Difference between revisions of "Windows 7 support"

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* '''[http://secondlife.com/support/system-requirements/ The System Requirements page] needs to be updated''', since "Windows 7 (32-bit)" has caused considerable confusion. Changes are pending in the queue behind other web updates. Yes, it sounds counterintuitive — dontcha wish it was as easy to change some text there as this wiki? ;)
* '''[http://secondlife.com/support/system-requirements/ The System Requirements page] needs to be updated''', since "Windows 7 (32-bit)" has caused considerable confusion. Changes are pending in the queue behind other web updates. Yes, it sounds counterintuitive — dontcha wish it was as easy to change some text there as this wiki? ;)
* '''What "Windows 7 (32-bit only)" means on the System Requirements page is: the Second Life Viewer itself is 32-bit, and is supported on both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions What's the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit?]
* '''What "Windows 7 (32-bit only)" means on the System Requirements page is: the Second Life Viewer itself is 32-bit, and is supported on both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions What's the difference?]
* Some of the most common problems reported with a "Viewer 2.x and Windows 7" system are '''due to non-Windows 7-specific reasons''':
* Some of the most common problems reported with a "Viewer 2.x and Windows 7" system are '''due to non-Windows 7-specific reasons''':
** Non-existent or outdated  [[graphics card|graphics card drivers]]. Be sure to update them — that's true for every version of Windows.
** Non-existent or outdated  [[graphics card|graphics card drivers]]. Be sure to update them — that's true for every version of Windows.

Revision as of 13:44, 29 September 2010

This question comes up a lot in the forums in varied forms, and this page is a stopgap to answer:

  • Is the Second Life Viewer compatible with Windows 7?
  • Does Second Life run on Windows 7?
  • Can I use Second Life on Windows 7?

The answer is officially yes from Linden Lab, with the following caveats:

  • The System Requirements page needs to be updated, since "Windows 7 (32-bit)" has caused considerable confusion. Changes are pending in the queue behind other web updates. Yes, it sounds counterintuitive — dontcha wish it was as easy to change some text there as this wiki? ;)
  • What "Windows 7 (32-bit only)" means on the System Requirements page is: the Second Life Viewer itself is 32-bit, and is supported on both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. What's the difference?
  • Some of the most common problems reported with a "Viewer 2.x and Windows 7" system are due to non-Windows 7-specific reasons:
    • Non-existent or outdated graphics card drivers. Be sure to update them — that's true for every version of Windows.
    • If your hardware is underpowered to begin with and doesn't otherwise meet the System Requirements, the Viewer won't run well, or at all. For example, netbooks with "Windows 7 Starter" that have too slow a CPU or graphics card.

Updates needed for this page? Contact Torley.