I'm new to SL and I need help.

Sorry in advance if this isn't supposed to be here.

I just downloaded SL yesterday and it was okay the first time I logged on and played, albeit a little slow and buggy.
Now every time I log in my avatar either cannot move, is sunk into the floor, or gets stuck after a few minutes. I cannot change my appearance, and if I try to teleport anywhere I get logged out and have to quit SL, and often my internet connection is closed.
All of this is driving me a little insane! I have tried waiting patiently for everything around me to load before doing anything, teleporting quickly to somewhere else, and all in between but nothing seems to work.
My internet connection is fairly fast at 54 Mb/ps, so I don't think this is causing slowness or errors. However, I have a wireless connection - maybe this is troubling to SL.
As far as I can tell my system is fast, new and has enough memory to run SL and yet it refuses to do it properly. I want to try and enjoy this experience but every time I try I just become more and more frustrated.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Yesterday was a very bad day SL wise, there were all sorts of problems. See if it is any better today. If not, come back and post your computer specs, especially graphics. That will help someone to help you.

Thanks. Yes, unfortunately the problems are just as bad today.

Here's some system info for my pc in case it comes in handy:
Windows XP OS
Intel Pentium 3.20 GHz processor
More than 100 GB free memory
1024x768 pixels screen res
Radeon X1300 series graphics card

Looking at this it seems like my graphics card may be lacking, but I'm no expert on the subject so I can't be sure.

What router or modem are you using?

I'm using a wireless ADSL modem that is connected to my computer with wi-fi.

Looking at your specs, the primary suspect here would indeed be your wireless - SL is streaming video, from what I've observed it needs over 300kb/sec available in order for your avatar to be able to move. Try testing your available bandwidth using any bandwidth tester - I use the ones at http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest?flash=1 (pick the San Francisco test).

Remember, too, that if anyone else is using the same DSL connection for downloads or other bandwidth-intensive activity, even a broadband connection can run out of bits.

Good luck!

(P.s. for a concise listing of all specs required by SL, next time you're inworld look at Help-About. You can cut-and-paste the part about your computer to here.)

I got 294 kb/s on the test: perhaps that was the problem - not fast enough? Anyway, I hooked up the computer with a wire to the ADSL modem which raised the connection minimally to 304 kb/s. However, still experiencing exactly the same problems in SL although things appear to load a little faster before getting stuck.

Here's what SL has to say in-game about my comp:

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 (Unknown model) (3200 MHz)
Memory: 1022 MB
OS Version: Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 (Build 2600)
Graphics Card Vendor: ATI Technologies Inc.
Graphics Card: Radeon X1300 Series x86/SSE2
OpenGL Version: 2.0.5341 WinXP Release

Aaaand SL appears to have just crashed again. :/

I suspect the 54 Mbs value is the speed of the wireless network, not the speed of the internet connection.

I suspect the problem is a combination of your very low network speed (it could easily be that more recently SL needs more than 300kb/sec, I measured that about a year ago and folks have been complaining about slow texture load in the most recent clients), and having only 1GB of RAM.

I have a laptop that had 500MB of RAM and Intel graphics, and was actually able to get around at about 3-5 fps with the network operating at about 600kbps. But I recently had to upgrade its memory to 1GB just to be able to move, and I upped the DSL to 1.5Mbps, and things are noticably better.

Good luck!
.

I've been on a 256kps wireless internet line since I got connected.
It runs at 315-350kps with most tests. Cool!
I turn down all my graphic settings to minimum inc distance and turn them up when I need to. i.e. taking pictures in slow motion.
Adjust bandwidth slider in preferences to just under 300.
That's how I have run SL viewer for 2 1/2 years.
It's not really running any worse this year but it's not better either.

Your connection should be fast enough if you're the only one using it. More RAM would help, too.

But does anyone in your house run file-sharing apps or do other large downloads (like streaming video)? Those things will murder your SL.

Sorry for the late reply!

Okay, I set the graphics as low as possible on SL and also the maximum bandwith to about 280 kb/s, and it seems to be running a little better now.
As in, I can at least sort of play it, even though I'm still getting some weird glitches like floating eyeballs and such as it loads. :3
Thanks to everybody who helped me out!