PathDeform no longer works?

Example, I load in from tutorial files the write_on_yes_anim_complete.max and
tries to render an animation. I remember the first time I did this tut and it
worked back then. It doesn't work now for some reason.

I checked the plugins (plugnin manager), the pathdef.dlm was deferred, so I
loaded it into memory. In fact I loaded every plugin to be sure.

Rendered animation, again, and still the pathdeform doesn't work properly.

You can oriet it in the X and Y coordinates, but when you check the radiobutton
for the Z-axis, the path disappears from view into a point with an ascerix in
the viewport.

So, in other words, any object you might create will NOT be properly deform