Strange graphics problem

Hi,
I hope someone will have some advice for me. The other day i updated my video drivers and since then at various times floors and walls flash many different colours and then go back to their proper texture. Also, more disconcertingly, i have started to get red and blue things rising from people and objects. This phenomenon didn't start immediately after the new drivers but a couple of days later. Are these two separate problems? if anyone has experienced similar or has a suggestion i would be grateful for the help. And before you ask, no i am not on drugs ,lol.

Are you using the latest version of SL? Someone with similar problems had been using a very old build indeed.

I believe those red and blue things rising from objects and people may be beacons. Check your View menu to see what's checked off.

Yep.,
1-18-5-3, updated a week or so ago. I was just inworld and it seems that anything that flashes has the strange blue or red lampshades rising from it.

The red and blue things is "Show updates." You might have inadvertently activated it. Do a Ctrl-Alt-D to show the client menu. I belive it's there; make sure it's not X'ed. Or check the View menu... (not inworld to verify.)

Also, what's your operating system, etc?

From the Knowledge Base:

Are you seeing strange trails of blue, green, or red color from objects inworld? There's a very good chance you enabled the update indicators. These are activated by hitting Ctrl+Alt+Shift+U or opening the Client menu and selecting Client > Show Updates.

The update indicators show you when packet data is being utilized -- typically, when an object makes an update to the world. Each color has a different meaning:

Red: Indicates a full update, such as the creation of a prim. This will be a relatively large data packet sent to your computer. If you see objects that are showing a constant stream of red, they're contending for your bandwidth, which may cause other things in the area (like textures) to load slower. If the object is made up of many pieces, the packet will be larger.
Blue: Indicates a partial update, such as a change of position or color for a prim. These will always be smaller than full updates. However, the same rules apply as for the full updates. If you're creating content, it's a good habit to make sure it's not updating many times per second. Changing colors, textures, shape, or particle parameters several times per second will cause partial updates, and contend for your bandwidth.
Green: Indicates an ending update, such as the deletion of a prim. If this packet gets lost on the way from the server to your computer, the object will become a "ghost" --your viewer will still render it, but you can walk through it, and when you edit it, the Creator field will be blank because the object no longer exists on the server.
The update indicators can be toggled on or off using the methods described above.

I am inworld now and have found that you have hit the nail on the head. Thanks so much for your swift responses. No more lampshades, well not until after the second bottle of wine anyway ,lol.