Great news: The 'auto-detect runtimes' not working in Carrara 8.5 is now reported on Daz web site See Link.. I have reported this problem in my post above.

For heavens sake this is the first function that you use after you install Carrara. The second function you use is to build a scene in 3D view. All you have to do is to load a scene in 8.5.1.19 to see how noticeably slower it is when compared to 8.1.1.12.

Carrara 8.5.1.19 has not been tested for even 15 minutes before being shipped. This is what happens when you put interns in charge of software development.

Note that my gripe is not with the intern-in-charge. I am enraged at Daz management who uses under-qualified under-paid interns to develop Carrara, and then charges us the eyes of the head for a buggy worthless 'release' only good for the trash can.

Way to go Daz, way to go!