Repeated Crashing, 4 Re-Installs, 1st time ever?

I have had 3 different 2nd Life accounts (so I'm not as "young" as my Profile says), since I started using SL...and I've never had this happen.

My client crashed. Happens. I tried ta restart it 5 times, and by the 3rd I actually started sending the crash report info to LL through the automatic system.

Since then (about 2 hours ago), I have re-installed SL 4 times, each time...I removed if from my (Windows XP) computer first...and each time, EVEN after I shut down the computer and tried it again...SL crashed before I could log in.

It crashes after it says "Downloading Clothing" which means I'm already connected to the server. I have NEVER seen it this bad before, personally. I usually have almost NO lag, with all my Graphics all the way up, even w/ Renderglow and sound on!

Anybody had a similar experience?

(BTW; I can still log into the BETA Grid with no problem & I'm "in" there right now with no SL Client, pc Hardware, or internet browser lag whatsoever. (??)

Sounds to me like cache corruption. As you 'download' clothing etc, the client first checks the cache to see if you have the items/textures there. When you uninstalled Second Life, did you delete the cache folders as well? C:/Documents and Settings/<your PC sign in name here>/Applications Data/Second Life

Also run a registery cleaner once uninstalled and folders deleted, then fully defrag your hard disc (don't forget to empty the recycle bin before defragging).

Finally reinstall a fresh copy of Second Life...

Hope that helps.

And as always update your video drivers.

Keep in mind that when an update comes out it almost definitly has been tested with the latest drivers, maybe not a few versions back.

let us know if you get it working

Well I checked to make sure that all of my SL files after I uninstalled the program the final time
(in C:/Documents and Settings/<my PC sign in name here>/Applications Data/Second Life )

I cleaned the Registry, and De-fragged the Hard Disk...thanks for the advice on cleanin the Registry BTW, my computer is dam near TWICE as fast! (Had 215 Errors)

On the downside, I still have the same SL Client crashing problem...

I installed both the BETA and the normal SL Clients...same results; I can use the BETA Grid, no problem but every time I try the normal Grid, I crash. Maybe the update will help...agh, nope it's a Server Side problem.

well I'll have ta rely on LL Support for this one ...unless anybody else has any ideas?

I had similar problem. But other programs where crashing so I reinstalled OS and been smooth sailing since then.

I had this problem twice over the years with the client constantly crashing on startup/login and no logical explanaton. The first time I had to completely purge sl from my system, all files, folders, registry entries etc. and that got it working on the fresh instal of the client. The second time, which happened just before christmas I ended doing a reformat of the HD and reinstalling the OS. Only way I could get it to work. I still cannot explain why it happened on either occasion but reinstalling your OS maybe the only way to go. Or you could stop playing sl of course.

I did make a post about a recent 'security update' the Must Have versions from Microsoft KB version.. it crashed SL at login.. I keep a record of all updates and what they do, at the time of installaion, so was able to uninstall it.. despite near death threats from Microsoft.. around 2 weeks ago, they released an update to the update, which stated, 'the previous security update may have caused some 3 rd party games to not work'.. the replacement update cured the problem... Have you updated the following:

Windows XP
QuickTime
.NetFramework version 3 + latest updates to that.

And of course your GC drivers.

Windows XP Blows


I have XP on my brand spankin new computer and it crashes 3 or 4 times a day while running SL (no other program crashes it) but my Windows 2000 computer never crashed, it was just super slow. Try either moving to Linux (my buddy runs SL on his Linux machine and he says he has never crashed) or backgrade to Windows 2000. Just a thought.

How do you run a registery cleaner? I have Windows XP pro, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for all the advice folks, I opened a Trouble Ticket with (insert "Psycho" soundtrack music here) SUPPORT !...and I hope ta hear back sometime soon since it's probably a common problem.

If I get too impatient today I'll just re-install Windows. Meanwhile I guess I can spend more time in FIRST Life, lol...I used SLBoutique ta send a message to my SL Motorcycle Club with a freebie, heh

Depends on your budget.. try here http://www.download.com/Registry-Mechanic/3000-2094_4-10566526.html

or here http://www.download.com/Ashampoo-WinOptimizer/3003-2086_4-10224281.html?tag=toprated

here http://www.download.com/Super-Utilities-Pro/3000-2094_4-10670371.html?tag=new

here http://www.download.com/Windows-Registry-Repair-Pro/3000-2094_4-10503571.html

Hell.. go here first LOL....

http://www.download.com/System-Utilities/3150-2094_4-0.html?tag=dir

I just asked my guru buddy about this registry stuff... here are his suggestions:

"Those aren't real fixes. Those are Linden's methods of removing "other
factors" so that they can get better debugging info. Registry entries
provide parameters (values) to programs. So, for example, your screen
name (Oryx, Tempel, Password) can be stored as three keys. When you
use wireless, your wireless parameters are stored in registry keys.
These "values" don't control what happens to a program once it's
running. The only way they could is if there was some magic value
called "How many minutes to let this program run before making it die"
but of course there isn't.

Your new system has a brand-spanking new NTFS partition. NTFS is
different than FAT32 in that
1. It needs defragmenting RARELY
2. Its performance gains from defragmenting are SLIGHT
3. It impacts full disks and small disks much more than large disks
with
empty space.
So you don't need to defragment.

In other words, there's no substance there, and people are providing
anecdotal information, not validation of the process. Generally you
could say that they're also doing a reboot before running SL. Now it
being a Microsoft Windows system, that does have value. Try this:

BEFORE YOU RUN SL
1. Reboot
2. Kill all taskbar icons you don't need for SL. For instance if you
have a printer manager or a scanner manager or a Roxio CD writer
manager
or a Media manager... kill them all.
3. Run SL. see if it dies.
4. Reboot to restart the normal stuff

I suspect THAT will be a tonload more effective!!!"

*shrug* Heck, might as well try it! He knows better than I do.

From the Wiki, and the form letters I keep gettin back from LL Support, I figure that there's still SOME trace of SL on my system somewhere, and it's corrupted Cache files. Somebody said they found 4 different Caches from SL...

I have used the Windows Search feature to locate anything called "second" or "life", on my pc, uninstalled the client, the Registry had no references to the program left...I deleted every single SL Folder that I could find...but when I re-install...my avatar name is saved.

That means something on my computer gave the client that info, right? I thought maybe it was because I was downloading the Client while I was logged into the site, but I cleared all cookies, un-installed & re-installed my web browsers...came back to the site, and re-downloaded the software without loggin in...

Same problem. So far I'm only gettin form letters back from LL support, hopefully I can get some phone help in the mornin

When you open SL can you look in Prefs to see if the cache location listed is something diff?

You might not be finding the SL cache using Windows Search... Windows hides files from us that it thinks we might screw up... here is how to find the SL cache directory: I just learned this today, cleared it completely, and my puter didn't crash once today *knocks wood*!


By default the ...\Application Data\... directory tree is hidden, and searches for files and subdirectories held within silently fail. Quick fix: in an Explorer folder window, click Tools, Folder Options, View, Show hidden files and folders - about the 10th checkbox from the top.

Your Guru's analogy regarding the NTFS is almost correct. If you have the full blown version of the Defrag system that comes with XP. The version that ships is a cut down version and relies on the Disc Indexing built into the OS to keep a cache log of where files are, for faster searches done by the system as it has no real File Allocation Table (FAT) to rely on. That system was designed for network systems primarily. However the method of storage on Hard Discs has changed very little, and SL can store 100's of small files in the cache, which dynamically change while using the game and they do become very fragmented.
If you run a defragmenter programme after running SL, it will spend a lot of its time defragmenting the SL cache, this can be seen if you run the programme everytime you leave SL. The main reason I suggested running a defrag regularily to to rebuild the index (which stores locations of every section of the fragmented file(s)) which will speed up the search process. Cache corruption is one of the causes SL crashes.

Dang, AWM! Learned something from you again! I didn't know about the cache corruption.

Mandy C

Very cool, agreed with Mandy!
So basically i've just started cleaning out my cache every time before i log in, rebooting my puter, and those 2 things combined have got me through 2 crash free days so far! *knocks wood*

I have to add.... using a registry cleaner, removes a lot of broken and invalid keys/references to programmes either not required or previously deleted. Every wondered why Windows always ran faster after a fresh install? The core of the OS relies very heavily on the registry database system, the more cluttered it becomes, the harder it will work, searching for lost and broken entries and loading uneeded parameters, simply because 3rd party programmes do not have the ability to remove potentially 'shared' links, no more than they would (if they are correctly written) delete shared DLL files. Bad programming, or just plain 'over safe' programmes, would sooner leave the links where they are, rather than cause the OS to become unstable after uninstalling.

With Windows 95 and before, how many times would the OS ask you 'this is a shared file, do you really wish to delete it, as it may cause other programmes to fail in doing so'??

Registry cleaners are much safer to use these days, and combined with the restore facility, and backup of the registry before deleting/altering anything is standard, it is always a good thing to use. I would never be without mine, and my system is very stable and fast. I'll bet the first time you run a registry cleaner, you will probably get over 50 errors (assuming your isn't a brand new system with no software loaded or uninstalled at some point), and your system will run more stable.

This has to be the oldest topic I have ever bumped in my 10+ years being addicted to the internet.

This problem happened to me once before, and I can't remember how I ended up solving it. I think I took the "FINAL SOLUTION", and formatted my hard drive, then re-installed Windows.

It just happened to me again, right as I have a new Graphics Card on the way in the mail...ARRGH.

Well at least I can use the laptop until I fix this. By now I have talked to so many folks who have had this corruption problem and had to reinstall thier OS that there should be a DEFINITE answer pinned in the FAQ or in the knowledgebase

So anyway...besides the procedures we tried above, has anybody found an actual solution to this problem that can be duplicated? LL Support was no help at all.

/shrug

One might try doing a system restore before going so far as to format their hard drive.

And a Windows Repair install.

If as you say your Avatar name is being loaded even after a clean and a reinstall of SL, then it most be coming from somewhere. I would do a comprehensive search first, just to see where this infomation is being stored.

Using Windows Search, All Files and Folders
All of part of the Filename = *.*
A word or phrase in the file = [your Avatar name here]
Look in: Local Hard Drives

and Under Advanced Options, make sure that the following are ALL checked:

Search System Folders
Search Hidden Files or Folders
Search Subfolders

One last thought, have you tried creating a new free avi account, and seeing if you crash when logging in with that?

Best of luck, and DO keep reporting back on your progress, as it really does help everyone.

Rock

In a normal SL Windows XP installation, there's a file called settings.xml in the folder C:\Documents and Settings\%UserName%\Application Data\SecondLife\user_settings

I think the names that show up on the login screen come from that file unless you have used the -login command line switch to override what it it says in that file.

That file can be deleted with no harm. You will have to see the new user warning stuff though.

There are separate settings file for the different versions of SL. There's a settings_betahavok for the the havoc beta version, a settings_firstlook for firstlook, settings_releasecandidatefor the release candidate, etc.

I'd sure try doing a system restore before reformatting the hard drive or re-installing windows. Or a windows repair install.

OK, just as a follow up, I did my own search on my hard drive for my own avatar surname, Ryder.

It ONLY showed up in the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\[my name]\Application Data\SecondLife\

I also then did a search in registry, just in case, and it came up blank.

So, make sure you delete this folder and you should not have your avi name show up after an uninstall and a reinstall.

Rock

Good God almighty the sheer unadulterated genius... my brethren SHIELD THINE EYES!!!

+++++++++++++++++
So to "recap" since I guess this thread IS a little long to expect folks to "skim" through... so here's the list of what I had done.
I figure if a single approach can be found to this lil problem, it can help not only me, but anybody else who runs into this problem and searches for the answer.
(these steps ain't all in the order in which they were performed)
++++++++++++++++++++++++
* I uninstalled the Second Life Client, and the BETA Client, then emptied the Recycling Bin.

* I tried to do a system retore, which for some mystical reason "failed"

* I deleted all extraneous Cache files (I run Windows XP so those would be:

1. On a Windows PC: C:\Documents and Settings\[YOUR USERNAME]\Application Data\SecondLife\cache
   
2. On a Mac: [YOUR USERNAME]/Library/Application Support/SecondLife/cache
   

* I ran a disk Defrag, and a Registry Cleaner

* I went back and forth with LL Support over the phone and through E-Mail


* I updated my video Drivers straight from the manufacturer's website

* Checked to make sure my QuickTime and Microsoft .NET Framework were up to date and current

* I made sure my machine was virus-free (shooting in the dark at this point)

* I deleted all my space-wasting Temp files

* Eventually I realized that the reason Support started "looping" the E-Mails they sent to me was because they didn't know what to do, so I did an FDISK, formatted and re-installed my OS.



Exactly. That's what prompted me to keep digging around with Search...my PC definitely isn't psychic (or if it is it doesn't like me very much)



Thanks, I actually DIDN'T think of searching specifically for the avatar name alone this time, and I forget if I did it last time, though I suspect that I did...I'm doin it right now as I type in any case

I just might try that idea of making a free account to test with. If I can get in that way, maybe I can clear the cache from inside the Client, exit reboot and "get lucky" *shrug*



I deleted that whole folder every time I uninstalled SL, thanks though. I figured it was coming from there too, but I guess the "rabbit hole" goes even deeper (?) Weird.

Thanks again Ryder...since you didn't find it anywhere else, that leads me to believe that maybe both LL Support and I were wrong to think this is the result of a corrupted cache file. Hmm...