Difference between revisions of "Windows 7 support"

From Second Life Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 9: Line 9:
* '''The Second Life Viewer is supported on ''both'' 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7.''' [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions What's the difference?]
* '''The Second Life Viewer is supported on ''both'' 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7.''' [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions What's the difference?]
* '''[http://secondlife.com/support/system-requirements/ The System Requirements page] needs to be updated''', since "Windows 7 (32-bit only)" 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 only)" 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 a 32-bit executable.
* '''What "Windows 7 (32-bit only)" means on the System Requirements page is: the Second Life Viewer itself is a 32-bit executable. Relevant discussion with the pros and cons can be found on [https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/VWR-7716 VWR-7716] and linked issues.
* 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** Non-existent or outdated  [[graphics card|graphics card drivers]].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** Non-existent or outdated  [[graphics card|graphics card drivers]].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 10:14, 30 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 details:

  • The Second Life Viewer is supported on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7. What's the difference?
  • The System Requirements page needs to be updated, since "Windows 7 (32-bit only)" 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 a 32-bit executable. Relevant discussion with the pros and cons can be found on VWR-7716 and linked issues.
  • 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.