Quote - "I do not want to lose the ability to reset this computer in an emergency."

software can do it faster than a wall switch??

I had Acronis last Christmas, and it didn't work on my previous XP computer when the entire system crashed and refused to restart. Not even with the Acronis emergency disk. And why not, you might ask, because software is no protection when the motherboard dies. Well it was nine years old.

Trekkie, I'm not ignoring your comments, I just don't want to do anything I don't understand, particlarly anything that the factory put on here. You'll notice from bagginsbill's comments that I didn't know what 'move' meant. I've never used it to transfer files.

Quote -
At no point, never, ever, copy any runtime ONTO your new Poser 8 main runtime. There is more than just content - there is program stuff in there. If you ever copy over something from Poser 7, you'll trash Poser 8. You want to add external runtimes only, even if we're talking about Poser 7's main runtime. To Poser 8, that is an external runtime only. Clear? No copying one runtime onto another.

I would never dream of copying one version runtime onto a different version's runtime, because I guessed a long time ago that they were only relevant to each program version. Also, I am well aware that P8 is a complete re-write of previous versions.

So I would only import through the Poser library. I do seriously doubt that copying and storing, then pasting back any runtime after a reinstall is not a good idea either. For a start, some of my content has scripts and material files attached which might not link up again, but I only copy and paste old runtimes because so many people in the forums say they do the same. This time I'd much rather reinstall stuff from scratch with Runtime Installer. Only trouble with that utility is that I've noticed it sometimes creates a new extra runtime inside the program folder, and refuses to install the content in the pre-existing runtime, and I then have to manually move the new content into the right place and delete the extra runtime folder. Did I do wrong? I didn't think one should have two folders both called Runtime. My P7 folder does look a bit of a mess.

One particular thing that bothers me about importing P7 runtimes, is that surely the attached scripts should be installed in P8? or does the library import feature bring the scripts with it?

I'll get onto Baggins's latest instructions a bit later on today. I've only just woken up and I'm having to reinstall other software to get essential work done.

Trekkie, I am not touching any Acer controls or software. I do not want to lose the ability to reset this computer in an emergency. If Poser 8 won't work with this computer's factory installed software, then it is Poser 8 that goes, not anything else. Besides which, I've always loved the Acer features.

Hi.
Sorry about the name, it's my eyes, I'm halfway through having cataracts removed from both eyes, so I've got one eye that confuses the other as it is totally out of focus. I'm seeing everything double. Do you mind if I call you baggins for convenience:)

I've followed your instructions.
P8 installed with no content, using option 1. Runtime located in Documents.

Fired up P8 and clicked on a few things, including library, but no crashes. Library is only showing as a docked pallete, top right corner of screen.

Internet access okay, start menu access a tiny bit slower.

Processes showing:
Acer Empowering Technology (sorry forgot to mention that)
Untitled - Smith Micro Poser

Exited Poser, internet access okay, start menu access now up to 100% speed.

So far, okay

Okay, Bagginshall, I'll do as you suggest and turn UAC off, if I can find it. It takes quite a while though to install P8 and I'll have to install my screenshot program.

Sounds as though you know what you are doing, but I bet it doesn't work. And it will take me a frustrating time to access the internet to report back.

By the way, if I were you I'd sue that tanning Salon lol!

I've just noticed something very odd!!!!!!!!!!

My start programs menu shows a Smith Micro folder with Poser 7 icon, plus Poser 7 uninstall icon inside! Yet the e frontier folder shows it is empty! There shouldn't be a Smith Micro folder as I used the P8 uninstall.

I've checked the actual programs folder and there's no Smith Micro folder there, only e frontier with all the Poser files in it, as they should be.

Isn't that kinda weird?

Has anyone considered there might be a fault with my installation disk?

Quote - Still confusing me. I showed a screenshot. Install option #1 does not install to the program location, no matter how many times you say it.

Now you just said another confusing thing. You said "The only thing that showed in processes was Poser 8". When did it show this - after rebooting and without even running it?

The words "Installed" and "Running" are different words, but you seem to use them interchangeably. I can't understand you.

Well, every time I've installed using option 1, the installation goes straight to the Programs folder. It installs a big folder called Smith Micro, which even show in the start programs list.

By installed, I mean putting CD in machine and clicking on install, then following the instructions. That means the computer puts the program on the machine.

By running, I mean that I've clicked on the P8 desk icon to open the program, and it is now open. I don't know what else running can mean, unless, and I'm not being rude, this misunderstanding is an American/English word problem, because I live in the UK:)

Poser only shows in the processes when Poser is 'open' or 'running'.

Sorry, Bagginhall, I see your question now.

The answer is what I told technical support, that my computer access runs slow, even no access to some things like start menus, whenever P8 is installed, both when it is running and when it is not running....but...that is only true, as I said above and to technical support, only after the P8 library fault message first appeared and turned the IE (internet explorer) window into a docked pallete. In effect once that fault triggered, something gets into the system, it appears to me, that causes problems with my computer, let alone the P8 library. And the computer access problem dissaprears whenever P8 is uninstalled.

Does that help?:)

Quote - zippy,

Don't get mad at me, too, but you're saying things that confuse me.

First of all, the installer says in plain English that if you have Vista with UAC enabled, you should use the option they show you first. If you told it to install in the program location, it meant you were making a decision for which you should have knowledge of the implications. I, for example, had no problem with P8 on Vista installed into the Program Files, because I have UAC disabled. Why are you mad at SM when you made a mistake on installing it?

Sorry...I'm honestly not mad at you!

I'm 'upset', not mad, that I'm having to spend weeks following technical support's instructions without getting anywhere, and whenever P8 is installed I cannot use the rest of my computer. So that's why I have to keep taking it off, then putting it back to answer technical support's questions.

Technical support told me to use install option 1, and not any other, which I did. This is recent reinstall of P8 was the only reinstall with UAC operating. I told technical support that all the previous tries at installing and running P8 had UAC disabled. I told technical support that I always used to, up to today, run my PC with UAC disabled. I don't see how I've made a mistake if 'install option 1' installs to the program location, and that's what technical support told me to do.

The only thing that showed in processes was Poser 8. I'm not installing P8 again as it slows down my computer, which is fine without it. For example, if I have P8 installed I cannot even get on here to report what's happening, because P8 interfears with my internet.

Quote - zippy,

Nowhere in your description did you say you rebooted. You said you ran Poser, and exited and the system was slow. Then you uninstalled P8 and it wasn't slow anymore. That's without rebooting - just an uninstall?

What if you leave it installed, run it, and reboot. Is it still slow?

While it is slow, with Poser not running, what shows in task manager for processes, and CPU usage? What about network usage without Poser running?

What antivirus did you install?

Also, install Poser 8 but do not add any old runtimes - what happens?

Both installed and uninstalled, I told technical support I was constantly rebooting the computer. I did that after every action to clear the RAM, just in case something got stuck.

Prior to system reinstall, I had a Vista gadget monitoring CPU's and and memory, and there was no unusual activity. Task manager showed nothing that shouldn't be there. There was no network usage as I said I hadn't yet installed any networked software, and was only connected to my router.

Bagginsbill, I do not have either Norton or Macafee. I run Avast Pro anti virus, and SM have no problem with that. Avast has been told to totally ignore my Poser installations, but that makes no difference to the problem.

I've had enough...this is the last straw!!!!! SM are now asking me to move my P7 runtime about just to see if it makes a difference. Great, considering it is over 9GB and Windows says it'll take 9 hours to move. NOW they tell me, NOW they tell me, and I quote, "Vista doesn't like runtimes in the program location",. Good grief! If SM KNOW that Vista doesn't want the runtime in the default location, then why does the first P8 install option (the only one to mention Vista) put the runtime where SM now tell me it shouldn't be**, and that with Vista they say any runtime should be installed into another entirely isolated Documents folder away from the main program folders. So okay, in that's the case how come Poser 7, under Vista, has no problem with its runtime being where SM says it shouldn't be? that makes no sense.

it just beggars belief. I don't think SM have a clue what they are doing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????**

SM also now tell me (finally admitted it) there are compatibility issues with Vista and Poser 8, - "There are compatibility problems which will be fixed" -  which shouts to me that this is the problem, I've been sold software that isn't fully working. So I'm not wasting any more time and requesting a full refund. This is the very last Poser I am buying!

Yes, you bet I'm now ...upset!

I've just checked, the firewall is accepting both P7 and P8 executable files.

I had UAC fully working this time. I clicked yes to every message that came up asking permission to continue, or allow.

Yes, I sent this message off before posting here.

I did as SM suggested and tried telling the antivirus to ignore both P7 and P8 entire folders, but that was no help. SM insist there's no problem with Firefox, so can't be that either. I think that error message was about a Poser compatibility issue with Vista, but I can't remember all the text. I'm pretty sure it didn't mention Poser. As for the library vanishing...it was nothing to do with me!

Okay, I have my computer back up again and here's what happened:

1. Reset computer to factory settings

2. Downloaded and installed all system updates, including a very recent upgrade for the graphics card. It appears the Vista service packs all installed, too.

3. Installed anti virus and Firefox - No other software

4. Installed Poser 7 + Poser SP3, and copied saved runtime to runtime folder. Poser 7 tested and ok.

5. Installed Poser 8 and hotfix. Internet and computer acces at this point okay.

6) Fired up P8, ok, added P7 runtime. ok.

1. P8 library appears as IE window and indexes FAST.

2. Index ends. Up comes an error message on screen. "There are compatibility problems which will be fixed." Library IE window then dissapears on its own and reapears as a docked pallet, but NO LONGER indexed. Indexing now starts again, only this time extremely slow.

3. I close P8. Computer and internet now takes ages to access, I am met with consistent blank white windows, which stay white for at least 30 seconds until files and internet reapear.

4. I reopen P8, library still running extremely slow. 

5. I exit Poser. Still can't easily access computer and interent.

6. I uninstall P8, computer and internet acces now fully working again.

So you see from item 8 above where the problem starts, and it is the P8 library that triggers it. Apart from what is stated above, there is no other software, or utilities, installed at this point. I cannot use my computer while Poser 8 is installed.