I just installed Windows7 ( clean install ) on my machine, I'm jumping up from XP so I haven't been exposed to UAC etc.. I would appreciate any suggestions on setting up my runtime folders. I had runtimes spread all over the place on my XP setup, the main runtime, a runtime on root C:, and an external drive. I really want to keep it clean and simple this time and I'm thinking of putting everything in the main runtime or one dedicated place on my root drive. Are there any pitfalls/headachs anyone has run into with win7 or any major issues I should take into consideration before I get started installing content.

Thanks..

I keep all of my content in their original archives and stored in my !Downloads! folder outside of Poser.  Each archive is kept in its own folder until I'm ready to use it, and each folder is organized by the type of content.  At present, I have base and morphs for M4, V4, and S4.  I keep them installed in my  Poser runtime since I'll always need them at the ready.

I have a single external runtime set up inside a !Projects! folder.  When I'm ready to start work on a new render, I extract the archives I'm going to need from my !Downloads! folder and install them in the !Projects! runtime.  Then I add my !Projects! folder to my Library palette.  Once I'm done with the render, I remove the !Projects! folder from my Library and delete the runtime until I'm reading to begin anew.

That's how I plan on keeping my hdd nice and tidy.  I've read far too many content horror stories like your's, and never want to find myself in that position.

I have a folder called Runtimes on my C: drive where I put my separate named runtime folders (like M4, V4, Troll). I only install python stuff to the main runtime in the Poser folder.

ps when I was using Windows 7 I installed Poser outside the program files folder so UAC wouldn't give me hassle.

Yup me too, kept it all outside of the program files, both of them.  Remember when you move to WIn 7 64 bit you will get 2 Program Files folders, one of 64bit and one for x86 (32bit)

 I have also Win 7 64 bits and 8 gigs ram and multiple runtimes on volume d : and e: not on c:
I can say that you don't need to install programs on Program files folders :lots of mine are on others hard drives than the one with my system : 32 bits or 64 bits softs, everything works well from its own folder 

All, thanks for the suggestions, Nyghtfall - I'm going to give you suggestion a go for awhile, sounds like a nice and clean work flow. Thx. **
**

I'm glad I could help.  I would like to add one thing.  I just found the Refresh button on the Library palette.  Now I can keep my !Projects! folder loaded in my Library and just Refresh it whenever I replace the !Projects! runtime with content for a new project.

:)

Also, if you're someone who likes to have multiple projects going at once, you can take the idea a step further by creating separate folders inside the !Projects! folder and naming them after the projects you're working on.  Then you can install the content you're going to need for a particular project into its own runtime.  Add the folder for that project to your Library, tell Poser to display only that Library folder, and all you'll see is the content you need for that proejct.

For example:

!Projects!
-- Space Battle
--- Runtime
-- Character Study
--- Runtime
-- Surrealistic Painting
--- Runtime
-- Love Scene
--- Runtime

When you're done with one or more projects, simply delete their folders and refresh your !Projects! Library.  You'll then be left with an empty !Projects! folder ready to house fresh content for your next project.

:)

And a clean hdd.

hehehe

On a related note, I especially love how the Library displays the number of items installed in each folder.  It's proven incredibly useful in verifying that all of the content I'm using for a project has successfully loaded.

Thanks ... much appreciated!!