well, i''ve solved my previous problem, with switching display mode and preserving d3ddev. i just create a small temporary surface and set it as the render target, so i can release the previous render target without problems. BUT, THIS SUCKS!!! isn''t there a way to detach the render target from d3ddev, without providing a temporary one?!? ALSO, setting the render target seems to wipe out all of the previous information contained by d3ddev, like lighting, render states, etc. THIS DEFEATS MY PURPOSE! Is that the way it is, or am i missing something? Thanks in advance! Alex.