Newbie Tutorial 1: First steps of Second Life
So you want to be a resident in Second Life? Great. Welcome! 
Before you register
Before you register you should check that your computer got the minimum System Requirements! Most ‘not too old’ computers will work - if you don’t have a really strange graphic-card.
Visit the official Second Life homepage. Scroll down and you will find a link to the page: Policies & Guidelines. At the bottom of that page you will find the link to System Requirements.
Now check the requirements out! Since I didn’t do this before I registered I got really disappointed when realising that my comp was too old to be able to log in.
Two months later my old comp crashed… Thank God 
and then I made sure that my new one had what it took!
This is just a tip! So please, PLEASE don’t ask me about computer compatibility - because I know freakin’ NOTHING about stuff like that!
Second Life Sign up
Signing up is really easy! Visit Linden Labs Official Second Life Website (Linden Lab is the company that runs Second Life). And look for a button that looks something like this:
Next you may choose from a number of avarar-looks. Not that impressive, huh?
Don’t be afraid! Once you got through the first steps of Second Life you can get almost any look you want! Just choose the one you like best to get started!
And remember: Just because you are female or male in your real life - you don’t have to choose to be the same gender in SL!!
Then you have to fill in some basic stuff.
Nothing to say about this other than I can’t see the point of selecting a start community. It might be better to start in an area only for newcomers with help and instructions - like the default startingplace.
Also remember that it can be rather hard finding a name for your avatar that isn’t already taken… But my tip is to spend some time on this because if you like Second Life - you are going to be stuck with that name of yours!
Once the registration is done you will get a confirmation e-mail with instructions to activate your account. Next step is to download the client program that allows you to log in to Second Life - and that’s it!
Login to Second Life
To login to Second Life you have to open the client program: Second Life - the one you downloaded during the registration. It can take some time for the program to load - so be patient!
The first thing you will se is a ‘Welcome Screen’. At the bottom you have to fill in your name and the password you created. Click ‘Connect’ to log in.
Never mind all the different buttons on the screen, now! You can’t learn everything at the same time, at once! The best is to take it ’step by step’.
Starting Location
Everyones first stop in Second Life used to be: Orientation Island. But Linden Lab has discontinued the usage of it and new residents are currently starting at ‘Help Island’ (if you didn’t select another start community). If you are interested you can still read a little about the old ‘Orientation Island’ here: Orientation Island.
Help Island
If you didn’t select another startingpoint when you registered, your first landingpoint in Second Life (SL) will be ‘Help Island’. This place is not open for everyone: At this place you will meet ‘New Residents’ and ‘Mentors’ ONLY. Once you leave ‘Help Island’ - there is no way to get back there again. Moohaahaa!
‘Help Island’ is a little bit more quiet than other places in SL and here you can take your time to learn the basics. Like how to walk, fly, sit and get your first appearance together. Follow the tutorial that pops up on your screen. Then maybe walk around the island and have a look at the helpful guides at the boards.
What’s great about this place is that here you will often find friendly volunteers: ‘Second Life Mentors’. Ask them if you want help! You can spot the mentors by the title above their names.
When you are ready to leave ‘Help Island’ you can open up your inventory and the folder ‘Library’. In the folder ‘Landmarks’ you will find landmarks to ‘Orientation Island Public’ and ‘Help Island Public’. Both are great places to start! More about that in Newbie Tutorial 2!
Don’t forget to take pictures along the way! Click the ‘Snapshot’ button at the bottom of screen. You can save the pics on your harddrive first (that’s free) and upload them later if you want!
Here is the very first pic I took in Second Life…
Awwww! Hope this makes you feel a liiiittle bit better about your newbie self…
And remember: There is a big, BIG world to explore once you get past the first steps of Second Life.
Good Luck See you ‘inworld’ of Second Life!
Updated: August 2009
