I'm stuck

I'm a new "user." Just got in yeserday. Several times now I've gotten stuck in one spot and I can't move. The arrow keys stop moving me forward, they just change my view. I'm sure I've changed a mode somehow, but can't seem to locate how to change back so I can walk/fly, etc.

Hi. Do you have your map or inventory on screen when this happens? Maybe you just need to click the main window once or hit [esc] once or twice to make it the active window so you can move in it again.

Welcome to second life! What you describe is a system glitch. You aren't doing anything wrong, nothing to fix. You might also experience being unable to teleport or the search function doesn't work. Chances are, everyone is having the same problem. You may want to visit the sl blog to get the latest information on system problems.

If you have the IM window open and your cursor in the IM window, you won't be able to move in-world....

Hello, Robertlw (that's hard to pronounce!)!

The problem you describe could be a couple of things. Sometimes you can get sort of silently disconnected from SL, and when that happens you can look around but you cant fly or move, and text you type doesn't appear in chat.

Also, due to some recent changes in the SL client software, sometimes you do have to click in the main SL window (instead of little windows like Inventory or chat history) in order for the movement keys to work like you expect them to. I'm sort of thinking you were having the first problem though since you were able to turn.

It could also have been some temporary lag, which has become quite common since we've been having over 20,000 people logged in at the same time.

Good to know. I appreciate the help.

This might be from a few things.

1) Packet loss - check in the upper right of your client app and you'll see these little black rectangles with a bit of red or green in them.

Mouse over them and you'll see one is 'packet loss' - if you see a lot of red in that box you've got line issues, separate from Second Life. Packet loss might be the service provider, your line, or any number of things between you and the servers.



2) You've got a really sucky router, possibly. I'm on DLink nowadays with 4 ports or a LinkSys with 4 as well; I used to have a comparable LinkSys with 8 ports (set up identically to the 4) and somehow, that router just killed SL for me.

Constant freeze-ups, delay and lag. Dunno why, don't care, threw money at it (bought the small DLink) and the problem just went away.

Way to prove it up: if you have DSL, take the router out of the loop and plug your SL computer in 'direct' to the modem for a bit. If the problem clears up, that's your sore spot right there.



3) You might have a marginal computer, or your client settings are wonky (though I doubt this; this is reaching, a bit). Try setting everything on the 'low' settings and see what happens.

Generally though, if your views are still working this isn't the problem.


4) The region you are in is heavily loaded down, and lagging you bad. Try teleporting somewhere that isn't terribly impacted generally, such as, ah, hmmm... try teleporting to Seacliff sim for instance, it's pretty good there, or one of the empty islands on a mainland lake.

Good chance this might be the problem.



Good luck!

I was just wondering if you can see your avatar when this happens. If your chat box is not open and you press the M key on your keyboard you will enter Mouselook. Mouselook is a viewing mode that lets you look around using the arrow keys. It is also useful for aiming weapons. Press the M key again to disable mouselook. (If this is the case.)

You might be sat down and not realise it. Easy to do with the "default action-sit" minefield.