Some kind of error happened..

Questions and Answers : Preferences : Some kind of error happened..

Author	Message
Vlad Send message Joined: 6 Apr 09 Posts: 3 Credit: 169,022 RAC: 0	Message 889347 - Posted: 29 Apr 2009, 4:30:33 UTC Last modified: 29 Apr 2009, 4:38:32 UTC
	Hi all, I am kind of new to all this and today something weird/bad happened to one of my computer. I had 2 work units running and both had about 96% of progress done. Then, all of the sudden my PC froze and was not responsive at all. I shut it down by pressing power button, nothing else worked. When It restarted, for first few minutes my progress was same as before, but then out of nowhere on one of my WUs. progress fell to almost 0%! Meanwhile elapsed time is same at around 267 hours. My deadline is May 6 and I obviously won't make it, given my progress level. Other work unit stayed the same. This is the work Unit in trouble http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/result.php?resultid=1198585543 I would like to know your opinions on why it happened and is there any way my WU could be saved? Also, I wasn't sure if this is right section to ask questions like that, so mods please redirect my post to where it could belong. Thanx in advance.
	ID: 889347 ·

Ageless Send message Joined: 9 Jun 99 Posts: 11638 Credit: 2,005,164 RAC: 4,070	Message 889378 - Posted: 29 Apr 2009, 7:38:41 UTC - in response to Message 889347.
	PCs don't just freeze over nothing, there's usually an underlying problem for that. Such as heat (checked the dust accumulation inside that computer?) or real hardware trouble (bad CPU, RAM, hard drive or power supply). The task restarting from zero indicates it couldn't find its last checkpoint. Which may indicate trouble with your hard drive. I would check the PC first, before even wondering about a task that is sent out with redundancy anyway (It will be crunched by someone else if you can't do it, no science will go lost). ____________ Jord - BOINC FAQ Service - BOINC User Wiki Real is just a matter of perception.
	ID: 889378 ·

Vlad Send message Joined: 6 Apr 09 Posts: 3 Credit: 169,022 RAC: 0	Message 889413 - Posted: 29 Apr 2009, 11:08:34 UTC - in response to Message 889378.
	PCs don't just freeze over nothing, there's usually an underlying problem for that. Such as heat (checked the dust accumulation inside that computer?) or real hardware trouble (bad CPU, RAM, hard drive or power supply). The task restarting from zero indicates it couldn't find its last checkpoint. Which may indicate trouble with your hard drive. I would check the PC first, before even wondering about a task that is sent out with redundancy anyway (It will be crunched by someone else if you can't do it, no science will go lost). Hard drive could be the problem, since I did freeze couple times during last few months because of that reason. This computer is a Core 2 Due Laptop about 2 years old. Now, just couple days ago, I purchased a new computer, i7 920 desktop and I was wondering is there a way I can transfer this particular task into my new faster computer? I know it will easily be able to crunch it in matter of maybe few days. Otherwise, there is no point for me to even try to do it all over again on my laptop.
	ID: 889413 ·

Ageless Send message Joined: 9 Jun 99 Posts: 11638 Credit: 2,005,164 RAC: 4,070	Message 889426 - Posted: 29 Apr 2009, 12:04:30 UTC - in response to Message 889413.
	Not without moving the whole BOINC Data directory (with all files and sub-directories) to the new computer, installing BOINC there and having it point to the data directory you just moved. The old computer must not be allowed to contact Seti after that or things will go awry. And even then it's not a 100% full-proof way of doing things. ____________ Jord - BOINC FAQ Service - BOINC User Wiki Real is just a matter of perception.
	ID: 889426 ·

Vlad Send message Joined: 6 Apr 09 Posts: 3 Credit: 169,022 RAC: 0	Message 889458 - Posted: 29 Apr 2009, 14:59:41 UTC - in response to Message 889426.
	Not without moving the whole BOINC Data directory (with all files and sub-directories) to the new computer, installing BOINC there and having it point to the data directory you just moved. The old computer must not be allowed to contact Seti after that or things will go awry. And even then it's not a 100% full-proof way of doing things. Ok. I guess then, there is no point of doing this. My other work unit just completed the task and I have pending credit right now. Meanwhile, my new PC is working on 8 units at once (I guess that is because it has 8 cores?). As far as the task I have trouble with, perhaps I should just abort it since it is at 5% progress right now and there is no way I can finish it before May 6. :(
	ID: 889458 ·

Questions and Answers : Preferences : Some kind of error happened..