This is a skeleton framework for the issues that I have encountered in Second Life, and how I've gone about addressing them for the people that experienced them.
Unless I state otherwise, I have either experienced the problem personally and corrected it, or have directly helped another resident with their issue. It is a series of "recipes" to aid in the correction of the issues.
The people affected by this condition might exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
Unable to get rid of the the RUTH shape
Unable to go into Appearances
Have tried to Clear Cache (CTRL-P -> NETWORK tab -> CLEAR CACHE button) to no avail
Have tried to relog to no avail
Might be able to put on some clothing, but cannot put on their shape
Receive the message, "you cannot change your appearance until your clothing have loaded."
Some residents might be partially clothed, others appear as nude RUTHS
Can see themselves as RUTHS
For reasons unknown, the avatar is unable to download and wear their normal shape. Fortunately, there is very quick and effective way of addressing this condition.
Treatment (Power of REPLACE OUTFIT)
I have a couple of folders prepared (MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT and FEMALE SHAPE & OUTFIT - from the SL Library Folder). These folders contain the complete newbie avatar of the Guy Next Door and Girl Next Door look. It is imperative that these folders contain the SHAPE associated with the avatar. These folders are great because they contain SL hair, SL skin, SL shapes, no attachments - all low lag!
Ask the resident if they have their clothing and shapes saved in a folder, or would be able to quickly restore their appearance. We will be clobbering whatever they have on, and replace their outfit completely. Let them make notes on what they are wearing, for reference later.
Take the resident to a low lag sim. I often teleport them to a sky platform in a sandbox.
Give them the folder, "MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT" or "FEMALE SHAPE & OUTFIT" (ask first, if they are male or female - it may not be obvious, from their names).
Have them navigate to INVENTORY -> RECENT ITEMS tab -> (FE)MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT folder.
Have them right-click the FOLDER (not the contents of the folder) and select REPLACE OUTFIT (not ADD TO OUTFIT).
Observe them quickly change their outfit and become a newbie.
Verify they are now able to go into APPEARANCES
Verfiy they are now able to put on whichever shape they choose
Help them restore their previous appearance
What If It Didn't Work?
Have them clear their cache, relog and give them a new folder to change into when they return. If it still doesn't work after several attempts, help them file a support ticket at https://support.secondlife.com/ The good news is, I've helped no less than 6 residents successfully in this manner (brand new, to 6 month residents).
Blackened Avatar
Symptoms
The people affected by this condition might exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
Parts of their skin appear blackened (neck, back of arms, legs, back)
Entire avatar is black (See note below)
Going into APPEARANCES restores their look, temporarily. Coming out of APPERANCES results in blackened parts again.
Clearing CACHE and relogging does not help
Note: An avatar that is completely black may be running DUAL MONITORS (such as on a laptop with an external monitor) AND running Second Life on the secondary monitor. Either way, the treatment is the same.
Treatment
I have a couple of folders prepared (MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT and FEMALE SHAPE & OUTFIT - from the SL Library Folder). These folders contain the complete newbie avatar of the Guy Next Door and Girl Next Door look. It is imperative that these folders contain the SHAPE associated with the avatar. These folders are great because they contain SL hair, SL skin, SL shapes, no attachments - all low lag!
Ask the resident if they have their clothing and shapes saved in a folder, or would be able to quickly restore their appearance. We will be clobbering whatever they have on, and replace their outfit completely. Let them make notes on what they are wearing, for reference later.
For Dual-Monitor Residents
Have them move their Second Life viewer to their primary monitor
Relog
Continue with the steps below
For All Residents
Take the resident to a low lag sim. I often teleport them to a sky platform in a sandbox.
Have the resident clear their cache right away, but don't relog yet
Give them the folder, "MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT" or "FEMALE SHAPE & OUTFIT" (ask first, if they are male or female - it may not be obvious, from their names).
Have them navigate to INVENTORY -> RECENT ITEMS tab -> (FE)MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT folder.
Have them right-click the FOLDER (not the contents of the folder) and select REPLACE OUTFIT (not ADD TO OUTFIT).
Observe them quickly change their outfit and that no part of their clothing "disappears".
Have them relog (it will take a few minutes as their cache will be cleared upon login)
Help them restore their previous appearance
What If It Didn't Work?
Have them clear their cache, relog and give them a new folder to change into when they return. If it still doesn't work after several attempts, help them file a support ticket at https://support.secondlife.com/
Disappearing Clothing
Symptoms
The people affected by this condition might exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
They may wear an article of SL clothing (such as a skirt) - which become invisible within moments
Going into APPEARANCES restores their look, temporarily. Coming out of APPERANCES results in invisible clothing again.
Clearing CACHE and relogging does not help
Treatment
I have a couple of folders prepared (MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT and FEMALE SHAPE & OUTFIT - from the SL Library Folder). These folders contain the complete newbie avatar of the Guy Next Door and Girl Next Door look. It is imperative that these folders contain the SHAPE associated with the avatar. These folders are great because they contain SL hair, SL skin, SL shapes, no attachments - all low lag!
Ask the resident if they have their clothing and shapes saved in a folder, or would be able to quickly restore their appearance. We will be clobbering whatever they have on, and replace their outfit completely. Let them make notes on what they are wearing, for reference later.
Preferred Method
Take the resident to a low lag sim. I often teleport them to a sky platform in a sandbox.
Have the resident clear their cache right away
Give them the folder, "MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT" or "FEMALE SHAPE & OUTFIT" (ask first, if they are male or female - it may not be obvious, from their names).
Have them navigate to INVENTORY -> RECENT ITEMS tab -> (FE)MALE SHAPE & OUTFIT folder.
Have them right-click the FOLDER (not the contents of the folder) and select REPLACE OUTFIT (not ADD TO OUTFIT).
Observe them quickly change their outfit and that no part of their clothing "disappears".
Have them relog (it will take a few minutes as their cache will be cleared upon login)
Help them restore their previous appearance
Alternate (Less Invasive) Method
Take the resident to a low lag sim. I often teleport them to a sky platform in a sandbox.
Have the resident clear their cache right away
Remove the disappearing clothing
Find an alternate piece of clothing that DOES not disappear. You may have to work with the resident for a while on this, until they can put on piece of clothing that does not disappear.
Have them relog (it will take a few minutes as their cache will be cleared upon login)
Help them restore their previous appearance
What If It Didn't Work?
Have them clear their cache, relog and give them a new folder to change into when they return. If it still doesn't work after several attempts, help them file a support ticket at https://support.secondlife.com/
Gray Everywhere
Polygons Shooting Out Of Avatars
Fantastic Screen Displays While In Appearances
Avatar Covered With Onscreen Textures
Click To Enlarge
Symptoms
The people affected by this condition might exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
Inexplicable textures applied to their clothing and avatar (right click image and open in a new window or tab to follow along)
Going into APPEARANCES restores their look, temporarily. Coming out of APPERANCES results in blackened parts again.
Clearing CACHE and relogging offers only temporary relief - as issue may recur at any moment
Treatment
Have the resident upgrade the video drivers.
Residents may argue, "But I have a brand new computer, how can my drivers be out of date?" The fact is that updates to software (and drivers) are coming out all of the time. The version that is installed with their Operating System may be recent, but still several revisions back - one that is "certified" as stable and working. Second Life uses cutting edge graphics technologies which might be incorporated into a recente SL Upgrade. Quite often, people start having video problems after an upgrade, as the SL Viewer requirements blew past what their driver can effectively provide.
The people affected by this condition might exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
Well, just look at the pictures!
Treatment
The issue is caused by a series of animations that bend the body this way and that and are either applied by a scripted object or a gesture. It's similar in concept to a "body crusher" script which folds an avatar into a tiny package so it can fit into a smaller avatar of a cat or a floating eyeball. It's a harmless prank, thought up by ingenious griefers.
It can be, horrific to an unsuspecting newbie. I have seen a number of scripts and animations which will "reverse" the effects of the Monster Script. Some are easy to use, others - I am clueless how to apply them.
There is nothing more simple than the following to cure this condition
Relog
Not do that again!
What if it didn't work?
There's just no way it wouldn't work. Animations are not persistent across Second Life sessions. If it DOES persist then, there's something else at work. Check for:
An attachment which restores the monster look each time an avatar logs on
Resident is wearing a deformed SHAPE (not caused by an animation). Have them put a different shape on.
