Please help, what do I do?

[XTheXDoctorX]

OK, so here's the deal, I have a Toshiba satellite, and I've been running windows 7,  I was using phoenix, firestorm, and the original SL viewers (Not at the same time) and my second life ran perfectly. But then I upgraded to windows 8 and now my SL wont work... I've seen other posts about similar issues and nothing has helped, I found another viewer recently exodus beta, and even it has the same issue, I get up to the part where it says "Initializing VFS...." and then it crashes and I get a crash logger and  it says " gathering hardware information, app may appear frozen" then "encoding files" sometimes and then "sending to server, try 1..." and then it closes and nothing.. Please someone help me I don't wanna lose my second life.....

[KarenMichelle Lane]

Doctor,

I do have to ask this 1st. Why upgrade to Windows 8?

As far as I've seen, there is no advantage to this, especially on existing equipment.

It boils down to compatible drivers for your video graphics system on your Toshiba Satellite. Windows 8 itself is not the issue. The main problem seems to be video drivers that work correctly with Windows 8 & still allow SecondLife to sense them properly.

Laptop users should be especially aware of this upgrade since you do NOT have the luxury of being able to replace the Video Graphics system.

First, if you ran the Windows 8 Update rather than a Clean Install then do this first:

Perform a clean install of SecondLife

http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/How-to-uninstall-and-reinstall-Second-Life...

Here is the Windows 8 Manual System File cleanup procedure since it's not in the procedure above.

 

Windows 8

1. Using File Explorer -> Libraries / Computer / ( C: ) / Users / <username>
2. Press the Continue button to get permission to obtain permanent permission edit this directory.
3. From the View drop-down menu option select Options & Change Folder & Search Options
4. Select the View Tab
5. Under the Hidden Files and  Folders options click on the - O Show hidden files, folders & Drives radio button
6. Push the Apply Button then the OK button.
7. Open C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local and delete the contents of your Temp folder and the SecondLife folder.
8. Uninstall Second Life using the Programs and Features tool in the Windows Control Panel.
9. Download and install the latest release of the Second Life Viewer from http://secondlife.com/support/downloads/.

Let us know if this does the trick!

 

Please post the Laptop Model information here so others with a similar laptop can offer additional assistance.

Please update your question [ ] with your status [ ] with additional information as follows: Select the Options drop-down menu to the right of your question and select Edit Question.

 

[Rolig Loon]

Some older Intel graphics chips will not support OpenGL (the graphics system that is the basis for Second Life) on Windows 8, unfortunately.  Here's the word from Intel:

"Intel has no plans to release Windows 8 graphics drivers for the following Intel Graphics Controllers. However, updates for these graphics controllers may be available through Microsoft Windows Update*.
Desktop graphics

Intel® Core™ Processors with Intel® HD Graphics
Intel® G41 Express Chipset
Intel® G43 Express Chipset
Intel® G45 Express Chipset
Intel® Q43 Express Chipset
Intel® Q45 Express Chipset
Intel® B43 Express Chipset
Intel® G31 Express Chipset
Intel® G33 Express Chipset
Intel® G35 Express Chipset
Intel® Q33 Express Chipset
Intel® Q35 Express Chipset
Intel® 82G965 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH)
Intel® 82Q963 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH)
Intel® 82Q965 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH)
Laptop graphics

Intel® Core™ Processors with Intel® HD Graphics
Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family
Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family
Netbook and Tablet Graphics

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3600 Series
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 (Intel® GMA 3150)
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 600 (Intel® GMA 600)
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 500"