New viewer update... HELPP!!

I uploaded & installed the new viewer update last night, it changed configuration of things... and frankly, for my pc, it suked. Even on low my fps was low, mid it really dropped down, to 3.0 fps(at least) and the high it dramatically dropped to 1.0 fps. So I uninstalled and re installed the previous version... however, when I did that my ripple water effect is now not available to pick to run from the preferences. Yes, I had ripple water BEFORE I done this new viewer... how do I get it back!! So now I am stuck with a version of SL that is not what I like/want... I want my stuff back like it was BEFORE downloading/installing this new "viewer" ...including my ripple effect! This really makes me feel like, why even have the game anymore...it's all screwed up.. Thanks again Lindens!!!!!

You can still download the previous viewer I discovered:

http://download-secondlife-com.s3.amazonaws.com/Second_Life_1-19-0-5_Setup.exe

so you can roll back to the old one for the time being...

But, soon enough, only the WindLight-based viewer will be supported. The thing is, though, if a card can support ripple water in the old viewer, it's way more capable than some older cards that will run WindLight acceptably after some tweaking to the Graphics settings. There are a bunch of threads here that have suggested some settings to adjust. I really wish there were a single, comprehensive place with details of which settings have proven useful in "rescuing" different graphics cards.

I'm really not sure whether that Graphics "quality and performance" slider made WindLight adoption better or worse. It tries to make it easy for anybody to adjust, but without that "Custom" box checked and the individual settings adjusted, the compromises are pretty extreme.

Hi Maleia, unfortunately I haven't got the non-Windlight viewer installed anymore, but I think you can get your rippled water back - just don't remember exactly which setting you had to tweak to make the option available. I believe it had to do with some Open GL setting on either the Graphics or the Advanced Graphics tab. Sigh sorry to be so vague, but it's been a long time since I used that viewer.

Yay!!! I have the same problem as Maleia and wasn't sure how I could go about getting the old viewer back. Thank you so much for this!! As I'm sure everyone knows, eventually the upgrade will become mandatory, but at least reverting back will let me enjoy SL and give me a lil bit of time to upgrade my puter!!

You may like the most recent blog entry, which includes the links to the previous version as well as to the sites which might provide new graphic drivers for ya.

http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/04/03/the-new-viewer-a-well-oiled-machine/

Mari

It's as if they don't even know what they broke with each update and don't bother to test it... they just release it and we have to live with it until enough of us complain and they finally fix what should not have been released in the first place.

They still have not fixed the problem with minimized inventory and chat windows not staying where you put them once you restore them, then minimize them again...they end up at the bottom...most annoying. This has been broken since the first Release Candidate. Does this not bother anyone else?

I still have heavy memory drain...should I? It doesn't seem to matter what graphics setting I use, whether it be minimum, maximum or recommended settings.
I am running an AM2 6000+ on an M2N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard with 2gb 800mhz ram and an 8800GTS 512mb Nvidia card with XP Pro in an Antec 900 case that has 3x120mm fans and a 200mm fan. I have another 2gb mem kit on the way...will it help...most likely not...

Ya it looks great for me, but functionality is pretty sad.

Upgrade/get a better machine. Im sick of people expecting everyone to take a step backwards cos they dont like progress.

I can buy that the problems aren't related to the upgrades as some say, I can't get through the geek speak to really know. The "Thing We Use" (tm) has been dodgy lately. But that being the case, maybe it wasn't such a good idea, PR wise to unleash the Havoc and let loose the Windlights all at the same time. Knowing our propensity for tin foil hat induced rantings perhaps a little space to allow the dust to clear.......

Can I send you the bill?

Huh. I guess it must not bother me too much, because I'd completely forgotten about that, even though I thought it was a tremendous pain when it first started. Now I just don't minimize windows much, I guess. FWIW, the jira for this is http://jira.secondlife.com/browse/VWR-5530 -- I see you've voted, but so far it only has two votes.Three suggestions: First, make sure you have the latest nVidia drivers. Second, check the nVidia-supplied control panel settings to make sure they're reasonable, especially anything OpenGL-related. Third, try turning off VBO in the Hardware Options window (from Preferences / Graphics) -- this will hurt performance on most cards, but Vertex Buffer Objects are prime candidates for leaks in the card manufacturers' OpenGL implementations.

I'm sure inworld business all over the grid supports such a move, why spend L$ when you can spend US dollars upgrading.

What are the specifications of your computer?
If you do not know, go to help->about second life in your client and copypaste everything in the upper box here.