Graphics Driver Nonsense

After getting a new computer because my old one died, I've discovered that, because I have the latest version of Vista, I also have a graphics driver that isn't supported by SL. Hence the fact that it crashes within the first fifteen minutes of my signing on. And I can't afford a totally new graphics driver; and in any case, outside graphics drivers wouldn't be supported by Vista.
So screw you, Linden Labs. I'm signing off for good. I hope sincerely that Google makes its own version soon, because I love the concept and want to play--it's just been executed horribly.

Oh, and your website design is about as logical and user friendly as a Knossian labyrinth full of spiders. It's called CENTRALIZING, people. One main menu accessible from all points.

But that's another story.

Note:
Graphics drivers are free.
Graphics cards are not.

Should have ordered your new computer with XP. XP works. Vista is crap. That's the industry's opinion, not mine.

Lots of stuff about Vista doesn't work with existing software. It has a LOT of issues, not to mention driver issues, so none of this should come as a surprise to anyone.



As Draco said, you don't "buy" graphics drivers. They come with your card, or are usually free from third party sources (http://www.omegadrivers.net for example).

If you mean graphics CARD, then it probably wouldn't make any difference. The core of the problem is VISTA.



While I certainly won't defend LL on some of their silliness in decision-making, this particular situation is most likely not their fault. Vista just, well, sucks. Put XP back on your new computer, and I will lay good odds that your problems with SL (and lots of other things) will magically "go away".

What makes you think Google's virtual world (when it actually is something more than vaporware, that is) will fare any better than LL's in this regard?

Learning from LL's mistakes without having to experience them first hand is what will make Google (or any serious competitor) fare better than Linden Lab. The competitors will have the advantage of bypassing the costly mistakes made and develope a platform from the ground up knowing some of the pitfalls and deadends already encountered...........all without having to effectively throw away all that money and effort put out by LL. The disadvantage is that, for a while anyway, they will not have the title of "leader of the technology" that LL will undoubtedly carry for some time now.

Oh, is it "everything is LL's fault" day again?

*Checks calendar*


I had faulty RAM a while ago, that sure was LL's fault, too.

Well be sure to complaining to Bill and his microsoft mates, they were the ones that sold you a crappy non-retro compatible operating system
When you buy a new Ford do you blame the makers of your favorite magwheels off the previous Ford when they don't fit the new one?

id be blaming yourself, you didnt check the system requirements, and went out and bought the first computer that the 12 year old salesman at big box bob's said was a kick ass game machine right?

so you bought a 1200$ word processor that plays solitaire and its linden labs fault

and yea you get drivers for free dink

Oh, by the way, if you'd like to get XP for (hopefuly free) contact Lenovo (www.lenovo.com) I know they are the only company to offer XP Downgrade discs to customers. This *might* only work if you purchased your computer from them or IBM, but it's worth a shot.

lmao, sorry...
I recently bought a notebook running on Vista, SL works just fine. So no idea why you blame the Lindens. I will not have Vista on my main pc, untill the first 2 service packs are released or so, but it runs SL alright.
Google, lol, we worry about our privacy here in SL, go figure what Google will do with that.
(no we will not have our famous analytics in the game, and no we dont earn our income from advertising..)

Vista it might he problem for some. But for many it runs without a problem. Vista is not "CRAP" but instead LLABS need to do alitle more coding so it runs smoother.

It's possible that it's a combination of causes, Vista's been around long enough for LL to have incorporated that into their software. I saw simular problems when the first dual core CPUs were released and LL's software had serious issues with it.

That has been cleared up, so Vista will be cleared as well, IF that was the source of this partular problem Others running Vista don't seem to be having this problem so, as someone else suggested, the source may be the Video Card/Driver software.

When I finally replace my 7 year old Compaq (1st Gen Athlon CPU) I will try for XP, more for driver and compatibility issues then otherwise. But it would be nice for LL to have available a database of OS/CPU/Grahics card combos that have been tested for compatibility with Second Life, to point out potential problems for folks before they invest a ton of coin into a problem child computer.

Heck, with my old ATI card & antique CPU it's a miracle that I can log on and play, never mind the slow redraws <chuckle>

Sandara

I'm not sure why people have so many problems with SL and Vista. My experience so far with two machines running Vista and SL have been absolutely trouble free. The first machine (an Acer) for a very good RL friend runs SL beautifully with 1.5 gigs of RAM and a Core 2 Duo processor. The graphics card is the same as mine, an nVidia 8600GT, 256 onboard RAM. Once we got the latest drivers we downloaded and installed SL. Her frame rate averages around 25 to 30 with most everything maxed out in preferrences.

My second experience was yesterday when I replaced my 2 year old XP machine with a brend new Lenovo 3000 K100. Intell Core 2 Quad with Viiv technology, 3 gigs RAM and Vista Home Premium. When I started the thing up and got all my updates Vista recognized the 8600GT card and downloaded the proper driver for me without my having to install the drivers from the disk that came with the card and then going to nVidia web site for an updated driver. SL runs without a glitch one at over 45 frames per second........again most sliders are maxed out in preferrences

The key is: Latest drivers, lots of processing power, and as much RAM as you can afford. SL requires horsepower.........without it you are going to be disappointed. An operating system like Visa (and XP to a certain extent) that also require horsepower just to run the computer cause problems all their own if you are not running enough computing power and RAM..........just nothing left over for other programs in some cases.

Vista and SL have been relatively trouble free for 3 months for me.

Before that I had graphics driver issues (related to the crappy intel integrated graphics on this laptop) but the latest update (free from Intel's website) fixed it for me no problems at all.

In fact, even with a wireless network, the lag seems no worse than on my desktop which has a 100Mb connection to the router.

TBH I wouldn't be surprised if LL will officially support Vista very shortly.

http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php


Look ...................
Windows System Requirements


Internet Connection*: Cable or DSL
Operating System: 2000, XP, or Vista
Computer Processor: 800 MHz Pentium III or Athlon, or better
Computer Memory: 512 MB or more
Video/Graphics Card for XP/2000**:
nVidia GeForce 2, GeForce 4 MX or better
OR ATI Radeon 8500, 9250 or better
OR 945 chipset
Video/Graphics Card for Vista (requires latest drivers)**:
nVidia GeForce 6600 or better
OR ATI Radeon 9500 or better
OR 945 chipset





Windows System Recommendations:


Internet Connection*: Cable or DSL
Operating System: XP or Vista
Computer Processor: 1.5 GHz (XP), 2-GHz (Vista) 32-bit (x86) or better
Computer Memory: 1 GB or more
Video/Graphics Card**:
Nvidia Graphics cards (6000 series: 6700, 6800; 7000 series: 7600, 7800, 7900; 8000 series: 8400, 8500, 8600, 8800; GeForce Go: 7400, 7600, 7800, 7900)
ATI Graphics Cards (X800, X900; X1400, X1500, X1600, X1700, X1800, X1900)

Might help if you said what Video card you have.

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Dont listen to any of these idiots. Not one of them knows what the hell theyre talking about.

If whoever is doing the graphic backend at linden labs had half a brain in their head, they would be talking directly to directx/opengl, and NOT trying to talk directly to any graphics driver. Whats amazing is that in this case, doing it the right way is the same thing as doing it the easy way--but somehow its lost on the shaved gibbons over there.

I got applause at the end of a presentation I gave recently (that I mentioned recently on these very message boards) all about how not to write video games. Linden Labs was my sole example in the MMO*** arena.

Stop right there--false argument. OSX has been around longer, and Linux even longer than that...and LL has yet to get Second Life out of functional alpha on either platform.