There is an SP3; you have to become a release candidate for it before it will become available for an update.

In regards to gmax; I believe the issue has been resolved in that I installed it on Vista again and seem to have access to the material editor this time--with the ability to apply more than one material to an object; as opposed to having the material on every poly when applied to only one--and it seems to be working fine. On the other hand; I've not put in more than five minutes--and that within the last ten minutes before this post--since I installed it. The only difference between this and the last few installs is that I opted out of installing the tutorial, help, and texture library components; and so, nothing was overwritten. Also had my Vista OS reconfigure--on its own--the installation as their was apparently an issue with the install; this had not happened before. Though it was after my initial test of the material editor--which was successful; it does not seem to have altered the gmax in an unsatisfactory way, and the program appears to work as well afer as before.

Perhaps I can get back to my hobby later.

Additional mention: I bought VIACAD 2D/3D just the other day and was vastly dissapointed at its limitations given the advertising on the package and the inferences made on the website; it seems there advertising is mostly done with another piece of software--which I have not seen on their site--and is not really in line with the capabilities of the software for which it was used as advertising. Needless to say, I am more than a little irritated with it, and wonder if anyone else has experience with this software; it does still seem to have some application--and a 90 day money back guaratee--and I wonder if I should keep it.

I'm not sure it will be all that helpful; problem is: I don't think the software they used in the tutorial is the same program - it is, but it doesn't feel like it due to the fact that it actually quite clumsy and only works in exactly the fashion in which they present it. ViaCAD 2D/3D is probably worth the temporary trial they offer to test and see if you like it--particularily if you are a 2D artist as well; I'm not; I do not think however, that purchasing it before testing is to be recommended. It has a very poor user interface--pull-and-drag to modify is actually to make it functional--with a seemingly enormous draw on system resources. In addition to that, a semi-complex model in a supported--yet not native--format gets pulled apart on import by all appearances leaving its elements away from the core, and freezes up when attempting to modify or otherwise manipulate the existing model; all-in-all, gmax is by far the better program.

Cheers and no problem

edit: I should note that it shows promise for use as a program to create a solid mesh; something which it appears to do.