Using Bonic with Vista

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Message 690399 - Posted: 10 Dec 2007, 18:54:22 UTC

I'm switching to my new computer here a few days. It will have the OS Vista. Are there any issues using Vista with Bonic I should know about?

Also, I currently have a P4 1.6Mhz lol I know slow. My new one will have a Pentium Duo 2 2.13MHz will I notice a major difference in the time the units are finished or will I just get a bigger unit if my processing power is greater?

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Message 690447 - Posted: 10 Dec 2007, 23:19:38 UTC - in response to Message 690399.  

I'm switching to my new computer here a few days. It will have the OS Vista. Are there any issues using Vista with Bonic I should know about?


Yes, there are known issues with Vista and BOINC. First you should install BOINC into a folder outside of C:\\Program Files, such as C:\\BOINC. Secondly, there are known problems with the screensaver graphics. There are also reports of Vista blocking one of the BOINC components. However, I always install BOINC in service mode and never encountered this.

The BOINC core client v6.0 will be designed with Vista compatibility in mind, so these problems should be solved when that version is released.

Also, I currently have a P4 1.6Mhz lol I know slow. My new one will have a Pentium Duo 2 2.13MHz will I notice a major difference in the time the units are finished or will I just get a bigger unit if my processing power is greater?


Yes, you will notice a huge boost in the crunch times! The Conroe-based micro architecture was already significantly better than the last generation of 3.0+ Ghz Pentium 4s, and will be even more so compared to your old 1.6 GHz part. The work units are handed out randomly regardless of the host speed so you will definitely see this change.
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Message 690476 - Posted: 11 Dec 2007, 0:15:41 UTC - in response to Message 690399.  
Last modified: 11 Dec 2007, 0:19:17 UTC

I'm switching to my new computer here a few days.


Are you keeping your old-reliable for fun?

IF you are going to run BOINC as a **SERVICE**, then it had a problem where it would not stop when user was active like it was supposed to. See the begining of this thread:
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/forum_thread.php?id=1836&nowrap=true#10524

It may have been resolved (sort of) by adding an additional process:
see here
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Message 690596 - Posted: 11 Dec 2007, 6:06:36 UTC

Ohhh, interesting stuff! (Am a Vista user on both my home rig and laptop)

Question to AlphaLaser (or whom ever may know):
Does putting BOINC in it’s own folder outside the C:\\Program Files solve the occasional shutdown/re-start issues that I have? (Sometimes, despite the registry slow-down hack, it will trash underway wu’s as well as a few other ‘ready-to-start' wus)

Also, I am running 5.10.20 in my laptop, 5.10.13 in the desktop rig. Should I be brave (stupid?) and jump to 6.0 now, or wait until its out of Beta.. (Just so ya know, I also crunch Einstein and Rosetta, if that matters for the upgrade)

Thanks.
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Message 690616 - Posted: 11 Dec 2007, 8:40:02 UTC - in response to Message 690476.  

I'm switching to my new computer here a few days.


Are you keeping your old-reliable for fun?

IF you are going to run BOINC as a **SERVICE**, then it had a problem where it would not stop when user was active like it was supposed to. See the begining of this thread:
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/forum_thread.php?id=1836&nowrap=true#10524

It may have been resolved (sort of) by adding an additional process:
see here

Yeah my old-reliable will be just for fun. Maybe the video card blew up today.
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Message 690618 - Posted: 11 Dec 2007, 9:30:12 UTC
Last modified: 11 Dec 2007, 9:30:25 UTC

Here is what I have found worked for me in addition to what has been said previously by others:
When using Vista make sure you have 2GB or more of RAM and set your swap file Minimum and Maximum size to 1.5 or 2.0 GB.
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Message 690630 - Posted: 11 Dec 2007, 11:11:10 UTC
Last modified: 11 Dec 2007, 11:14:13 UTC

Here is what works for me: I don't use Vista period. Why in the world would anyone "upgrade" to an OS that is over-bloated with seldom used features, requires more disk space, RAM and processor power than previous M$ OSes, has old and newly introduced vulnerabilities and costs more than it is worth? That's beyond me.

For a fun comparison:
If this was say Windoze 98, this is Vista.

[edit] URLs [/edit]
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Message 690726 - Posted: 11 Dec 2007, 23:32:46 UTC - in response to Message 690630.  

Here is what works for me: I don't use Vista period. Why in the world would anyone "upgrade" to an OS that is over-bloated with seldom used features, requires more disk space, RAM and processor power than previous M$ OSes, has old and newly introduced vulnerabilities and costs more than it is worth? That's beyond me.


That's quite funny. I remember them saying the exact same thing when Windows XP was first released. One XP vulnerability was that XP could be compromised within minutes of going online (even with dial up). People couldn't stand the new colorful interface (felt that it was slowing down the system and unnecessary) and required too much disk space compared to the popular OSes of the time (Win2K and Win98SE). And of course, XP required more RAM and processing power than either OS. XP was claimed to be a hog when it was first released.
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Message 690730 - Posted: 11 Dec 2007, 23:39:22 UTC - in response to Message 690726.  



That's quite funny. I remember them saying the exact same thing when Windows XP was first released. One XP vulnerability was that XP could be compromised within minutes of going online (even with dial up). People couldn't stand the new colorful interface (felt that it was slowing down the system and unnecessary) and required too much disk space compared to the popular OSes of the time (Win2K and Win98SE). And of course, XP required more RAM and processing power than either OS. XP was claimed to be a hog when it was first released.


Really, I agree completely. What do we need with XP or Vista when we had a perfectly good OS in Windows ME!!! :)



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Message 690743 - Posted: 12 Dec 2007, 0:52:31 UTC - in response to Message 690730.  

Really, I agree completely. What do we need with XP or Vista when we had a perfectly good OS in Windows ME!!! :)

Well, I had a play with my old Win 3.11 WfWg system and it still worked fine. What's more, no viruses and no anti-virus needed!

It did look and feel rather impoverished compared to today's mainstream Linux distros ;-)

Cheers,
Martin


(ps: And yes, I do play with more recent MS up to WinXP... But not by choice...)


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Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
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Message 690747 - Posted: 12 Dec 2007, 1:05:33 UTC

I installed BOINC on my new Vista machine a couple of weeks ago and have had no problems with it. Installed as a regular program, not as a service. I also don't use the screensaver so I have no idea if that works OK or not.
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Message 690777 - Posted: 12 Dec 2007, 2:45:34 UTC - in response to Message 690730.  
Last modified: 12 Dec 2007, 2:46:30 UTC

Really, I agree completely. What do we need with XP or Vista when we had a perfectly good OS in Windows ME!!! :)


http://members.shaw.ca/dessident/images/windows-cement.jpg
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Message 690779 - Posted: 12 Dec 2007, 3:19:58 UTC - in response to Message 690596.  

...
Also, I am running 5.10.20 in my laptop, 5.10.13 in the desktop rig. Should I be brave (stupid?) and jump to 6.0 now, or wait until its out of Beta.. (Just so ya know, I also crunch Einstein and Rosetta, if that matters for the upgrade)

Thanks.

The latest Alpha version is 5.10.30, the 6.x test builds haven't even started Alpha testing yet. I suggest you wait at least until a 6.x appears on the all versions page before you risk it.
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Message 690881 - Posted: 12 Dec 2007, 16:35:15 UTC - in response to Message 690630.  

Here is what works for me: I don't use Vista period. Why in the world would anyone "upgrade" to an OS that is over-bloated with seldom used features, requires more disk space, RAM and processor power than previous M$ OSes, has old and newly introduced vulnerabilities and costs more than it is worth? That's beyond me.

For a fun comparison:
If this was say Windoze 98, this is Vista.

[edit] URLs [/edit]
Greetings,
Vista has more room. lol. Well I like Windows 98 but it has no support. And I love XP but they are gonna go to no support in 2009 so I had no choice. I didn't want it. I need a third choice that is compatible with all my programs.
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Message 690883 - Posted: 12 Dec 2007, 16:51:49 UTC - in response to Message 690596.  

Does putting BOINC in it’s own folder outside the C:\\Program Files solve the occasional shutdown/re-start issues that I have? (Sometimes, despite the registry slow-down hack, it will trash underway wu’s as well as a few other ‘ready-to-start' wus)


The problem with the Program Files directory is that it is write-protected in Vista. Here's another thread which discusses the BOINC/Vista compatibility issues in more detail.
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Message 690885 - Posted: 12 Dec 2007, 16:57:45 UTC - in response to Message 690883.  

Does putting BOINC in it’s own folder outside the C:\\Program Files solve the occasional shutdown/re-start issues that I have? (Sometimes, despite the registry slow-down hack, it will trash underway wu’s as well as a few other ‘ready-to-start' wus)


The problem with the Program Files directory is that it is write-protected in Vista. Here's another thread which discusses the BOINC/Vista compatibility issues in more detail.


Just to note, the Program Files is only write protected when UAC (User Account Control) is turned on. When UAC is turned off, Vista works just like XP before it, and is less secure without it.
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Message 690956 - Posted: 13 Dec 2007, 0:18:26 UTC - in response to Message 690883.  

Does putting BOINC in it’s own folder outside the C:\\Program Files solve the occasional shutdown/re-start issues that I have? (Sometimes, despite the registry slow-down hack, it will trash underway wu’s as well as a few other ‘ready-to-start' wus)


The problem with the Program Files directory is that it is write-protected in Vista. Here's another thread which discusses the BOINC/Vista compatibility issues in more detail.


I did install to the program files directory and do have the User Access Control (or whatever they call it) turned on. I had to give the program administrative permissions which means everytime I start it I get that dimming screen and the confirmation dialog. No biggie since I don't start it that often. It does not auto-start on boot nor do I use the screensaver which simplifies things. I'm not sure why that "vitualization" thing didn't kick in, I'm still figuring out Vista.

This new security setup seems like a hodge-podge of patches to attempt to fix an inherently weak foundation. The problem is that Windows was, from the beginning, always meant to be a single-user system where the user had full (administrative) control. Trying to turn that into a multiuser environment with limited access and backwards compatibility is quite a challenge.

Linux has the advantage here - it was always multi-user.

OT Vista note: One of the biggest peeves I've had with it so far is that it does not allow remote sessions without disconnecting the user logged in at the machine. I would have sworn that Vista Ultimate was supposed to allow that.

I declared it a bug and thus felt entitled to "fix it" ;-)



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Message 691172 - Posted: 13 Dec 2007, 19:18:44 UTC - in response to Message 690958.  

Well it is installed not sure if its working yet. I think its getting reporting errors. Oh well not as bad as when I tried to install Itunes. lol My DVD drive dissapeared. :( don't these guys and gals over at Microsoft use a Ipod lol
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Message 691813 - Posted: 15 Dec 2007, 18:05:54 UTC - in response to Message 690881.  
Last modified: 15 Dec 2007, 18:11:58 UTC

And I love XP but they are gonna go to no support in 2009 so I had no choice. I didn't want it. I need a third choice that is compatible with all my programs.


That's not exactly true. MS's support for XP will officially continue until around 2014, but the sale of the OS is gonna stop around June 2008. I believe that individual users and especially the corporations have spoken decisively here. And if my limited experience with Vista is any indication, XP, a mature system, will go further into the future.

My 2 cents!

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Message 691855 - Posted: 15 Dec 2007, 22:12:56 UTC - in response to Message 691172.  

Well it is installed not sure if its working yet. I think its getting reporting errors. Oh well not as bad as when I tried to install Itunes. lol My DVD drive dissapeared. :( don't these guys and gals over at Microsoft use a Ipod lol


Based on your two good returned results, it looks like you've got all the wrinkles ironed out.
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