The usual stuff to try? SL/Computer Issues

So, right as I was on my way to go sailing, I crashed. Hard core. Like, I've never crashed like this before. (This happened to me twice last night...)
I got offered a TP, I clicked to go, and boom! The SL broswer went black and white with an error message, and I was told I could still use IMs. So, I tried IMing a few people to let them know what happened, but don't think my messages were getting through.
I relogged and checked my cash (sp?) when I hopped back on. Weirdest thing! Every 20 seconsd my open cash would 'drop' by 20...starting at the 3K open until it reached about 160....and them it would just stay there. And I wasn't even running anything!
Granted, I'm not a computer wiz. I shut down my computer, I dunno, 5 times? I uninstalled SL, and I'm going to reinstall it tonight.
Has this happened to anyone else?
So, when something goes wrong, whats the usual list of stuff to try? How does one 'clear their cash'?

Hi Bunni,
Not sure what you mean by checking your cash and seeing it drop - is that in SL application or are you monitoring your pc's free RAM?
Anyway I can answer the simple bit. Clearing cache is done by going to Edit > Preferences (alternative ctrl/P) > Network and selecting the Clear Cache button. It slows down your next log-in but refreshes all the data you've downloaded and built up in your pc's memory by pulling a new copy off the LL servers.
Hope the glitch goes away.

You can see IMs and chat you had received prior to being logged off.

If you can do it, do a full reinstall of your OS and install SL and try to keep your other programs to a minimum.

All i have installed on my Vista side is Open office, Gimp, SL, Avast, winamp, and Roxio CD stuff. I have a couple other small things. But LL said a long time ago that it is often not SL but the other things that are installed which could be causing conflict.

I know that crashing for me is ~rare~, i have not crashed in so long I cannot remember. I have been logged out during TPs, but not a total drop to desktop or freeze.

You may also want to check your Task Manager and make sure that not more than one Second Life viewer is running because when it is and i have 3-4 running in the task manager i notice 'issues' that seem crashy like my screen going black temporarily and such. SL has a quitting the process problem at the moment which causes that to happen.

I guess my computer is strictly an SL Box.

thats so stupid really that all you can run is SL.. they should just make an SL console and be done with it..

i have tons of other stuff on my pc.. and no problem tho. i also run them all at the same time sometimes Photoshop, Zbrush, SL, firefox, utorrent
and dont really notice any slowing down of anything.

keep your pc clean of spyware and malware.. and you should be fine. and theres no such thing as too much RAM.

I wondered if something like that happened. You were on line the longest time, but not responding...then dropped off and didn't come back.

The phenomenon of your SL cache filling up (if that's what you're referring to) is normal. As you download textures, it will fill up the cache. The hard crash on tp is not normal, but it does happen to a lot of people.

As others said, keeping the computer clean and lean will help. After you are SURE that you've cleaned out all spyware and viruses (majorgeeks.com has a detailed and very effective procedure), you can go to one of the "Windows Tweaks" sites to streamline your computer and get rid of stuff it's running that you really don't need.

Don't use wireless internet for SL. If you run a home network, you can run wi fi to your router, but even there, a hard connection is better. Get a performance checker utility to make sure your ISP is giving you the bandwidth they say they are.

Make sure your power supply and your graphics card are up to the challenge. Overheating graphics cards, in particular, can cause some spectacular crash symptoms.

Unless you are running a 32 bit system and then the correct answer is 3 gig

Oh Lindal, I'm so glad you saw this thread! I didn't want you to think I was ignoring you.

My RL hubby is the computer man; I just use it for SecondLife and e-mail. I just reiterated some of the crazy computer jibberish I heard him say on the first post. To me, it was just...broken. I'll give all that a shot when I get home from work (or rather, refer him to this thread and let him to it).

The Resident Geek does the real Computer Stuffs around here, too. But I've picked up a few things out of necessity...sometimes he's away.

Unless you're on a 32-bit OS.... But still a good point.