Stuck in "cloud" form at login.

[hagis]

I am stuck in "cloud" form at login. I can not change "shape." I want my avatar back. Everyone asks which viewer I am using. Since I am 5 days old, I am using the standard viewer, I guess. Would this cause the problem? Also, have been advised to "rebake", but don't know how.

[Rolig Loon]

It doesn't make any difference which viewer you are using, but you can always tell by looking at  Help >> About Second Life (or About whatever it says).  Anyway .... You have a very common communication problem between your computer and SL's servers. Information about your appearance has to be "baked" onto your avatar on your own computer, saved there, and then uploaded to SL before it's fully visible there. If the necessary information is messed up in transmission, you may end up with a borked file on your computer, or SL's servers may end up with a borked image. Either way, your av's appearance defaults to a fluffy cloud. What works to repair the damage for one person won't necessarily work for the next person, and it may not be the same thing that works for you tomorrow. See the full list of possibilities here >>> http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=fs_bake_fail . Start with the simple things at the top of the list and work down until you find what works for you today.

You may find that the bake fail problem comes back repeatedly, even after you fix it with one of the suggestions on that wiki page. If so, you have a chronically weak Internet connection. There are many steps to take for repairing it. Perhaps the simplest ones -- ones that work best for most people -- are: (1) Don't Use WIRELESS. Wireless connections are inherently less stable than direct cable connections and are more vulnerable to interference. Then, (2) Reboot your router. Unplug it from the power for a few minutes to let it clear its RAM. Then plug it back in and let it get a fresh hold on an IP address.

 

[fusabue]

In addition to Rolig's superb answer, another trick effective for me is logging in with low render quality.

1. Start viewer

2. Before log-in, Me - Preference - Graphics - Set "Quality and Speed" to Low, press OK

3. Log-in

4. After your AVI is rezzed, change Graphics setting to whatever you want

[Sun Writer]

and rebaking just requires Ctrl + alt + R

[Rolig Loon]

A simple rebake. yes, so that's always the first thing to try. That's why it's at the top of that list. Often, though, that's not enough, especially if you have a crummy Internet connection. That why we recommend starting with CTRL + Alt + R and working down the list until you find something that works for you today.