I will make it simple. Go with Windows XP. I got a good example how responsive they are to problems. I was using PowerDesk Pro (my favorite file manager) to unzip hundreds of files. It kept crashing for a day or so. Windows XP offered to submit a bug report, and did so countless times. Then one day the crashes stopped happening. Someone got the message and fixed the problem.

It sounds like you had some major problem. It is hard to diagnose after the fact. You could have had a virus, or a dead hard drive. I've been close, and in my case it was due to a JavaException Enabler trojan virus that got through to my computer....It wiped out some vital stuff in the registry pertaining to virtual memory, and I just never recovered. I was in over my league with Windows 2000 Pro. I am temporarily out of the job loop, and there are not too many people I could go to for advice. If you have Windows 2000 Pro, it is assumed you are one of the PRos, and that you don't need a lot of help. If you're not that advanced, stay with Windows 98, ME or XP.

Look it is this easy. If you are looking to upgrade to a differant operating system, it only makes sense to hang on and get Windows XP. Anything else will be old news in a few days. As for the alleged problems with Windows ME: Those who know their stuff won't make such claims.

Excuse me, but I've worked as a Technical Support Engineer for a major ISP who just happens to be closely related to Microsoft. None of the technicians I worked with had any such negative feedback about Windows ME. Sometimes we seem to "generalize," and often we are wrong.

One thing that certainly helps is having a "CD Burner." That way you can always have a backup of the stuff you downloaded. Heck you can even backup your Poser runtime folder so you never need to reinstall all that stuff again. Yes, there are many fine, "Commercial" things out there. There is also a wealth of free stuff. All the same I had to break down and get Michael and Victoria. Now I can't see how I did without them.

I tried to check out the site, but it wanted me to register first. Excuse me, but I just want to check it out, I don't want to register. That is a serious mistake they made there.

Oh, by the way, don't believe anyone who says Windows ME is crap. The people who say that are usually people who already had some sort of computer problems, whether it be software or hardware. People often think their problems will all disappear by installing the newest operating system. No they don't. You need to fix your problems first. And too often people forget to go to Windows Update and find any new updates or bugfixes. Too often people fail to seek the latest drivers for their hardware, or any updates to their software. You need to invest some time and energy to keep things working correctly.

You want to ignore Windows NT because that was dumped in favor of Windows 2000. If you don't have Windows 2000 Pro you're better off waiting for Windows XP, since that is due shortly. You would benefit from the stability and compatability of Windows XP...Which is more compatable, and better in many ways that Windows 2000. Most of us will do fine with Windows XP Home Edition which costs $100 less than the XP Pro Version... that has some stuff like dual processor support that most of us don't need. I ran Windows XP Pro Release Candidates 1 & 2 (The last testing stage before the final released Commercial product). I used them for a few weeks, and never had a single problem with Poser or any of my other software. I took it off my computer eventually because it was "time-limited," in that it would eventually expire. I figured I can hold out till we can afford to buy Windows XP Home Edition. Then I will wipe my hard drives, and install everything from scratch. That seems to always be the best way to make sure your new operating system gets a fresh start. There were some concerns about Windows 2000 hardware compatability. I think those with "off-brand" hardware had the most problems (I have a Jaton/Cirrus Logic CLM modem which doesn't work...) But even then, Windows 2000 was much better at application and hardware compatability that Windows NT. I think we'll have less compatability concerns with Windows XP. However, I think you'd be better off if you are sure your hardware is "mainstream," and not brands that might have already been discontinued by the manufacturer, or from a company that has gone bankrupt. I went to the jaton web site (www.jaton.com), and they seem to have died....Can't load any pages, even though the company is referred to in many computer sites. You're better off with a Soundblaster Live card (unfortunately, not the AWE line of SB cards...They seem to have been dumped), a "brand name" modem such as US Robotics/3Com. If you buy the cheap hardware, or orphaned hardware, you're in for more and more frustration. In summary: If you're thinking of a new operating system, forget about Windows 2000... Go to Windows XP when it's available. The Home Edition is likely best for most of us, and $100 cheaper than the Pro version.

Thank you very much for all the excellent gifts.

I do apologize. This conversation has a tendency of going away from the original inspiration which is a first-class sled and saucer. My mind is full of sometimes useless bits of trivia, and I just couldn't help thinking the word rosebud! Now again, I want to thank Sams3D for the wonderful sled and saucer. It almost makes me wish for winter again. But then I'm still trying to renconcile myself to being bsck "in the Frozen north," after I had made my escape to Florida for a few years. Oh well, that is what love, and reunions do to you.... Would I exchange my two years of married life for the carefree bachelor days in the Sunshine state? No.

Um, well I am 51...And you know Citizen Kane was made sometime in the 30's or 40's. And there are folks your age who don't even know about Vietnam or the Beatles, let alone some "obscure movie" that was most likely ahead of its time, but most likely "poopooed" by many a critic. Personally, I remember thinking this film must be important, really dramatic, but I had a hell of a time watching it. Maybe one day I will actually sit through it and stay awake.'

Aha! You must be one of them "old f*rts" like me. I never followed the whole movie through at any time I watched it.... But I still remember that last scene...."Rosebud, rosebud." I had to ask people what he meant because I had literally slept through much of the movie most times I watched it.

Now just who or what is Rosebud?

You betcha... You win the imaginary prize.

Just remember that the ProPack service release has a problem finding Poser Pro if your Poser is from Metacreations rather than Curious Labs. Remember also that Poser has been associated with three different companies to my knowledge: 1.) Fractal Designs (I still have my 3 floppies for version 1 in my desk.) 2.) Metacreations 3.) Curious Labs.