vista and crash

the website shows that SL is now working with Vista but i don't ever geting pass the loading part. befor crash... any idea i got a GeFORCE 8600 GT and more then the req's in the other stuff but i keep crashing


i also have the newest drivers

Same equipment, same problem. Any ideas?

1. Have you unistalled SL and then downloaded latest viewer? The "release candidate" seems ok with Vista, and nvidia 8800's (same driver)

After doing this , Don't try to run SL yet.

2. There is an issue with nvidia drivers, where the automatic microsoft update will keeps loading a driver from April 2007. ....not recognizing later Nvidia drivers are installed.

Go into c drive>>>>>>Windows folder >>>>>>Sustem 32>>>>>drivers>>>>>>and look for a file called nvlddmkm.sys and check the date. It should be dated at least 10/4/07 unless you have the later betas.

If this is the problem then in control panel>>>>>>Windows update and change the settings to Ask me before installing>>>>>>>>>then back in Control Panel go to >>>>>>Programs and Features, right click and Uninstall the "NVIDIA DRIVERS"

When it reboots it will ask if you want to install the nvidia driver>>>.say NO.

The go back to Windows Update and let it check for updates...when it is done check the list and see if it is offering you a NVIDIA graphics driver.....if so, select it and right click on it and tell it to "HIDE" that update.

then turn off virus scanner and redownload the latest nvidia driver to your desktop. Right clik on the setup icon and choose "Run as Administrator." and install it. Them turn your Virus scanner back on.

Note: Even if the date was fine in the Driver folder it does not hurt to try all these steps, in case the driver is corrupted or incase there are some file remnents causing a problem. Its best to hide this update anyway.

Don't try to run SL yet.


3. Go to your Security suite, Firewall settings and find the advanced tab on it and look to find the list of programs that are Allowed or Blocked. make sure SL is not blocked.

Now try to run Sl.

4. If it still does not work, go to Control Panel>>>>>>>>>>Administrative Tools>>>>Event viewer>>>>>>Windows Logs>>>>>>check "applications" and then "System" and see if there are any Red Events and read what they say and what they reference.


further things to check:

5. in case you have a windows error, run a Error Checking tool on the c drive. In case you have a virus or spyware run updates to security then full scan harddrive.

6. go into control panel and check "problem reporting" and see if you have a list of problems...see what they are.

7. have you been getting an error saying "nvlddmkm.sys stopped responding and recovered"?

8. do you have the latest driver for your sound card?

9. Do you have an old version of Itunes or Quicktime on the machine. Best to use alternative Quicktime.

10. If you have more then one sound card or video card---ie., Integrated soundcard or integrated Video card on your motherboard, AS WELL as Cards in card slot...which you use...then disable them (Check this in control panel system>>>device manager. usually integrated sound cards can be disabled in the Bios)

I am on Windows Vista Business 64-Bit with a nVidia GeForce 8600GT also. But my video works fine, I am able to view things fine for about a minute, but then my avatar stops being able to walk. The trouble I am having seems to be more with the network connection.

When you crash, does the SL program actually crash, or does your avatar just freeze up (unable to walk or fly)?

I think you are right, sounds like you are losing the connection.

Main issue (common) with nvidia is the "nvlddmkm.sys has stopped responding and recovered" error, (ATI also has this issue, but with different file name) but the symptom of that is usually a black screen for a few moments then goes back to SL and it can either lock up, blue screen (which references the nvlddmkm) or just hang. But there should be a error message in lower right corner telling you that. It can also be caused by wrong RAM voltage setting in bios--this can happen if different ram was installed and settings weren't changed for that ram.

I am trying to join SL, but the software crashes before it ever completely loads. I am running Vista 64-bit and have a ATI Radeon X600 256MB HyperMemory video card with current updated drivers. For the life of me I can not find where to get help. Can anyone help or should I just give up on this?

are you right clicking on the install icon and choosing "Run as Administrator"? Did you turn off your Virus Scanner? Did you allow it with your Firewall?

I'm having the same issue as well. I have Windows Vista with the Nvida 8600 GT. I sat in technical support with Linden Labs for about an hour and a half and his answer was, "We're still working the Vista bugs out."

His solution after trying many different things was to install the canidate viewer and run it on that. Since I've done that, it starts up fine everytime - but crashes the entire viewer when I hit the "Search" button.

It's odd - when I install it the first time, it works fine. When I go to restart the SL client, it crashes on startup. I have to reinstall it everytime If I want to run the regular client.

And yes - I've tried the above mentioned suggestions. I'm willing to bet there is a software conflict and I really don't think there is a solution.

if you have all up to date drivers and if you are not getting the "XXXXXvideo driver stopped responding" windows error message or blue screens and if your machine is clean, thats LL 's bugs not Vista. The release candidate does run better then the regular viewer on vista, but it still has frequent crashes.

To update, I have tried every version of the viewer that is there to download. Still, the same thing. Starts to load, black screen for a moment then on to the crash logger. All drivers are updated and I can not imagine what could be the problem. I have yet to see anything other than the black screen. I have never seen SL as of yet.....

have you checked in Control Panel>>>>>>> Problem reporting to see what, if any error reports have been sent to microsoft?

or have you check the Administrative tools in the control panel, in the window logs>>.applications and system, to see if there have been any RED error alerts? Are you sure there is no error message popping up for a moment in right lower corner whe you get that black screen?

I have checked all of those things now and there are no errors and yes I am sure that there is nothing popping up, even briefly about an error. Nothing has been sent to Microsoft and there is nothing in the event viewer, no red alerts. Next? Lol...

Checking further and searching on your video card I see some people saying that your Video card apparently has issues with SL, but others say they have it working fine. SL does not list it as a supported card, but that does not mean it can't work. I saw some posts where people say that older drivers work better then newer drivers with the x600 and other posts that say the latest drivers work fine. So this leads me to think the issue is something else. Is your firewall blocking SL?.

Does the account on you system have Admin rights? Are you right clicking install icon and choosing "Run as Administrator" when you attempt to install it? Have you tried temporarily turning off your virus scanner and firewall during download and install?

Try downloading the Second Life "new release candidate" from here:

http://secondlife.com/community/downloads-optional.php

Hey I tried using the URL mentioned above and it is not found. I'm running Vista on a Compaq laptop with an AMD 64 Athlon x 2 dual core and a nvidia graphics card. I was able to I do not get a graphics card error, but the "Despite our best efforts something unexpected has gone wrong". I've tried EVERYTHING. Uninstalling, reinstalling previous versions, renewing my ip, and checking the XP Compatable option in properties. NOTHING is working!!! ( I'm twitching w/ withdrawls as it's been 2 days w/o seeing my favorite pixels!

The URl
does work.

because posting links in the forum produces two lines you need to copy and paste into your browser from "http......to download-optional.php"

Only use the one line. Do not copy the 2 lines.

http://secondlife.com/community/downloads-optional.php

Ty .. the link did work (long night at work and no sleep before typing that) however once I dl'ed the version, I got the same "Despite our best efforts..." error. The only thing that has changed is the version. I've even done a system restore to roll it back to see if maybe that was the issue but to no avail. The firewall is not blocking it so that is not the issue. When I open SL, I'm not even connecting to the webpage that shows Online stats (not sure what that means) so I'm at a complete loss. I have put in yet another ticket to LL but we all know how those go.

The error you are getting is usually when SL is down or there is a Network issue on the SL side in a region. If thats the case then other's will be having the same problem. unless your ISP or something else, (your own security) is somehow blocking the SL IP. I guess using the support portal is your only recourse at this point.

Some spyware can muck up logging onto IP addresses, so double check you don't have any spyware that is tangling up your system. Or check your program list in Programs and Features/add remove programs and see if there are any strange, unknown programs that were installed on your computer.

Have you tried disabling all security programs, VR scan, firewall, or Spyware programs, hardware firewalls in a router, etc.?