I have been running Poser 8 on two Vista machines.. (both low end) This is what I do for all software when installing, not just Poser....

First, Update your Operating System and then your Drivers. Reboot even if the Update says it is not needed and then check again. Windows likes to have a Rebooted machine check. Do a Scan Disk, then a Defrag. Reboot and then install the Program to the default location, but select either Shared Folder or specify location of Content during the install (Specify if you have a second Drive, that is not external)

NOTE: If you have a lot of Security Software or you let it decide, use MSCONFIG to Boot into Diagnostic Mode to Install, Activate, and then install the Updates. Then launch the Program before Booting normally. When ever you install an Update, let it Replace the Preferences.

When installing Content, do not install it to the Program Files Runtime. That will save you a lot of headache down the road. (Yes, you can install DAZ3D Content outside the Main Runtime, just make sure you install all related files to the same Library Folder.)

When using the Program, set up your Preferences and make sure you Render Separate Process and that you turn off Use external Binary Morphs if you use the DAZ3D Figures.

Create some Test Scenes that you use to check performance Issues. I call these my Baseline Scenes and I have done this since before Poser 5, though I really got into it with Poser 5 when I was doing System Evaluations.

These scenes will help you determine if the issue is with the new Scene or some other factor. If Dynamics work in your Test Scene, but the Scene using several new Products has issues, it may be something amiss with the Content like a conflict with Object Naming.

Use the Taskbar intelligently... Task Manager and some other monitors are good... The Dancing Dog or New Friend Request at the latest Social Site may cause issues.

I love Toolbars and Dashboards... Read up on what they do, before agreeing to install. If you already have it running, try disabling if you have odd issues (MSCONFIG allows you to do this to test out the issue, to rule out conflicts). 

Lastly, if you have issues, contact Smith Micro Support...you can even ask for me (Attn John)

ratscloset
aka John