Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Frequently Asked Support Questions: April 23


Added April 25:
Please note that we are not actively monitoring the comments section to reply to requests for support. If you need help or have questions with the viewer, the following links will provide you more effective ways of accessing support that are already available:



In case you didn't catch it, Firestorm v4.4.0.33720 was released yesterday, April 22, at around 3:30pm SL time. Naturally, we've been busy bees in the Firestorm Support group since then.

No matter how well a release is tested before it's sent out, it won't be perfect for everyone. It can be perfect for most people and still create problems for others. Sometimes the problem is a bug, other times it's a settings change. We've got a couple of both in our FAQ for the past 24 hours.

Black Screen

Some users are experiencing a totally black screen on login. User interface, tags, and hovertips are visible, but the rest is a sea of black. This problem has so far shown up only on machines with ATI graphics cards and older graphics drivers, both Windows and Mac. Fortunately, we have a few workarounds you can use. All this info is also available on our wiki.

  • The workaround that will probably be preferable to most people will be to disable Glow. Find this in Preferences > Graphics > Rendering. Just uncheck that sucker. Glow is an object property, so this will prevent some things from, well, glowing in your view. It's not the same as a light source, so don't worry, you'll still see lamps and torches and facelights.
  • If you want to use Glow, and you have Advanced Lighting Model on (this used to be called Lighting & Shadows), you can also disable our new Vignette option in Phototools. How to find it. What you're missing if you disable it. This option may not work if you don't have Advanced Lighting Model enabled.
  • Finally, most people will probably not want to choose this one, but it's available to you if you do: disabling Basic Shaders. This is in Prefs > Graphics > General. It'll be on the left.

Uncheck "Render glow" as a workaround to the black screen problem.

For a more permanent fix: The issue is driver-related, so installing the right graphics driver should do the trick. For Windows, we know the Catalyst 12.01 works. For Mac, it means upgrading your operating system to Mountain Lion (Lion works fine, but it isn't available from Apple anymore).

Height Offset

We anticipated that this would create a problem. In earlier versions of the viewer, we had a Height Offset option built right into our Quick Preferences. This would let you move your avatar up or down, wherever you happened to be. Feet in the floor? No problem! Hovering above your chair? No problem!

"Hover" replaces height offset
Sadly, the changes that Linden Lab are making for Server-Side Appearance (that server update that will improve avatar texture baking) are incompatible with the way Height Offset has worked up to now. Despite the fact that they never had anything equivalent in their own viewer, they've responded to our dismay at losing a popular feature by doing what they can to provide a replacement that will work with the new baking system.

The replacement to Height Offset is located in the Appearance window and is tied into your shape's parameters. Consequently, it can only be used if your shape is modifiable. Also, it can't be added back into Quick Prefs. See here for how to use it.

Dunno about you, but I give LL props for that effort. The new version may still have a couple of shortcomings compared to the old one -- perhaps with time the kinks will get worked out -- but it should be sufficient for most people.

Hidden Buttons

There are a couple of complaints/questions that we've been receiving en masse that relate to intended changes. This version of the viewer introduced the option to hide or show some user interface elements that had previously been visible but that not everyone wanted to see for one reason or another.

Specifically, this applied to chiclets (the square mini-icons that line up in the corner of your screen when you have IMs open) and media controls in the top bar.

The point of confusion is that these items are hidden by default if you log in with Phoenix Mode. This mode is intended to resemble Phoenix, so since Phoenix didn't have this stuff (the Vintage skin has the media controls at the bottom), neither does Phoenix Mode. They can be added back if you want them there. We're all about options whenever feasible.

So if you want those things back, they are both located in Preferences > User Interface > General:
  • "Show media controls in top menu" is on the 7th checkbox line down from the top, to the right of "Show lag meter."
  • "Hide group and IM chat chiclets" is the 2nd checkbox from the bottom.

Hide or show media controls and/or chiclets

Similarly, if you're on a different mode and you want to get rid of chiclets, you can find that option to hide them. It removes the IM and script dialog chiclets. The ones that remain there are the chat bubble that shows unread messages and the envelope that stores open notifications. Those are not removable at this time.

And there ya go. Help is also always available on our wiki and in our inworld support groups. We think our free in-person classes are pretty nifty, as well. We have many ways to get help!

Fired Up,
Lette

130 comments:

  1. last viewer was great..this one how ever is'nt! having many rezing problems i never had before.only have my home that FINALLY REZED, YET EVERY TIME I GO BACK ITS THE SAME PROCESS ONCE AGAIN. go to another sim.. forget it.. all grey.. waited 2 hours just to see if it would rez... no ! same every sim now.. pathetic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm having the same issue. I'm considering switching viewers

      Delete
    2. I have the same problem. my av is ok but everyone else is grey. even after 30 minutes no change. I can update drivers i already checked that and i've reduced most settings to minimal but it still happens.

      Delete
    3. Those having the "everything is grey" problem, try setting UseHTTPBakedTextureFetch to False.

      To find:
      Ctrl-Alt-D opens your Advanced menu
      Advanced > Show Debug Settings
      type or paste UseHTTPBakedTextureFetch and set that to False

      Delete
    4. Make sure to add the viewer to your antivirus / firewall exeption list. http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/antivirus_whitelisting

      Also, http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/slow_rez

      Try the white list link first. THEN try the slow rez link if you still have the issue.

      Delete
    5. It took me a little while to switch to Firestorm, but once I got used to it, I swore by it and helped others make the switch. But, this update just put it in the gutter. I have to wait for everything to rez before I can even move and, even then, movements, my own and others are jerky, not smooth as I've had previously. Everyone and everything looks like hell, too. Even with Render Glow off, everyone is a pasty-white *shudder* It's also taking twice as long to load, let alone log in. Worst update yet.

      Delete
    6. Everything runs fine for me. I don't like the little button "block" next to the button "ignore" in dialog boxes ; i spend my time blocking things that i don't want to block. It would be good for a future version to move the button on left, and keep "ignore" on right.

      Delete
    7. I downloaded the new FS yesterday, and it's been a frustrating experience. Very slow frame rates, 1.8 +/- and jerky lag. Even after all the inventory and textures loaded, no change. I was doing fine on the old FS version. Any advice as to what settings I might chance to fix this? I dumbed down all the stuff I know about, like graphics quality and draw distance, no change.

      Delete
    8. You all have to remember its a brand new release - you dont have to immediately switch to it - and I would recommend those of you that have a hard time with change, or those of you that arent real computer savvy, dont switch until a release has been out for a bit. Usually all bugs/issues/complaints have been dealt with and documented so its easy for you to upgrade in a couple weeks. That will save everyones patience. (Not meant to be rude). Remember, SL runs on so many different platforms (computers/graphic cards/operating systems/etc), its impossible for a small group like Phoenix to test them all out. We are all on Firestorm because we like it better than the Original SL, but along with that we have to have a little patience at release time, to let all the bugs get worked out. Stop complaining and think of the first two weeks as massive user testing, if youre not up for user testing, wait a couple weeks before you upgrade!

      Delete
    9. @Dahlia - Preferences, Firestorm, Protection : Remove "Block" button from script dialogs"

      Delete
    10. Same problem so I have switched viewers

      Delete
    11. So, this is not a Firestorm issue exactly, but it's related - I don't suppose the amazing folks at FS have a page that instructs how to partition a hard drive, or do something that allows me to download the latest release without overwriting the one I am on now? I would like to try the new one, but am not ready to let go of my decently running version.

      Delete
    12. Baha. Messed up the placement of my post here, but found the exe of the release I am on now. Yay me, no need to partition or work some other magic, better suited to someone with a modicum of computer savvy!

      Delete
    13. Or maybe ditch Windows and install a real operating system (like Linux).

      Delete
    14. No issues detected! Did a clean installation, copied the chat logs back, used the backup funtionalty to configure my other two PCs (for failover, I'm a "DJ"), and it's working fine.

      Windows 7 Pro 32 bit
      Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2P
      AMD Athlon X2 250 2x 3.0 GHz
      4 GB RAM
      Nvidia GT610 2048 GB RAM DDR3
      Creative Soundblaster Audigy
      Internet via cable (DL 88.0 Mbit/s / UL 6.0 Mbit/s)

      Delete
  2. I have absolutely no problem. I even rezzed faster. Was indeed looking for the height offset but this 'workaround' might even work better for me.

    I advice a CLEAN INSTALL btw. De-install old version(s), manually delete cache and then install this new 4.4.0.

    Oh, and update your graphic drivers. Helps a lot too.

    Great job again Firestormers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like this one other than the fact that I cannot get my stupid inventory to reload. I did a clean uninstall and reinstall like I was told. I followed all the steps on their missing inventory page, still nothing. Get in the support group and ask and they don't even know how to fix it. going back to the old one I guess until I'm forced to switch to this one

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenni, TP to a water region (no prims, no people, just water) like Hatton, Aich or Moses. Then relog there. Don't TP, dont IM, don't surf the web. Just allow your inventory to load.

      2 suggestions. First, make sure you whitelist the viewer with your antivirus so the folders aren't being scanned or blocked http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/antivirus_whitelisting

      Second, make sure your bandwidth is set correctly http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_speedtest

      If you followed the steps exactly outlined in our http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_clean_reinstall (delete cache, settings & viewer app) then chances are, one of the two links will help.

      Delete
    2. Thank you Gweneth, Will try that now. What's getting me is I did the clean reinstall, viewer is whitelisted and tped to Hippo Hollow, tried clearing cache and relogged, come back with inventory still missing but will try the rest. I just got frustrated and uninstalled it so instead of getting the old viewer again i will try the new one again.. Thank you again

      Delete
    3. *sighs* well I retract my complaints. It's not SL, or Firestorm it's my idiotic internet company. Morons ripped me off so will now go scream at them. Thank you again for the help!

      Delete
    4. /me hands Jenni B a megaphone

      Delete
    5. hehe thank you. will probably need it in case they have their heads stuck up their asses lmao

      Delete
  4. I never had to resize pictures before but really having issue for these to come in world. Need to resize any photos etc. Even on this version i am getting the same. Where i never got before. I run firestorm also on my laptop and now does not have the problem. Please help is there a way of changing the default settings to auto resize the pics thanks

    ReplyDelete
  5. Not having any problems either. Getting faster rezzing, and better graphics and the new features are going to be very helpful to me. I've already fixed up my quick set preferences.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just want to say THANK YOU! THANK YOU for ALL the work you do and an INCREDIBLE viewer!

    Just know that not everyone out here only comments to complain about something--you guys are FABulous for the work you do!

    ReplyDelete
  7. So I went to go log on with the previous version, and it pretty much instantly crashed. So i downloaded the new one. First time, it would not open to save my life. Deleted it and re-installed it. Still wouldn't open. Said application not responding. I went to go restart my computer, thinking it might help, and suddenly it opens. So i go to log on, and it doesn't connect. I wait a few minutes and it goes, slowly. But I make it on. Only to not be at home, like I expected. So I TP'd home, to start falling through my ground. I was able to fly up to it (after much searching..) So I tried to put up a new platform, and it wouldn't rez, and then it proceeded to freeze and then crash on me. So I logged in a gain, and was brought to a safe hub. This time, I tried to TP to my house, and to the house of some friends who live on the same land, and it said "location not available". I waited a little bit and tried again, to then be told that I did not have access to the location. Then it crashed...again.

    Every time I click on a landmark, it takes FOREVER to register and then it ever so slowly starts to load. Most of the time it doesn't even register. I really don't want to have to find another view. I've loved Firestorm from the first moment I used it. Can anyone help me figure out what the heck is going on?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Make sure you performed a clean reinstall. You need to manually find and delete the cache and settings folders as well as the viewer application. http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_clean_reinstall

      Delete
  8. i'm using a MBP and 4.4 won't open at all. any clues?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What Mac operating system do you have, and what happens when you try to open it?

      If you're still on Leopard (OSX 10.5.8), you'll need to upgrade. Leopard is no longer supported. Snow Leopard will work, but as explained above, you may have the black screen problem if you have an ATI graphics card (I have no trouble on Snow Leopard with an NVidia card). There is the workaround listed in this blog post, though, or you can move all the way up to Mountain Lion.

      If you're already on 10.6, 10.7, or 10.8, then make sure your install was a clean install, complete with manual settings clear - http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_clean_reinstall - and then, if the problem persists, see if anything on this wiki page resembles what you're experiencing - http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_install_crash

      Delete
  9. Only one problem, avatars just suddenly dissapear from view even when very close. They say they cannot see me either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Check your connection http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_speedtest

      Delete
    2. My music wont play...not on m land or in clubs. As a host in sl this is a major issue...can't use firestorm til I can resolve IR ant suggestions?

      Delete
    3. hello karalina

      make sure to allow the stream you wish to listen to, http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_media_filter

      Also, if you have your antivirus/firewall enabled, make sure to tell it not to block the viewer http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/antivirus_whitelisting

      Delete
    4. Something else to consider is that you or the other avatar has moved across a parcel boundary. When that happens, and *if* the parcel owner has enabled parcel privacy, then you two can't see each other if you're on different parcels. I ran into that the other day while driving around a region, my passenger disappeared and reappeared every so often.

      Delete
  10. Still having trouble with music button. After removing my stream from my DJ work. The normal URL won't stay in sounds box. It keeps on showing my DJ stream, so I can't get any UR's to work on my land, excepting my own stream.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Zippy, works perfectly on an ATI 3470 GPU that usually give me fits when I update, with all default settings. I did a clean install.

    Thank you for making the best even better.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The avatar height offset was useful as a petite ... I could use the offset to correct site where my normal AO couldn't deal with the small height and frequently put me into the ground. I do hope the concept of height offset comes back somehow as editing appearance when standing/sitting is not realistic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree we need height offset

      Delete
    2. hi, Preferences - Move & View, uncheck "Automatically pose avatar during / Appearance" and nobody will ever know when you are in Edit appearance mode

      Delete
  13. I'm having problems with the viewer crashing. The screen was very blurry for a long time, then I tweeked the preferences and rebooted and that helped the blur, but then I crashed. I cannot figure that out. Happened 3 times.

    I do like the viewer and would love to use it..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's very possible http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_run_crash would be helpful for you. If you still have an issue, you can feel free to log on any viewer that works for you and ask in-world Firestorm Support group and more trouble shooting ideas can be worked on.

      Delete
  14. I think I will wait to update until issues are solved.

    ReplyDelete
  15. super update, faster rezzing, no more missing prims, this is awesome :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Where is “height offset” in the new version?
    When I used version-31155, “height offset” was in the Quick Prefarences.
    That is very useful for snap shot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kaz, scroll back up the page...it's under "height offset"

      Delete
  17. I have the pink textures problem. Anything not a prim is PINK and misshapen. Is there a fix for this new update? I tried installing the new driver, and it did NOTHING!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Take a look http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/ati#the_world_is_pink

      Delete
  18. 1st person to invent a HUD for height offset tweaking gets my lindens. :-) I will miss the handiness of the old viewer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree...I'm a gurlll with a lot of shoes and I'm constantly changing that option..or was...

      Delete
  19. Why is it with all the apologies about missing things in the releases of Firestorm that the latest release of Firestorm still relegates us with the unfortunate status of having an ATI card and the *pink everywhere*! Why can't they figure it out without us having to go back several revisions to the hot fix. This is BS. They said it was fixed but it never was.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you taken a look at the wiki link regarding 'pink world'?

      http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/ati#the_world_is_pink

      Delete
  20. Bad news:
    - I am so laggy now that I often cannot move and can only type without laggy typing if I am cammed onto the floor or a similar immobile object (with my avatar not in my screen).

    I know this is likely a problem of my hardware not keeping up with the demands of the software so there's not much anyone can do. I have every setting at Minimum... but still struggling. My computer is a 2 year old HP Laptop so I know that the graphics are too much for my SL uses but I used to be okay before this update. Oh well. I did to a totally clean install (more than once to be totally sure I had deleted everything but that didn't help).

    It's not Firestorm's problem (for the record) so I know at some point I will have to replace with a desktop computer and admit I'm a "gamer" <--- that makes me laugh.

    Good News:
    + I love the custom object building feature (I miss that the most from the old Phoenix days) ty!
    + I think the custom Quick Prefs is so awesome (I like to be able to toggle on and off the hover tips because they can be in the way when I am playing a game inworld but I miss it when I am seeing if objects are for sale elsewhere). It was such a pain to keep having to open the Debug dialog window before!
    + The best feature is backing up our preferences! That was a stroke of genius!

    Okay, I'll finish my blabbing but thanks so much, Firestorm team. People who think they will find a better viewer option are in for a rude awakening when SSB goes live.

    And a special ty for this blog, Lette.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Is there any reason I can't have script windows default to the bottom right now? They appear in the top left, and the only option I can find to change is put it on the top right instead, which isn't much help.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Where Do I get the previous version? All I get on my i5 processor iMac with Ati 6550 graphics is "Application Not Responding" No screen, no nothing, can't really workaround that! Deleted previous version to do a clean install, so I guess I need it back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Previous versions are available on the Firestorm site.

      Delete
  23. Found one fix for cases of slow rezzing and lots of gray: Goto your Graphics section and shut off the HTTP Textures. I tried that and my protracted grayness was gone. Things rezzed in a reasonable time, and the patches of gray are gone. Still crashes a lot though. Next workthrough, I guess.
    And yes, with this viewer you GOTTA do a Squeaky Clean install. Having older versions of itself around makes Firestorm cranky and hard to work with.

    ReplyDelete
  24. No voice, no white dot - it just vanished on upgrading and freinds who upgraded don't have it either. In settings for mic etc it shows correct devices but displays a message saying "Please Wait". Anyone got any ideas?

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  26. Nvidia runs at Ultra setting perfectly but Firestorm crashes within a minute or two. Get error from Nvidia asking for quality to be reduced.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi June, try disabling Streamed VBOs in Graphics - Harware setting, it worked for me (NVidia GeForce GTX 660)

      Delete
    2. It was enabled, but unfortunately disabling as not helped at all.
      Thanks.

      Delete
  27. I'm having this problem:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/allesklaar/8673765333/

    This is a test shot that I took using the latest update in which I had the picture dimensions at 6016 x 3534 pixels - which is what I have been shooting at for months, ever since I flipped over to the Firestorm Viewer in late 2012. While the grid lines seem to have disappeared, I would really like to get back the remaining one-third of my image which is now black. And yes I know I can shoot at 4000 pixels wide and have a clean screen but frankly that's a poor substitute, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  28. My screen was black as well but sort it out.Now I cant see avatars textures so well..speciall on mesh hair ,I see some layers or cuts..why?

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm having far less issues with this build than I did with the previous. I got constant 'we're sorry, Linden Labs has detected a problem with your region. please log on somewhere else for 30 min to an hour' messages on log on, relogging didn't help, even in protected land, I stayed a cloud, I had to clear cache to stop it.
    Also previous build was crashing on import and export of textures, this one doesn't do that.

    I hate to be 'THAT' person, but the issue may not be drivers but perhaps older pc's which are going to continue to struggle with ANY viewer as SL continues to develop in ways that leaves older video cards and hardware behind. In short, it's not the viewer, it's time to upgrade your PC.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I seem to be getting a problem whenever I enter Fantasy Faire's Lumenaria sim. And by a problem I mean nearly all of the mesh in the sim fails to load. Prior to changing, I had absolutely no problems with this. Only after I upgraded did the whole sim pretty much crap out on me.

    I've tried clearing my cache and relogging multiple times, as well as going to other sims and going back. Is there anything else I should do before I downgrade?

    ReplyDelete
  31. I had a fun time, Tuesday evening. Frame-rate plummeted, I had flashes of the black-screen problem, and voice wouldn't work. I did a Windows reboot, and that fixed things. It's the sort of thing that suggests memory leaks, and it doesn't have to be in Firestorm.

    Oh, and current nVidia driver is 314.22 (according the the nVidia Control Panel), which is reported as a much longer number in Firestorm's Help > About. The last five digits are what you need to check.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I just installed the new version and it seems that it's not anymore possible to select / copy and paste out the stream address (i dont talk of changing it but only to export it to a media player when the stream doesn't work in world)

    Anyone to confirm it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cannot copy/paste the stream address. Being a dj it was impossible to put my stream in. Only cure was to use older FS version.

      Delete
  33. Allright, FS does not run at all under my Arch linux system, getting these errors:

    [anonymus@archbox ~]$ '/home/anonymus/Stuff/Phoenix_Firestorm-Release_i686_4.4.0.33720/firestorm'
    64-bit Linux detected.
    Running from /home/anonymus/Stuff/Phoenix_Firestorm-Release_i686_4.4.0.33720
    /home/anonymus/Stuff/Phoenix_Firestorm-Release_i686_4.4.0.33720/firestorm: Zeile 98: ./etc/register_hopprotocol.sh: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden
    which: no kde-config in (/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl)
    which: no kde4-config in (/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl)
    ERROR: ld.so: object '/home/anonymus/Stuff/Phoenix_Firestorm-Release_i686_4.4.0.33720/lib/libcrypto.so.1.0.0' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.
    ERROR: ld.so: object '/home/anonymus/Stuff/Phoenix_Firestorm-Release_i686_4.4.0.33720/lib/libssl.so.1.0.0' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.
    bin/do-not-directly-run-firestorm-bin: error while loading shared libraries: libgdk-x11-2.0.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
    *** Bad shutdown ($LL_RUN_ERR). ***

    You are running the Firestorm Viewer on a x86_64 platform. The
    most common problems when launching the Viewer (particularly
    'bin/do-not-directly-run-firestorm-bin: not found' and 'error while
    loading shared libraries') may be solved by installing your Linux
    distribution's 32-bit compatibility packages.
    For example, on Ubuntu and other Debian-based Linuxes you might run:
    $ sudo apt-get install ia32-libs ia32-libs-gtk ia32-libs-kde ia32-libs-sdl
    [anonymus@archbox ~]$

    Any ideas how to fix this?
    32 bit multilib is included in my system's repos
    A.

    ReplyDelete
  34. No problems here except "texture discarded due to a lack of memory" (which is kinda weird with a 2 gig GPU)and some hanger while logging out (sometimes the app does not quit at all).

    ReplyDelete
  35. There are a lot more questions here than I can't handle, even with Gwen being so awesome and helping out, so I would like to remind all commenters that there is help available through many avenues besides this blog:

    http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/getting_help
    http://www.firestorm.org/support

    We have 30 people on the English support team and 70 in all languages put together, but only two are watching this blog. To find the rest and get faster answers, please use the many support mechanisms already in place (wiki, inworld groups, and JIRA).

    This blog post was meant to introduce the most common issues being brought up and was not meant to become a help forum in the comments section. I plan to make the original posts a regular thing, but I may need to restrict comments if the requests for help get out of hand.

    ReplyDelete
  36. The height offset "work around" is awful, of course I'm not upset with FS but rather LL's for not thinking this through better. Putting it in appearance is really the worst place possible. It can't be used well while attempting to "sit" and it also means having to create more and more shapes saved into your inventory. Its going to prove to be more and more of an issue for those in the SL fashion industry, models, photographers, designers...etc - Especially.

    Also, I've noticed that in the advanced graphics settings DoF check box is no longer available as a check box in the "General" tab. There's also a few new check boxes I'm not familiar with but I'm hoping those will be covered in In-World classes or discussions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. and then there is the people with no-mod shapes, and the petites, and so on who also need height offset as well

      Delete
  37. I thanks the group for the new update install. Its good on all things for me but I have a bit of problem when I enter the crystal portals and doors my screen looks like I am having fog at there..so what really is the problem. Appreciate if anyone could advise this.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Improved performance and stability my ass, worst viewer ever. I loved Firestorm it was truly the best and now its probably the last. Slow texture load, random nonsense crashes, puff its too much. FYI im trying the SL official viewer and have to say I don't have any of these issues, I still love the UI from firestorm but its just not worth the hassle.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I spoke about my problems with my DJ stream (above) My dj stream wouldn't change over and allow me to put in my URL what I normally have on when not being a dj. I redownloaded this new add on and seems to be working now, although it takes time for it to work. Another problem I found that I froze in edit appearance but seemed ok once I relogged.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I now have huge black squares appearing on all pictures I take snapshots to disk in the highest resolution, shadows enabled, constrained properties but very large pics (6000x3213 in size for post process purposes). My graphics drivers are up to date and before this update, using the same, I did not have any issues.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I can't hear music either in Phoenix or Firestorm. I was able to hear music yesetday, but today, there seems to be no sound or music

    ReplyDelete
  42. Is anyone else having the problem I am? Every time I TP, "CRASH BOOM"! New version does not seem as stable as previous ones. Any suggestions?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had that problem yesterday. I downloaded the new viewer on monday evening, it was gorgeous. Crisp, fast texture rez, no problems whatsoever with mesh taking a while to load, my framerates went through the roof, (Even on my old rig! and I mean old.. lol) It was fantastic.

      Log in Tuesday after my Sim restarts and my windlights have a mind of their own. I think 'ok, no big deal. it's just LsL coding going wonky.' Spend several hours sitting in my build box, working on textures for new skins and watching the visiting dots down below me happily. Suddenly, every one of those dots disappear at once, within 5 seconds of eachother and after that, music just about dies, sound is barely recognizable, (Have to turn my own settings way, way up in pc mixer to hear anything) Mesh takes eons to load, grey everywhere, mishappen forms and fps doing some funky jugs.

      The TP problem, That was the worst. Every tp I crashed. Didn't matter where I was going or how I got there. It took 5 min to do anything. Finally my workaround was to log in at home, tp where I needed to go (First tp always worked, none after) watch the mini map turn red as I spent a while in that location. Log out then repeat the process. It was the only thing that worked.

      Checked my speeds and they seem to be average, for me anyway. Nothing there has changed. I've read a few things here and will try them though not sure what's going on with the TP'ing issues.

      Delete
    2. Yes I have been having that issue with crashing suddenly when trying to tp. It happened to me over 11 times in one hour. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

      Delete
    3. I'm having the same problem with version 4.4 I can't TP anywhere, every time I try I crash, I got so frustrated I ended up going back to a previous version. I even reinstalled to see if that helped and it didn't so if anyone knows how to fix this I'd love to know.

      Delete
  43. In this version {Firestorm v4.4.0.33720} none of my folders show any items,only showing I no items, no amount of clearing cache or reinstalling will make them show up, i have over 90,000 Items in my inventory some of them ones that go way back to 2009 and I would be unable to get again, all that shows up is the Items that im wearing or just bought or just picked up,

    also since i use the double click to auto move a lot, It makes a message pop up each time saying "autopilot canceled" i click to walk, so i get 22- 100 pops ups each F-ING time,

    Until anything is fixed im just going to uses the last past viewer, although the screen keeps popping up saying there's a new version each time i crash and log back in, like its trying to F-ING force me to upgrade

    {I'm not sure how to post with my name so ill use my SL name and anon}

    ~Leoninus Zsun

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hello, first I would like to thank you for all the effort to keep firestorm such a wonderful viewer.
    Unfortunately with this update, I'm one of the people who ended up with a black screen. I would like to
    perform sl at its up much quality for machinima etc etc. And the solution you have offered makes it less, like for example glow is a tool and quality I can not miss. Does this new change mean that I have a problem, that with the new changes Linden has introduced my graphic card is not suitable anymore ?

    ReplyDelete
  45. Great new viewer and I have NO problems with it! A BIG THANK YOU to all developers and the support team! You are doing a much appreciated work.

    ReplyDelete
  46. The new replacement to Height Offset is, to be blunt, worthless. It's incredibly clunky to adjust on the fly, which is the entire point of height-offset controls to begin with; avoiding sinking into the floor/levitating well clear of it in animations. B for effort, F for effect, find a better solution.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I didn't do a clean install at first, and had a few problems. My fps were wacky, went from 2 to 75 and lots of freezing up of sl. I just did a clean install, and everything is working fine. My fps are hovering at 70. I'm a very happy camper.

    Gin Perdide

    ReplyDelete
  48. I have a problem with Firestorm.. after i cleared my cashe i can't login on sl .. it's not responding at all.. I unistall firestorm, install the new version.. but nothing happened..
    Any suggestions?

    ReplyDelete
  49. Frankly spoken, 90 percent of the trouble reported here isn´t exactly related or caused by the viewer, but by the persons who cannot or do not want to deal with it or SL generally. This said: Perform a clean install. If you do not know how this works, go to the Firestorm support pages or the Wiki, where you can find an extensive instruction. Update your grahic drivers. If you do not know how, go to the ATI or Nvidia support pages. If you want heigth offset, go and call up Linden Lab and ask for one. If your frame rate drops below 5 and you cannot run shadows or whatever shiny you´d like to run in godspeed buy a new computer. If your textures don´t load, mod your firewall or check your internet connection speed or buy a new computer.

    And if you do not want to do anything of the above quit SL, or don´t complain at the people who work their asses of for you.

    Gawd.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for saying this. I've been thinking the same.

      Delete
    2. Gawd, for me Phoenix as and is at the moment working perfectly with no crashes etc.
      So you expect us to replace our good computers with even more expensive ones. Mine cost £850 how much do you want us to pay?

      Delete
    3. What an unfriendly remark, you are not the only one who is appreciating this viewer and is grateful.
      But people are upgrading their viewers and suddenly have a problem and this blog is here to voice them and ask questions.

      Delete
  50. I am also unable to login using the new viewer. I switched back and forth a couple of times, and always the same thing; can log in with 4-3-1-31155, and cannot log in with 4-4-0-33720. My "last location" snapshot comes up briefly, and then I get a "Sorry, despite our best efforts..."

    ReplyDelete
  51. so what the heck are people with no mod shapes supposed to do?

    height offset is a necessity

    what if we are a petite or if we shrink into floors?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. talk to Linden Labs, they are the ones making the changes.

      Delete
  52. Big ty to Lette and the other FS support staff. Her fixes in this thread took care of my issues. :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. Seriously everyone needs to relax... read about what is going on with this server side baking issue. Not only is Firestorm dealing with it the best they can but LL is changing code and messing things up at the same time...
    All things change... post your issues so they know but Bad mouthing a viewer that has been awesome and cutting edge solving more issues and giving you more function than SL viewers ever have seems counter productive.
    Make sure you have updated your graphics card drivers and follow the blog to debug issues as they arise and report bugs and ride it out. Change takes time be patient. Step away from the Koolaid.
    And on a side note... if you are using a cheap computer with below average graphics you need a upgrade... if your viewer set by default to low graphics... use those brain cells you have to figure out that your comp is the issue not the viewer. Things wont rez your avi will not render nor will anyone else. Not to mention your 100 k inventory that you have never organized. Oh and my Favorite... trying to run SL on dial up or satellite net with 500 download and 100 upload speeds not to mention your kids Iphones and Xboxes all running full throttle while you are camming on Skype and listening to internet radio. Try Clearing your task bar of all that stuff shut it down and lock out the other things from your router and see if that helps. Run a speed test and make sure you are getting the speeds your net provider promised you.

    ReplyDelete
  54. @"Height Offset": This is absolutely unacceptable assholes and do not use in anyways.

    The only thing Height Offset was good for was to fix issues that asshole developers of poseball beds and other furniture did fucked up and were to stupid to configure their fucking furniture. There Height offset would be used to fix that issue.

    Now it's completely useless. No sane person edits their shape while using a sex bed, you fuckers as this leads you to stand up and go in edit mode, killing all immersion. Fix this assholes, and fix it now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. would not use such strong language, the Firestorm team works incredibly hard for us, but yes we do need height offset

      Delete
  55. Also before I forget:

    Why is no one fixing that fucking inventory bug?
    How stupid and incompetent can someone be? This fucking inventory bug has been there since Firestrom 4.1 (it wasn't there in 4.0) and became worse with every new version.

    The fucking inventory will play crazy when navigating through it via arrow keys, makes it completely impossible to navigate and open high number of folders without the fucking windows randomly scrolling.

    And to make things worse, 4.4 breaks it even more. Now when I create a new item or folder, it closes all other folders I opened. IT DRIVES ME INSANE! FIX THIS FUCKING SHIT AND FIX IT NOW!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not having any of those problems. Maybe switching back to the Linden Lab viewer would be the best thing for you to do or switch back to an earlier FS version. We all knew there would be bugs, and they will be fixed. The Firestorm Group has been working for months on this change, they have patience, you need to get some. Your rants just make me laugh at you.

      Delete
    2. This fucking bug has been there for a fucking year. Going back would mean going back to Firestorm 4.0! They had a FUCKING year to fix this and it's still there. Not only it's there but it got even WORSE than it was before

      Delete
  56. my first impression was this is cool but today after making changes in prefs, and tp'ing a couple times, the settings i made revert back to defaults ie turning typing noise off, and some of my graphic settings not sticking, ie i turn off atmosphere shading and after a couple of tp's it mysteriously comes back on. i do know how to hit the apply button, so i dont get why the changes are not holding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. in addition some toolbar buttons at the bottom disappear - not all of them, jus the ones i've placed myself. And sometimes i tp and the framerate goes real low like 2 frames per second, so i tp back to the previous, and it seems to take care of it - idk if thats linden labs or not.

      Delete
  57. I've clean installed twice now and restarted my computer, but everytime I open firestorm it gives me a pink screen that says "Socket operation timed out" and when I try to log in I get the usual "Login Failed. Despite our best efforts..." message. Its really frustrating. Might anyone be able to help?

    ReplyDelete
  58. Ive got to a point of giving up this firestorm. One minute I cant load in my stream and other URL's. Now after my third post I couldnt load in my stream at all - being a DJ this is very bad and losing money. I've had to reinstall older version back.

    ReplyDelete
  59. since the update my screen is all pink.. like hello kitty pink

    ReplyDelete
  60. Using this release all button presses in SL are slow. almost unable to play Greed for example... SL Issue????

    ReplyDelete
  61. i would rather them get all the kinks in this viewer solved, The Firestorm team has always worked hard for us and am sure they will continue to do so.

    Could Linden Labs be begged to get height offset back? It kills immersion to have to edit your shape when you have a no-mod shape or trying to interact with a bed or if you are a petite

    ReplyDelete
  62. Clothing and inventory problems have been very frustrating with this viewer. I realize it's a new release, but it would seem as though this would have shown up in the testing. I don't have time to wait around for troubleshooting. Thus, I'm trying other available viewers.

    ReplyDelete
  63. When I moved from Phoenix to Firestorm I was amazed at the quality of change with my graphics. I loved that part.

    However,I am now floating two feet about the ground. I'm finding this rather irritating it wasn't like this before for me. To top it off, I probably won't be able to fix this. Writing how I can fix this doesn't work for me,I'd probably need someone to voice with me with step by step.

    I am not knowledgeable about computer terms, programming or the like. I don't want to build, I don't want to make things. I am happy going about my business making friends and just goofing off. All I want is when I download something that it works. I want to be able to see people, move correctly. I'm all up for changes many times change is good. I understand that "things" need to be work on and worked out.

    I can live with the 30 minute loading of avi's, graphics and the like. I feel that this will all fix itself as time goes on.


    I am a patient person and I think I may just have to wait for things to work themselves out.

    ReplyDelete
  64. New update is working great for me; I've installed it on three different computers without a single glitch. Nice work Stormers.

    ReplyDelete
  65. OK..............you'll probably get 30 bitches.............(OK, more like 300!!)......but let me add one big BRAVO!!!!!!

    My new FS is faster(by far!!!), more stable, easier and cleaner looking

    Thanks guys

    ReplyDelete
  66. The resolution on this new Firestorm is so slow I have had to revert to another viewer. Hopefully you can fix the problem or tell me how to load the previous version back up?

    ReplyDelete
  67. I have not had any issues with new firestorm the new updated version of amd catalyst fixed it so I have not had any issues with it at all.

    ReplyDelete
  68. You can find previous versions of the firestorm viewer on their web site under Downloads. Of course, once LL throws the switch and enables the server code for Server Side Avatar Baking you will wish that you hadn't gone back. All avatars will appear a pasty gray under FS versions prior to 4.4.0 at that point.

    ReplyDelete
  69. well im having the same problem ive had with every viewer and every update, i have to move regular sl viewer sound files into the new firestorm directory to get voice to work.. working on it now, hopefully it will work same as always when i move the files over.. ALSO i dont know what to call it but when i move to see myself or something my cam is going way far out instead of upclose like it used to and its very annoying trying to figure out what setting i might need to change to get it fixed. i dont want to change something and mess something else up lol.

    ReplyDelete
  70. I'm afraid that this version is awful very slow on my desktop and worse on my laptop where it insists I need to update the graphics drivers that are already up to date. When I tweaked it to get rid of the black screen the eventual graphics were appallingly bad whereas in phoenix they were superb so its obviously not a hardware issue. On both machines there are rezzing issues but the major issue on the desktop is how slow it is if that can't be overcome then its not going to be viable.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Its strange how I cannot load in my dj stream anymore and yet my club partner who shares my stream has no problem. My computer is only one year old and 8 gigs with good grapics. The biq Question now why won't my stream load and stay in the sounds box?

    ReplyDelete
  72. Model Name: MacBook Pro
    Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2
    Processor Name: Intel Core i7
    Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
    Number of Processors: 1
    Total Number of Cores: 2
    L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
    L3 Cache: 4 MB
    Memory: 4 GB
    Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s
    Boot ROM Version: MBP61.0057.B0F
    SMC Version (system): 1.58f17
    Serial Number (system): W8015494GD6
    Hardware UUID: DB5D79EE-D538-56B5-BECA-AC72F96B3B92
    Sudden Motion Sensor:
    State: Enabled

    Completely freezes, 1frame per second. The last viewer was so good. I want to go back. Please don't tell me that a computer I bought two years ago can't handle SL. I paid a lot for this.

    ReplyDelete
  73. If I deleted firestorm and deleted all firestorm files by hand, will I lose my inventory and everything once i reinstalled firestorm? Maybe, it will help to solve my streaming problems.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Can I just say to the whiners out there, REALLY?!? This is the out-of-the-gate version of a major upgrade, with a fundamental change that has been forced on the Firestorm team and that they warned you months ago was going to be a bumpy ride. And, yeah, it's not going to be perfect but they'll fix it JUST LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO! These folks work FOR FREE to give you an alternate viewer to the stock LL viewer, and you're so entitled that you're complaining and saying you're going to switch viewers...please look up "entitlement" in the dictionary. And then I definitely think you should switch to another viewer, PLEASE!!!

    Thanks once again to the Phoenix/Firestorm volunteers for another major release, y'all rock!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Can anyone help me with the problem of not rezzing....orange particles only......

    ReplyDelete
  76. This is are very helpful tips. thank you Lette for sharing them with us.

    ReplyDelete
  77. so far so good. no problems yet
    (i probably just jinxed myself)

    ReplyDelete
  78. I have the opposite problem as everyone... everything rezzes in the blink of an eye ! I am loving this new update, thank you Firestorm Team ♥

    ReplyDelete
  79. no problems here:)

    ReplyDelete
  80. I have a very big problem since i downloaded the latest viewer. Not only Seond Life crashes but the whole computer crashes with a lot of trouble to get it working again. Can not log into Second life anymore with my other desktop computer. Graphic card is NVDIA Ge Force 9800 GT which also has problems and crashed often.

    ReplyDelete