I have a Dell xps 720 running vista ultimate. the system is quite slow overall. I have a 3.0 GHz intel core2 duo; 2 GB ddr2 ram; a WD 10K 150 GB primary HD; a 750 GB 7200 rpm internal HD for primary backup; a WD 120 GB external HD for secondary backup; nvidia 8600 gts video card; creative sb x-fi audio card; ati analog/digital tuner card; a second tuner card; DVD rom; DVD+RW; broadcom gigabit network card; comcast cable internet; cat 5 hardwired LAN from cable modem to linksys router to linksys hub to desktop; sony vaio laptop on network; Dell 5100cn laser duplex network printer through linksys switch; belkin usb 2 hub; cardscan executive scanner via belkin hub. I have office 2007 and Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 voice recognition installed. I am diligent about keeping up to date with microsoft hotfixes. I run TrendMicro internet security on a regular basis. I cleanup and defragment frequently. I monitor system using Belarc Advisor, as well as vista's internal performance monitors. It is most easy to note slowness during bootup, when it takes 90 seconds of dark screen to go from the microsoft copyright logo to the welcome screen. Vista gives me a message saying there is a "problem caused by nvidia graphics driver". It advises downloading updated drivers, which I have done from both the Dell and nvidia websites. I have been working for months with a senior resolution support tech to resolve the issue. All the Dell 32 bit hardware diagnostics are normal. We have been through the bios settings numerous times. We have uninstalled and reinstalled various drivers, ad infinitum. When we uninstall the nvidia drivers and the pci bus drivers, the system goes like lightning. It slows when the drivers are reinstalled. We have replaced the video card with another of the same model, but to no avail. His fellow techs have no suggestions, and say they have not encountered this problem. I have suggested that the tech should contact nvidia to ask about the problem and see if they have problems with other nvidia cards. But he says his protocols do not allow him to call nvidia. Nor can he authorize an upgrade to another model nvidia card. Regardless, he can't find any internal telephone numbers for a Dell-nvidia liason. The nvidia website doesn't give me the option to contact their tech support, since the card came with the Dell system. Anyway, I can't find any nvidia tech support phone numbers. The tech has offered to replace the whole system. I had received the 720 gratis as a replacement for an xps 600 which was a lemon. (I had spent 4 months and literally days on the phone with senior techs working to resolve problems with the 600. We replaced the mobo twice, the video card once, the hard drives once, and did a clean reinstall.) The thought of assuring everything is backed up, and then reinstalling all my programs, for at least the third time in the last 6 months is mindboggling. Since Dell doesn't provide onsite software or backup service, and my knowledge of computers is spotty, I've had to pay the Geek Squad to handle this when we were trouble shooting the xps 600, and then replaced it with the 720. I've already paid them in excess of $750. Now I have agreed to buy an 8800 card at my own expense, to see if that makes a difference. Dell is in addition sending a new mobo to be replaced at the same time. What is the nvidia driver problem? Is there a solution? Why can't Dell contact nvidia? Why couldn't the tech authorize upgrading the card? How much time and effort do I have to spend on the phone with Dell techs resolving any one problem, before they agree to escalate or replace? Can I get my money back to buy a Mac?