I've used some of my holiday time off to play around with Poser (gone skiing tomorrow, but only for one day).  I was wanting to clean out some of my unused library stuff and organize stuff.  Since the Runtime folders are within Windows "Program Files" directory (and since I am using Windows Vista), I decided to disable UACs (User Account Controls) to save a lot of annoying pop-up windows asking for my permission to do what I already told it to do.  Disabling UAC requires a re-boot.  That's all I did, folks, was disable UAC and re-booted.

Then when I re-opened Poser, it didn't open.  Instead it acted like it was newly installed and asked me for my serial number (as well as my original serial number, since Poser 7 is an upgrade).  So after getting that all entered, Poser opened but was missing some of my saved characters (stored in the library as "Figures>My Characters").  Some of my older ones were stil there (some, not all) and none of my recent additions.

In a bit of a panic, I began to browse folders outside the "Program Files" directory - mainly my ownt "Documents" folder where a lot of my Poser files are kept.  I discovered that most of my more recent additions to the Library were actually stored in my Documents (no longer called specifically "My Documents" in Vista) folder instead of the Program File directory.

With a sigh of relief, I then began to open some of these files in Poser, and re-save them to the Library.

But, alas, some of them don't work!

One configuration of V3 (called "Ellen") promts me for her PMD file ("Ellen0.pmd").  I have searched my local hard drive high and low and I can't find it!  Likewise other pmd files are missing.  As such, the files load with the basic V3 shape (still seem to have my custom textures).

Now, why would this have happened just by turning off UACs?  Several of these missing figures had been used earlier today, and were working fine.

I have the basic OBJ shapes stored and I think I will be able to restore my figures, but this is one of the damned weirdest things I've ever seen - and it doesn't make any logical sense.  Has anyone else seen or heard of anything like this?

Paul

Are you able to go back to a restore point?

Well, actually, since the original post I have figured out some of what happened -- but not why, exactly.  This might be infomative for other Vista users, because I believe it is Vista, and specifically the UAC's that caused this mess!

UAC's limit access to "system" files, which includes "Program Files".  Since Poser stores all of it's "Runtimes" within the Program Files/e frontier/Poser 7 directory, Windows wont allow user access to modify these files (that is, if you are running User Account Contols)!

So, what happens, whenever I added or changed anything in my Runtime directories from within Poser, the files were stored in an alternate directory: (C:/Users//AppData/Local/VirtualStore/Program Files/e frontier/Poser 7).  Go figure!

And, since this "AppData" folder is considered a "system" folder, it is not "indexed" for searching - thus my search fo the missing PMD turned up nothing even though it was safely where I'd put it.  I finally located this folder by turning of the "indexing" for the search.

Since then I have moved the files back into the regular "Program Files" directory.  And I plan to leave UAC turned off, at least until this compatability issue between Poser and Windows Vista is somehow resolves.

Does anyone know of a way within Poser to set up an alternate location for Runtime folders?  I didn't see a way browsing the preferences...

Anyway - this may not turn out to be a totally unique problem, since it could pose a hazard to anyone using Poser in Vista with UACs enabled.  Hope the information saves someone the headaches it caused me!

BTW, PhilC - thanks for the response -- I hadn't tried a system restore yet - actually hadn't thought to try that so I dunno if it would have worked or not.  Apparently, when a Vista administrator (me) turns off the UAC's, any programs using this alternate directory no longer "sees" that hidden directory!  That is a serious flaw with Vista, IMO.

Paul

Quote: "Does anyone know of a way within Poser to set up an alternate location for Runtime folders?  I didn't see a way browsing the preferences..."

With a new instillation of Poser I prefer to install to a sub-folder of the root folder on the drive I am installing to, eg:

C:Poser 6

this makes browsing the folders easier by cutting uot two directory levels (Program FilesCurious Labs). It also would seem to solve your problem by getting the runtime outside of 'Program Files'.

I don't know for sure, but I suspect that Poser will always want a runtime under the 'Poser #' folder, but you can add another runtime. First use a file management utility (eg Windows Explorer) to create a new folder, where ever you want it  to house your new rintime, eg "X:PoserA". Open Poser, in any library pallet go to the top level by clicking the folder icons till you see the default runtime folder. From this point clicking the "+" icon at the bottom of the pallet will allow you to add your new runtime folder to the folder you created.

Whilst your poser content, libraries, textures, and geometries, can live in the new runtime, I suspect that Poser will want some things to stay in the default runtime, eg dots, prefs, ui, Plugins, and basicly most other things (I could be wrong here).

P.S. I intend to stay well clear of Vista for a least a couple of years, to give them time to iron out the bugs.

Disabling UAC hasn't caused this, I run Poser 6 and 7 on Vista Ultimate 64 and disbled the UAC without issue to either of them!

What "may" have happened is that some of your permissions have changed, you need to make sure you run Poser as an Administartor and also right click your shortcut, go to security tab and make sure you have full permissions on all of Posers folders! 
Vista sometimes lets you access some but not all folders, it really needs setting up properly, it's a PITA from that aspect!

Also what I've found since using Vista is that whenever microsoft send an update down the line, it sometimes resets stuff you've changed which is another PITA!!

I normally include a link to what I think is a reasonably good Vista related site but after the negative comments last time I'm not giving it anymore!

Injustice will be avenged.
Cofiwch Dryweryn.

Thanks to you both for the input.  I am going to see how much I and move to a runtime directory that isn't within the "Program Files" subfolders - just to see if it works.

Fixer, I think I located your recommended Vista site with a forum "search" (?computerperformance?) -- I'm not ever going to complain about a useful infomation source.  My permissions for Poser seem to be in order.  I still think this may be a UAC issue.  I had never previously disabled UAC, which is to say that from my initial installation of Vista (32 bit Business version) I installed all my applications (Poser included) with UAC active, and, at least in the case of Poser, I was not running "As Administrator".  Running "As Administrator" and having UAC enabled is also a PITA, requiring two extra clicks and interupting everything else I'm doing just to open the application.  Now that I've decided to leave UAC disabled I may reconsider that option.  Nonetheless, I think that installing and running Poser with UAC enabled and not "As Administrator" made Vista force my library additions into this alternate directory.  That directory must have also been where Poser stored the "key" with the serial number registration.  Anyway, that's my take on it...

Lesbentley, I have actually mostly enjoyed Vista - though obviously from the above discussion it has it's quirks.  User Account Controls have certainly been the most controversial of the major changes and this may be an example why.  From everything I have read, for personal home use by a reasonably computer-literate and careful user, turning off UAC's seems like an acceptable option.

Thanks again for your comments.

I noticed on a later update, yesterday I think, it's now possible to tick a check box in the programme properties to run as administrator instead of right clicking and doing it, a useful change!
This means that double clicking now has the same effect as the [right click, run as administrator] option, whereas before it made a difference!
It seems they are learning from the complaints!!

Injustice will be avenged.
Cofiwch Dryweryn.

Definitely turn off UAC!
It's just nannyware. Microsoft seems to think nobody knows how to use their computers. largely they're right, but after installing Vista, the first thing you should be presented with is an option to turn on UAC:
Windows wants to protect you from your own idiocy now. Turn on UAC? Checking the No box will completely disable all nannyware on your computer, and you will die soon.
Are you sure?
Are you sure you're sure?
Are you really really sure?
UAC is disabled. Don't say you weren't warned. Good luck.

It's funny, because in may ways Vista is designed for professionals who have a need for loads of memory, better graphics, quicker speeds, particularly 64 bit Vista ultimate, but its initial default setup is nothing more than a severe hindrance for those who want to just get going, and you may be changing settings for a couple weeks before you have it right.
I wish it just had a checkbox for "Leave me the **** alone and just be an Operating System - I don't need a babysitter"

You can turn off the Superfetch service too, from what I've seen. Loads of people wonder why the amount of available RAM can be considerably less than the amount they know they have installed, and Superfetch is why. It's still there, but "set aside" for programs Vista thinks you might be using. However, it does unload quickly if needed. Not a necessary thing though, particularly if you have fast RAM. I turned it off and haven't noticed any difference in performance at all.