first off system specs in quick:
Core i7 980x

12 gb ddr3 memory

quadro fx 4600

win7 x64 Pro

when importing any clip, it conforms, then i drag it in, the preview is blank, i try to apply an effect, playback and video hal error appears, shutsdown the program. ????????? drivers problem?

Possiably drivers....

Did you use the Nvidia driver supplied in the drivers package?

There's an Avid error log you can get to directly inside DS, maybe check it out and see if it gives you any more suggestions...

You can view the error logs also from Windows. Expand the Event Viewer and the Applications and Services Logs list, then select the Avid Event Log.  On the right panel, open the entries that are marked with an Error or Warning to verify what is wrong.

You can also check the Windows Logs > System events in case this is more of a Windows specific issue, such as a driver fault or something else.