I've searched and searched on this issue, and have tried everything I've come up with.
I recently got a new PC notebook. Sony Vaio, Intel Core 2-Duo (2 ghz), 2 gigs ram, Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD. This came with Vista Business installed. I loaded all my programs, Adobe Production Suite, 3DsMax, Maya 7.0, etc. Everything ran OK, but Maya had ghosting issues. I tried everything I thought would fix it. It ran fine, just had ghosting issues periodically. I received my downgrade to XP in the mail. Since I prefer XP, I did the downgrade, which wiped Vista completely off the notebook. I also thought this would solve the ghosting.
Here's the dilema. Once I loaded everything back on the notebook now with XP, Maya simply will not open. I get the output module, and the script editor SOMETIMES; Maya is not open off screen. I noticed the start up image kept closing once it tried loading the time slider. I went into the start-up scripts, removed "init timeslider" and Maya finally opened. However, you need the time slider. So I went to the UI view options, and turned on "Time Slider" and maya crashes with a random error window. If I don't try to view the time slider, and hit render, it also closes.
Here's what I have tried: Installing video and audio drivers, openGL drivers, adjusting OpenGL, different XP service packs, trashing prefs, renaming prefs, renaming the Maya folder in documents, copying the script file for the Init Timeslider from my desk top PC, reformatting and starting over, looking at the boot.ini file, and going through the regedit to look for any Maya related files that might possibly still be looking for a vista path. I prefer Maya 7, however I tried Maya 8 as well with the same exact error. I know I've tried more, but lack of sleep has caused a few to escape.
I've come up empty each time. I'm pulling out my luscious locks now. The notebook is not a monster machine, however 3DSMax and AE run with no problems. I've also run Maya on a much lesser notebook also with no issues. Please, I know I'm new to this board but I am desperate. Been on this for a week now. Any suggestions are super appreciated!