Hi Stephen, Could you please tell us what your system is? Processor speed RAM Video RAM It looks like your computer is having a hard time with each task you are doing in Poser. And it won't let go when you switch to another room or function. ScottA

Processor: Pentium 3, 1Ghz Ram: 512 Mb Video Card: 32 Mb ( nVIDIA RIVA TNT-2/M64 chipset ) I have project files of the stuck in view modes, and one that only wants to render whenever it's opened or after canceling the render, anytime you change rooms it starts rendering again.

Does the same thing on my machine, especially when I have my Win98SE drive in, on Win2k SP3, and WinXP Sp1 the crashes are not as bad but still happen. Computer Specs, Athlon XP 2000+ (1.667GHz), 512 MB DDR Ram, 32MB ATI Rage 128 AGP 4X Video Card

Has everyone here emailed Technical Support? Just because software doesn't work on one particular machine doesn't mean it's the software's fault (nor does it preclude the oppositre from being true). I have always used NVidia-based video cards and have never had the slightest problem with the released version of Poser 5. I have, however, had numerous problems caused by video drivers, which are known to be notoriously buggy. In my case, I downloaded the latest Deotnator drivers from www.nvidia.com and installed them. The latest final version I know of was August 7th 2002. Actually, there was a set of beta drivers released after that. I installed the betas and have not had a single video-driver issue since. Before that, I was getting locking windows, slow refresh, blue screens of death, etc. Anthony Hernandez Curious Labs

No other of my High end render software packages give the least bit of trouble, even on XP, nor does any other application running on Win98SE, Win2k, WinXP(except for older apps)nor Mandrake Linux 8.2. As a computer Tech I know all about drivers and their problems, and yes when I get a full list of errors and document them after eliminating everything that could be specific to Hardware or other installed software problems, I'll email them to CL

Did you select the option in the Document window?

I'm getting Stephen Ray's last error once in a while. Basically, when this happens, P5 has crashed and must be restarted. As I've stated several hundred times already, Hires Don crashes P5 also. And processing is generally slooooow, especially rendering. System Specs: Dual PIII 1GHz 1.3GHz PC133 RAM Windows 2000 Pro ATI Radeon 7500 Personally, I don't think P5 likes P3s (I've noticed many complaints from users with P3 processors). Help is on its way. I have considered and connived and have decided to upgrade my other system (Athlon XP 1700+) to a 533FSB mobo, 2.53GHz P4 (waiting for delivery), 1GB PC2100 DDR RAM, and 80GB 7200 WD 8MB-cache drive (thus keeping the dual processor for development and other menial tasks). If P5 doesn't ROCK on THAT system, I'm writing a formal letter to Curious Labs demanding that they add 3D acceleration support. You can't get much better than that without spending thousands of dollars (though, I spent a grand). Kuroyume

I posted a few days ago with similar problems...received an IM from kupa stating this problem was one of the things being addressed in the patch that is being built... I have the latest nvidia drivers, not the betas...i quit doing beta stuff, although I did buy P5, (sorry, had to be said), but still have screen hangs, windows left over from previous rooms, etc....I was told that the app had to be closed to get rid of the windows....by that time the program is trashed. I found that prior to closing P5, however, you can still save your work, close P5, reload, and all will be back to normal...load your file and continue on...until the next problem...hopefully the patch won't be too far out.

It doesn't matter what your running Poser 5 is not stable it's full of programing mistakes. I refuse to use it untill CL addresses and fixes the softwear. AND IT still burns my Butt that you at Curious labs made Poser 5, completely on purpose so it's not be easy to use Vicky and her Mil Family. I have spent lots of money on these wonderful models. I have a brand new computer, not on line. This old one I still use for internet. I use to crash Poser4 everyday with this gateway cow. With my New TriStar system, I have never crashed Poser4.I just rendered a picture, with the Mil Dragon, hi maps, Marforno's new Room, the dragon Horde of stuff, Nerds moon, 2 Vicky's fully dressed and other props. It rendered it 1 minute. But yet Poser 5 almost gave me a breakdown. I hate things that don't work. I have Pent 4.1.8GHZ Full tower-430Watt xeon ATX 1GB 266MHZ Ram 2 hard drives one 20 and The 80GB for poser windows 2000 vidio card is Quar04 700XGL 64MG I refuse to mess with any of my settings to even try and help Poser 5. Then it would mess up how great it works in everything eles. One un-happy CL Customer.

I've had numerous problems with the materials window showing up in other rooms and being able to click through the materials window into other rooms. I'm not sure what graphic chip my system has off the top of my head (I'll check when I get home). Odd thing is, I haven't had any problems like this with any other program on that machine. Still. I'm sure Anthony is right and that it must be either a problem with the system or a user error. After all, the problems I'm having couldn't possibly becaused by the program now could they?

After all, the problems I'm having couldn't possibly >>>becaused by the program now could they? Of course not.

The possibility of it being an Nvidia Driver issue for me are about NIL. Give us a break. Not ONE of the plethora of apps and their associated DLLs and drivers stuffed on my drives cause a single crash, let-alone the screen-oddities induce by running Poser 5. Amazing how everything else works flawlessly on my system, yet Poser 5 can't seem to work without some kind of lock, crash, or screen nightmare.

turtle, your conspiracy therory is interesting but not true...numerous people have used vick in p5(I'm working on pic with her now.) Without problems. It does matter what people are running cause techs need to know this information to fix a problem: Tim nvidia has been a pattern, perhaps it is something in p5 that conflicts with certain versions of them. My self, I have an nvidia card and haven't had a problem...If some one reminds one of these days when I'm actually home, I'll check the version. Stephen's problems are pretty wild, as all of those functions have work with me so far...is photoimpact open during all of this? If so have you tried using the program with out photoimpact open? Just a question. I'm not trying to argue but help. I seriously haven't had any problems except the focus problem, I rendered my hair test while online at renderosity. My system is hefty but not at big as some with xp, p4 1.4gig, and 512 ram. xp was an upgrade, which I did my self almost a month ago(I stated at some point that I was ascared too, but I bit the bullet there) Some one reported hold over problems in the animation settings & walk designer..wish I could help but I'm not an animator...I wonder if this really is geared for the still artist, though I've seen some complaints that p5 is too complicated for some to use...sheesh. Just musing here, here are some patterns I've noticed: p3 and win98 amd & nvidia win98 winMe

Well...add Win XP to your list.

There are problems with P5 all over the spectrum...I think some people are just lucky to not have problems. Maybe a bunch of us got bad CDs..... No, its the drivers....it would be interesting however, to find out what nvidia drivers people are using and whether or not they are having problems. I'll start a thread.

I think it's more a matter of people using the software more aggressively than other people relative to their respective machines Dave. I rarely use high polygon stuff. So That's probably why my machine will run P5 OK. However, I have created fur for my Poser Puppy figure and P5 crashes my machine if I try to render it. I'm absolutely positive if I had a 3GHZ CPU. It would render just fine. ScottA

I figure some of this is issues with my graphic card & drives. I have the latest drives installed, and they are the only drivers that work with my higher end 3D software, so changing back to older drivers is not an option for me. But they work fine on all 13 of my other 3D software and my multimedia graphic software to. Also can not afford a new & better graphic card at this time. So I can only hope that CL investigates the problem people are have with these issues and fix the software. The way I see it if 20 or 30 other 3D software companies can make software that runs fine on a wide verity of graphic card and systems, then CL should be able to also. Or put in the system requirements what will or will not work with their software. Tirjasdyn, no Photo Impact was only open to do screen capturing of the problems. The program will run fine for a time then it's like it hits a brick wall. I checked and I still have plenty of available ram when things go haywire. Also theses problems are saved in the Project file, so it's not like I can save the project then reopen it in a freshly launched Poser 5. Cause as soon as I open the project there it is. So anybody at CL if you want to take a look at these project files, just let me know and I'll get them to you.

Scott....I agree a higher end CPU is necessary...I, of course, had to make a smart a.. comment couple of days ago about having to use a 6-terrahz cpu :) It's a shame, though, that it takes better than a 1.53ghz system to use this program, especially considering the code has been in the works for quite awhile...or was it just slapped together in the last 6 months targeted at the next gen of systems ??? I was finally pretty happy with P4...loaded XP which got rid of my render problems....all was great except for the crosstalk, which can be worked around....now to start over again with P5... I am using P5 pretty aggressively, but its more the matter of me aggressively slamming my desk and throwing stuff. :)

I know how you feel Dave. I was using a PII266 mhz for a long time with Poser4. It worked ok. But it was a little slow. When I upgraded to a 1GHZ CPU. It was like getting a new suped-up version of Poser. It flew! ScottA

"It's a shame, though, that it takes better than a 1.53ghz system to use this program, especially considering the code has been in the works for quite awhile...or was it just slapped together in the last 6 months targeted at the next gen of systems ???" Huh? I'm using a 600 Celeron with 384 Mb of RAM on Windows ME, and I can still run Photoshop side by side without significant slowdowns... looks inside his machine to make sure nothing got upgraded while he was sleeping... Paul

Windows ME?? I thought you were supposed to be smart :-) -Jeff

Now I haven't loaded the mil dragon since I upgraded...perhaps I'll try tonight..that's the highest polygon count I have(not saying anything about bryce here. I'll try a few thinks tonight, I've had to lay off learning the new stuff, due to daughter time and webpage stuff, mostly been working on "simple" files for the site....let me play with mil dragon and I'll post the "results". I can't believe I'm doing this with the intention to try to break poser..whheeee

I'm running P5 in a slow old small system (K6-III+ 450 with 256Mb of PC133 ram running at PC100 speed and Win2K Pro. Everything works fairly well, but I have noticed the materials room screen graphics hanging around (and sometimes the Render Options screen) after they should be closed. I have found that, paradoxically, it sometimes helps to LOWER Poser's priority (so the OS can catch up to it), and when it's doing something really intensive like calculating hair and cloth dynamics, just go off and read email in another application or pop in here and read posts. Judy appears to have some scaling problems but those are Judy problems, not P5 (they are the same if you load her in P4) that are absent from Don. And on my slow system I've learned the hard way to pose first and add hair and cloth dynamics last. And I think it will be a while before the power of the materials lab hits home. That's one interesting engine and basically controls the render in much the same way that some of the professional engines do. And that damn bug where the document window keeps decrementing its height after I set it and lock it is annoying (but not fatal). Also, I think, given the difficulty of doing it manually, the focal distance ought to automatically set itself to the distance from the selected camera to the selected object when you bring up the Render Options screen (or there ought to be a button to load it). Better lighting would have been nice, but things like area lights and true global illumination do come at the expense of render time.

Yea its a shame that when you do get a response from tech support they only give you half the answer. My example I have been trying to install P5 on my P4 with 1gig of mem running Win XP fully updated I get this error This software requires installation of certain device drivers and a reboot before running. Pleae reboot or reinstall the software. I have made sure there were no programs running in the backdground only the minima required processes running. I have tried to reinstall about 20 times without success. Then I get a response from tech support that says Hello there, you must have tpkd.sys installed in your windowssystemdrivers folder. It must also be enabled. If you can't find it, you must end all 3rd party processes and reinstall Poser 5. How do you enable it!!! I found the sys file in my system32drivers folder I dont know what else to do.

Ok first I want to thank everyone for the advise and support. I did get a call from CL today and they walked me through my problem. I got a better response from a human being than using the email bot techincal support. Computers make people forget there are other humans on the other side when requesting help. Either thier SLAs are making the support staff provide vauge answers to request so they can close them to meet those SLAs or the email support is useless. Either way a very patient and nice individual at CL did help me out this issue with the Tpkd.sys file some how or another it got disabled, its located in windowssystem32drivers under XP but to enable or disable it you have to right click on my computer, then select manage, then select device manager, on the top menu select view, then show hidden devices,then go to non-plug and play devices,Tpkd should not have a big x running through it, it needs to be enabled, from here just highlight it and click on properties and enable or highlight it and click on the small computer that says enable. Then reboot and run P5 thats it, problem solved.