System crash - relog doesn't work correctly

If Second Life logs me out - (which is frequent) - when I come back up - the system stops at "initializing multimedia" for about 3 minutes, then continues.

One of two things happen:

1) I either cannot get back on the system - that is, I'm at the "Quit" page

2) Or I come back up and am limited to the sim that I am on. I have no ability to teleport anywhere.

If I remain away from Second Life for a few hours, Second Life seems to "reset" itself, and the problem goes away. But, I lost my ability to work on Second Life for that duration. If this happened once in a while, that's one thing but this problem happens all the time.

Tech stuff: I'm on an iMac24... Cool Viwer... but, this has occurred on a Windows machine, using Emerald, Snowglobe and the regular Second Life viewer. In other words, Windows and Mac OS, and each of the viewers. So, I'm sure it isn't machine or OS based.

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing the crashes.. This issue makes it impossible for me to work with and occupy Second Life. I have a business here - and need to figure this out. Thanks..

First I'd do the usual stuff like clearing my cache. I know that seems futile since you are experiencing the problem on more than one machine and various viewers. If that does not work then manually delete the cache folder completely. You can find the location of the folder by looking at the location box just below the clear cache button on the network tab in preferrences (that folder will be rebuilt the next time you launch SL). Another thing you might try is to reset your modem and router (if one is part of your network).

Having to wait a few minutes after getting logged out of SL is not unusual. It takes a few minutes for the servers to recognize that you are no longer on the grid when you lose your connection. I really think your problem stems from a connection problem........your rebooting the modem and/or router should solve that for you.

Is Second Life port specific on my router? That is, should I open up a port or series of ports to allow traffic through the router?

Thanks for your quick reply...

Calin

Most routers do not have to have a port specifically opened. In fact I've had a total of 4 different routers in my network since I first started SL and have yet to have to open a port. If you find you do have to do that the steps are outlined on the support page.........look in the FAQ's (I've seen it there but don't know the specific topic).

Happened again today...

The dang thing stops during the load at "initializing multimedia" for at least 3 minutes - then continues - I do get onto the local sim - but, the world map is not available. I cannot get to my other sim's..

I can't be the ONLY one with this problem.. I noticed on Twitter other's having a similar problem.

Calin

Here's an idea. About a year ago I started having random problems staying connected to the internet..........most noticable on SL but also occured while simply browsing the internet or checking my email. It only occured on my computer and the other computer connected through my router seemed never to have the problem (though once or twice it may have......however that computer had OS issues at the time so that's not conclusive). It took me a while to connect what had occured preceeding this problem but it started after I had locked down my router because I had some smart assed kid next door to me piggybacking on my connection wirelessly (the two computers in this house are hardwired but the router is a wireless Linksys 430N). Some time after I had done that and neighbor had moved figured I did not need my router locked down anymore..........I have a neice that has a laptop that she would occassionally bring over to do some internet stuff and instead of having to drag out a spare CAT5 cable or hooking her up to mine I wanted to open up the wireless connections again. I figured all I had to do was punch that tiny recessed reset button on the back and everything would go back to default like it was before I locked the router down. Well, in theory, that does work but there is a specific procedure that is not clear in my manual..............you have to hold the reset button for at least 30 seconds, then immediately shut it off for 3 mins before it resets itself. I found that out with my call to Linksys about the problem. But, that is not all...........if you did configure your router and did do the reset there are a few things that don't necessarily go back to factory defaults.........one of them was a port setting which I do not remember what exactly it was.

A call to your router manufacturer might help you out. If you have a Linksys router I think you'll find those people extremely helpful and patient with us dummies.

Just a thought for you.

Hi Peggy:

OK, I have a Belkin "N" series router.

I'll give them a call - they have always been extremely helpful...

OK, here's the BIG issue though.

It's the reconnect and the relog that stops at "Initializing multimedia" for a short while - and then continues. If THAT happens, then 100% of the time, I'm limited to the sim i Log onto. I cannot teleport - I'm stuck...

This issue has been consistent for a very long time - this is NOT a recent thing.. This has been going on for a long time. If I wait - as I said before - for about an hour or so.. When I log back in, things seem to have reset themselves somewhere. I have a feeling it has to do with the server's constantly resetting or syncing with the mapping system. That is, making sure that the maps I have are, in fact, in sync with the Global Mapping system from Linden.

Thanks for your ideas...

Calin

You might try taking the router out of picture for testing purposes.

Seems like there was just a thread about problem with a Belkin N model router.

Is that wireless?

The thread I'm remembering is at
/327/bd/351526/1.html

Im having exactally the same problem with the multimedia hanging for a long time, with all the same inworld problems. I too have a Belkin 'N' router. This problem has been driving me nuts since I purchaced it. The router is wireless but I have a cable connecting the router with comp. I do have another router that I got by upgrading my service so will be trying that tomorrow . The only way I could fix it temporary was to restart the router.

Yes, I have had this problem since the beginning also.... I am also hardwired to the wireless router.. In seems there must be a timing problem - or something like that which causes the router and/or Second Life to get out of sync.

What I don't understand is why it hangs on initializing multimedia - and then prevents total access to the world map when I log back in.

I have to wait anywhere from one to four hours to regain access to Second Life.

Any techies out there - do you have an answer to the "multimedia" issue?

It's very very frustrating to have a land business and not be able to be on 24/7 if needed..

Thanks, Calin

Initializing multimedia brings to mind Quicktime. You do not have to have Qucktime installed on your computer but you will not be able to view any video media if you don't. But, if you have Quicktime installed it must be the most current. You might try updating Quicktime........or uninstall it to test if that is the problem.

That's only a suggestion.........I think you have something else going on that I really have no ideas at the moment for a solution. But, on the chance it's a Quicktime issue it might be useful to check and see.

Just a further note about the hanging media. When this happens I can not use voice or hear voice. Sometimes when I have been able to teleport I could still hear the music from the last sim I was on. Also at the top of the screen where it says where you are..
(example Tokara 60, 146, 23 (Mature) - Corvagh's & Somerset's Haven ) and I was to teleport to somewhere only the end part would change, so it would say -Tokara 60, 146, 23 (Mature) - Dance Island...... Then from that sim, I cannot teleport again and have to restart router to carry on. I have my quicktime up to date, that was the first thing that I thought it could be. Also I can leave SL off for a few hours and when I come back usually I can stay on for hours without a problem, though I need to keep my computer on for this to work which sometimes can be a pain. Oh and the router I got sent was faulty, completely unrelated to SL, being sent a new 1 early this week.. starting to feel a bit jinxed with routers now, lol..

I am now using a new and different router and all the problems have now been fixed