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Win Vista - BOINC Startup
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BilBg Send message Joined: 27 May 07 Posts: 3720 Credit: 9,385,827 RAC: 0 |
1) Windows Vista blocks BOINC at Startup: How can I avoid this? (Don't have to manually "Run blocked program") 2) BOINC Screen Saver gives the Error (can't start): This message is when I start the "boinc.scr" directly. When I use Screen Properties ("Personalize" in Vista) to choose the BOINC Screen Saver the buttons "Settings" and "Preview" don't work. The "Show graphics" button of BOINC Manager works (Shows graphics). |
OzzFan Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 15691 Credit: 84,761,841 RAC: 28 |
They are working on BOINC v6.0 that is supposed to be Vista compatible. Until then, the only workaround for BOINC is to install as a service (so that it doesn't get blocked at startup). The downside to doing so means you won't get the screen saver functionality. Warning, the following suggestion will reduce the security of Vista! Or, alternatively, you can disable User Account Control (UAC). I have three of my five Vista machines with UAC disabled and BOINC isn't blocked and the screen saver works fine. |
John McLeod VII Send message Joined: 15 Jul 99 Posts: 24806 Credit: 790,712 RAC: 0 |
They are working on BOINC v6.0 that is supposed to be Vista compatible. Until then, the only workaround for BOINC is to install as a service (so that it doesn't get blocked at startup). The downside to doing so means you won't get the screen saver functionality. To avoid UAC problems, you also have to install in c:\\BOINC instead of c:\\Program Files\\BOINC. BOINC WIKI |
OzzFan Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 15691 Credit: 84,761,841 RAC: 28 |
They are working on BOINC v6.0 that is supposed to be Vista compatible. Until then, the only workaround for BOINC is to install as a service (so that it doesn't get blocked at startup). The downside to doing so means you won't get the screen saver functionality. Oh yeah! I forgot about that one. The other two I had to do that with and it worked (both startup and screen saver). Thanks John. |
BilBg Send message Joined: 27 May 07 Posts: 3720 Credit: 9,385,827 RAC: 0 |
They are working on BOINC v6.0 that is supposed to be Vista compatible. Until then, the only workaround for BOINC is to install as a service (so that it doesn't get blocked at startup). The downside to doing so means you won't get the screen saver functionality. "The other two..." - you mean "The other two computers?" What exactly you do - just install NOT in "x:\\Program Files\\BOINC" or you have to also disable UAC? Or something more? My installation is in "H:\\Programs.Vis\\Science\\BOINC\\". Vista is on "E:". Can UAC be disabled on per program basis - some kind of "exclude list" or "allowed programs"? |
OzzFan Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 15691 Credit: 84,761,841 RAC: 28 |
"The other two..." - you mean "The other two computers?" Yeah, the other two computers of mine on Vista that I have UAC still enabled for security reasons. What exactly you do - just install NOT in "x:\\Program Files\\BOINC" By default, Vista protects the x:\\Program Files folder to prevent malicious software from installing itself and auto-launching itself at startup as a security measure. BOINC, by default (as most programs) install to the x:\\Program Files folder as they should, but BOINC manipulates it's data in that folder too, which Vista's UAC doesn't like. The workaround is to change the default install of BOINC to your root folder x:\\ instead of x:\\Program Files. If you've already installed BOINC, you can uninstall it, move the entire BOINC folder out of x:\\Program Files and into the root x:\\ (so that it will be x:\\BOINC), then reinstall BOINC to that folder to preserve your WUs, settings and preferences. When installing to x:\\BOINC, UAC doesn't need to be disabled. Can UAC be disabled on per program basis - some kind of "exclude list" I believe there is a way to exclude programs, but they must be approved (or verified) by Microsoft as non-malicious software (or perhaps there's a specific registration process that Microsoft is encouraging). I believe BOINC v6.0 will fix most of this when it gets released. |
John McLeod VII Send message Joined: 15 Jul 99 Posts: 24806 Credit: 790,712 RAC: 0 |
"The other two..." - you mean "The other two computers?" Actually, there isn't a way to disable UAC per process. BOINC WIKI |
BilBg Send message Joined: 27 May 07 Posts: 3720 Credit: 9,385,827 RAC: 0 |
"The other two..." - you mean "The other two computers?" I have to make clear that BOINC/S@H works OK on my computer's Vista OS. The only small problem is Startup - I have to manually "Run blocked program". (The Screen Saver isn't real problem - if I wanna peek I can use "Show graphics" button of BOINC Manager) You say that the BOINC must be installed at root directory of the partition where Vista is installed ("E:" in my case). My installation of BOINC is on different partition ("H:") which has no OS on it - only installed programs. BOINC is not directly in root directory but in "H:\\Programs.Vis\\Science\\BOINC\\". (I have made folders "H:\\Programs.Vis", "H:\\Programs.V64", "H:\\Programs.XP" for installations of programs under different OSes). Does it make any difference if BOINC is in "E:\\BOINC" or in "H:\\Programs.Vis\\Science\\BOINC\\"? Can you estimate the danger of disabling the UAC if I have antivirus and antispyware software installed (0...10)? (0 = no danger ... 10 = big danger) (By the way: in Win XP I didn't reinstall BOINC - I just made shortcut to "H:\\Programs.Vis\\Science\\BOINC\\boincmgr.exe" and BOINC seams to work fine. This was After I had Startup problem in Vista.) P.S. Actually, there isn't a way to disable UAC per process. But Microsoft must have somewhere info about trusted Vendors/programs? |
OzzFan Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 15691 Credit: 84,761,841 RAC: 28 |
I have to make clear that BOINC/S@H works OK on my computer's Vista OS. The reason why you have to manually "run blocked program" is to prevent malware writers the ability to make sure their software runs automatically at startup ensuring the system remains "theirs". Microsoft has changed this with Vista and UAC. With UAC enabled, any program not considered "safe" by Microsoft will be blocked by default (just in case you didn't want it installed at startup). I've seen no way to allow this as a more permanent solution. You say that the BOINC must be installed at root directory of the The reason why BOINC can't be installed in the general \\Program Files folder (or any other program files location) is that UAC protects the entire folder tree so that malicious software writers can't wreak havok on the system (as most current malware does). Can you estimate the danger of disabling the UAC if I have That primarily depends on how well you practice safe computing. Even with the best software installed, it will do little against a user that opens any email attachment, visits questionable sites or runs/downloads questionable software to their system. Assuming you are very well versed in safe computing, disabling UAC will have little impact on the security of your system. If you don't practice any safe computing tactics, then I'd say your danger will be quite high (9-10 on your scale). (By the way: in Win XP I didn't reinstall BOINC - I just made shortcut to That's because XP didn't have security in mind when it was designed. Vista was/is designed from the ground up to be a very secure OS. XP doesn't protect the \\Program Files folder at all, allowing any piece of software to take over your system by default. Since Vista blocks this, it makes it much more difficult for malicious software writers to take over the system at the detriment of legit software having to register as a known safe program with Microsoft to be able to launch automatically. Having MS do this check for you can be a double-edged sword. Do you trust MS enough to make that decision for you? Of course, some semblance of control is better than none (like previous versions of Windows). |
John McLeod VII Send message Joined: 15 Jul 99 Posts: 24806 Credit: 790,712 RAC: 0 |
This is fixed by installing as a service."The other two..." - you mean "The other two computers?" The key is that it is not in the Program Files directory which the UAC protects from writing. No. It just cannot be in a UAC protected directory. You are no worse and no better off than with XP.
AIt depends on the signing of the executables. You have to pay money to bedcome trusted, and you have to meet many other requirements. The BOINC projects run on a shoe string. BOINC WIKI |
OzzFan Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 15691 Credit: 84,761,841 RAC: 28 |
AIt depends on the signing of the executables. You have to pay money to bedcome trusted, and you have to meet many other requirements. The BOINC projects run on a shoe string. I'm sure MS would be willing to set up an "cheaper" or alternate solution for cases such as this if you talk to the right people. I'm sure MS has heard of BOINC, SETI@Home and Folding@Home amongst many others. There has to be a way for them to become "trusted" without the large prices being involved. |
BilBg Send message Joined: 27 May 07 Posts: 3720 Credit: 9,385,827 RAC: 0 |
I think that there is also "ending" problem in Vista - I have to manually Exit the BOINC Manager before restarting the OS. If I don't - the currently running task is interrupted with "Compute error". Does anybody noticed the same? |
OzzFan Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 15691 Credit: 84,761,841 RAC: 28 |
Does anybody noticed the same? No, I don't have that issue on any of the six Vista machines I manage. |
John McLeod VII Send message Joined: 15 Jul 99 Posts: 24806 Credit: 790,712 RAC: 0 |
There have been sporadic reports of this. I don't have any idea why it is happening to some machines. BOINC WIKI |
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