent reinstall of P8 was the only reinstall with UAC operating. I told technical support that all the previous tries at installing and running P8 had UAC disabled. I told technical support that I always used to, up to today, run my PC with UAC disabled. I don't see how I've made a mistake if 'install option 1' installs to the program location, and that's what technical support told me to do.

The only thing that showed in processes was Poser 8. I'm not installing P8 again as it slows down my computer, which is fine without it. For example, if I have P8 installed I cannot even get on here to report what's happening, because P8 interfears with my internet.

Still confusing me. I showed a screenshot. Install option #1 does not install to the program location, no matter how many times you say it.

Now you just said another confusing thing. You said "The only thing that showed in processes was Poser 8". When did it show this - after rebooting and without even running it?

The words "Installed" and "Running" are different words, but you seem to use them interchangeably. I can't understand you.

Sorry, Bagginhall, I see your question now.

The answer is what I told technical support, that my computer access runs slow, even no access to some things like start menus, whenever P8 is installed, both when it is running and when it is not running....but...that is only true, as I said above and to technical support, only after the P8 library fault message first appeared and turned the IE (internet explorer) window into a docked pallete. In effect once that fault triggered, something gets into the system, it appears to me, that causes problems with my computer, let alone the P8 library. And the computer access problem dissaprears whenever P8 is uninstalled.

Does that help?:)

Quote - Still confusing me. I showed a screenshot. Install option #1 does not install to the program location, no matter how many times you say it.

Now you just said another confusing thing. You said "The only thing that showed in processes was Poser 8". When did it show this - after rebooting and without even running it?

The words "Installed" and "Running" are different words, but you seem to use them interchangeably. I can't understand you.

Well, every time I've installed using option 1, the installation goes straight to the Programs folder. It installs a big folder called Smith Micro, which even show in the start programs list.

By installed, I mean putting CD in machine and clicking on install, then following the instructions. That means the computer puts the program on the machine.

By running, I mean that I've clicked on the P8 desk icon to open the program, and it is now open. I don't know what else running can mean, unless, and I'm not being rude, this misunderstanding is an American/English word problem, because I live in the UK:)

Poser only shows in the processes when Poser is 'open' or 'running'.

Has anyone considered there might be a fault with my installation disk?

It really is just too confusing for Me..  I quit, Smith Micro has My money and I have a lemon..
Am I allowed to call a product that is totally useless to Me a lemon..?
I will just continue using Poser pro and not say any more.  leave it to the experts.
Thank you all for not much at all..

Partly. But really if you have UAC enabled and try to run Poser, even once, with its runtime located in Program Files, Vista gets pissed off and starts re-arranging things into these weird places that don't really exist. It (Vista) is confusing as all getout when you try to do that, and it isn't just Poser. Every application I've worked on had to be re-written for Vista so that it did not use the Program Files subfolders for any dynamic data - only for stuff that is read-only.

So, the system you're dealing with now, with UAC on, is different from the system you had before. It isn't even worth pursuing until you straighten this out.

First, decide if you're going to use UAC or not. My suggestion is not, because it caused me all kinds of problems with many applications. Not with Poser, but others, because by the time I installed Poser on my newest Vista machine, I knew better. My newest Vista machine had only one job to do upon first power up. That was to disable UAC. That was the first damn thing I did. Only after that did I start installing applications.

But, you may have good reason to keep UAC, so that should be no problem for Poser, as long as you make sure you do not install Poser's runtime into the Program Files subfolder.

You have another option as well - you don't have to install Poser (the program) in Program Files. Many users put it where they want it, not where Microsoft wants it. But that's another story.

So pick your poison - UAC or no.

Then, install the Poser application BUT DO NOT waste time installing content at all, or adding any external runtime libraries to it. Just install the main application files, nothing else. That only takes a couple minutes and is all we need to work things out. Later we'll sort out installing content. You don't need Ryan and Alyson to check if Poser is working right.

If you choose UAC, tell it to use the Shared Documents folder - > Option #1 <. ;-)

Otherwise, it is your choice where to keep the main runtime. Personally, I think it's easier to put it where it is easy to get to from file choosers. I hate navigating to My Computer/C:/Program Files/Smith Micro/Poser 8 blah blah just to find a texture. I put everything in my desktop in a folder called PoserWork. In there is my main runtime, and all my external runtimes. Navigating to the desktop is one click - that's why I like it that way.

Once you've got it installed, run it. If you get any kind of strange dialog, take a screen shot so I can see it. I bet it will run fine though.

Then exit Poser. How does your system work then - slow or good? We'll go from there.

I've just noticed something very odd!!!!!!!!!!

My start programs menu shows a Smith Micro folder with Poser 7 icon, plus Poser 7 uninstall icon inside! Yet the e frontier folder shows it is empty! There shouldn't be a Smith Micro folder as I used the P8 uninstall.

I've checked the actual programs folder and there's no Smith Micro folder there, only e frontier with all the Poser files in it, as they should be.

Isn't that kinda weird?

Note - we cross posted.

Quote -
Well, every time I've installed using option 1, the installation goes straight to the Programs folder. It installs a big folder called Smith Micro, which even show in the start programs list.

That's the application folder. The issue about the option #1 isn't where the program is, it is asking where to put the main runtime. These are totally different things. As I said in my cross-post above, you can choose to install the program (executable binary files) in one folder, and your main runtime in another folder. The option #1 is asking where to put your main runtime. It is not asking where to put the program. The program is a different question. I could screenshot this for you if it isn't clear.

Quote -
By installed, I mean putting CD in machine and clicking on install, then following the instructions. That means the computer puts the program on the machine.

Yes, I agree.

Quote - By running, I mean that I've clicked on the P8 desk icon to open the program, and it is now open.

Yep - that's what I mean.

Quote - Poser only shows in the processes when Poser is 'open' or 'running'.

Agreed, that is what it should be.

Can you do my cross-posted instructions above? 

Quote - I've just noticed something very odd!!!!!!!!!!

My start programs menu shows a Smith Micro folder with Poser 7 icon, plus Poser 7 uninstall icon inside! Yet the e frontier folder shows it is empty! There shouldn't be a Smith Micro folder as I used the P8 uninstall.

I've checked the actual programs folder and there's no Smith Micro folder there, only e frontier with all the Poser files in it, as they should be.

Isn't that kinda weird?

Most weird. Unless you ran SR3 - which might have moved Poser 7 to Smith Micro, instead of E-Frontier.

Okay, Bagginshall, I'll do as you suggest and turn UAC off, if I can find it. It takes quite a while though to install P8 and I'll have to install my screenshot program.

Sounds as though you know what you are doing, but I bet it doesn't work. And it will take me a frustrating time to access the internet to report back.

By the way, if I were you I'd sue that tanning Salon lol!

Not that it's important, but my user name is baggins bill, not hall.

When I created my account I wanted BilboBaggins. That was taken, so I tried BagginsBilbo. That was taken, too. In frustration I typed bagginsbill and there it was. Oops.

I considered changing my avatar but too many people said it is good for them because they can find my posts easily - it stands out from the crowd.

Hi.
Sorry about the name, it's my eyes, I'm halfway through having cataracts removed from both eyes, so I've got one eye that confuses the other as it is totally out of focus. I'm seeing everything double. Do you mind if I call you baggins for convenience:)

I've followed your instructions.
P8 installed with no content, using option 1. Runtime located in Documents.

Fired up P8 and clicked on a few things, including library, but no crashes. Library is only showing as a docked pallete, top right corner of screen.

Internet access okay, start menu access a tiny bit slower.

Processes showing:
Acer Empowering Technology (sorry forgot to mention that)
Untitled - Smith Micro Poser

Exited Poser, internet access okay, start menu access now up to 100% speed.

So far, okay

Look in the Processes tab to see if the Poser process is still running, after you close it.

But since things are working right, it isn't important. I only want to know if things are slow during and after "closing" Poser. But they aren't slow now, eh?

So close Poser. If all is not well, don't uninstall. Run Task Manager and see if Poser (process) is still there. But only if it isn't working right.

If it is working right, close Poser. Now try running the content installer.  Don't do anything else.

Then open Poser again.

Does it seem OK?

Close Poser. Still OK? etc.

At no point, never, ever, copy any runtime ONTO your new Poser 8 main runtime. There is more than just content - there is program stuff in there. If you ever copy over something from Poser 7, you'll trash Poser 8. You want to add external runtimes only, even if we're talking about Poser 7's main runtime. To Poser 8, that is an external runtime only. Clear? No copying one runtime onto another.

Quote -
Processes showing:
Acer Empowering Technology (sorry forgot to mention that)
Untitled - Smith Micro Poser

OHO!

That Acer Empowering Technology thing is a MAJOR ressource hog. At least on my machine it is! I always turn that bleedin' thing off whenever I make a full reboot (normally I just let my 'puter hibernate but from time to time it needs a proper kick in the rear ;) )

Kill those Acer buttons, zippy and I bet you'll see a better overall performance! 

Not saying they are the sole cause for your problems, but they may play a large part of them!

You could also disable that thing permanently with Autoruns. Just google for it, it's pretty simple although you can do some damage with careless clicking about :)

"Windows Vista, after all these years, finally has a very good startup manager built-in; go to Control Panel > Performance Information and Tools, and then click on Manage Startup Programs on the left." - Windows 7 has the same options, but more buried...

Quote -
At no point, never, ever, copy any runtime ONTO your new Poser 8 main runtime. There is more than just content - there is program stuff in there. If you ever copy over something from Poser 7, you'll trash Poser 8. You want to add external runtimes only, even if we're talking about Poser 7's main runtime. To Poser 8, that is an external runtime only. Clear? No copying one runtime onto another.

I would never dream of copying one version runtime onto a different version's runtime, because I guessed a long time ago that they were only relevant to each program version. Also, I am well aware that P8 is a complete re-write of previous versions.

So I would only import through the Poser library. I do seriously doubt that copying and storing, then pasting back any runtime after a reinstall is not a good idea either. For a start, some of my content has scripts and material files attached which might not link up again, but I only copy and paste old runtimes because so many people in the forums say they do the same. This time I'd much rather reinstall stuff from scratch with Runtime Installer. Only trouble with that utility is that I've noticed it sometimes creates a new extra runtime inside the program folder, and refuses to install the content in the pre-existing runtime, and I then have to manually move the new content into the right place and delete the extra runtime folder. Did I do wrong? I didn't think one should have two folders both called Runtime. My P7 folder does look a bit of a mess.

One particular thing that bothers me about importing P7 runtimes, is that surely the attached scripts should be installed in P8? or does the library import feature bring the scripts with it?

I'll get onto Baggins's latest instructions a bit later on today. I've only just woken up and I'm having to reinstall other software to get essential work done.

Trekkie, I am not touching any Acer controls or software. I do not want to lose the ability to reset this computer in an emergency. If Poser 8 won't work with this computer's factory installed software, then it is Poser 8 that goes, not anything else. Besides which, I've always loved the Acer features.

"I do not want to lose the ability to reset this computer in an emergency."

software can do it faster than a wall switch??

 Well it's not that you can't reinstall just because you close those buttons. There's just IMO no reason to have ressource-hogging software running in the background. You can always start them from the start menu if you need for instance to make a backup or something :)

But they don't need to take up space and memory in their button form. I didn't tell you to deinstall them, just to close them down :)

And kaibach, I think zippy means the ability to restore his computer. Acer has the restore-to-factory settings thing, like no doubt other brands. Acer's just fills up on the desktop (again IMO)

Zippy:

Quote - and I'll have to install my screenshot program.

You don't need a program for screenshots if you have a simple image software as 'Paint' that is always installed with Windows as far as I remember from Win95 to XP (and probably in Vista too), Microsoft Office Picture Manager or a lot of others (ACDSee, Gimp).  Just click 'Print' on your keyboard, open the image software and click 'paste'.