I started with Seti in 1999. Left after the first BOINC version - it just dragged my computer to a crawl no matter how I adjusted it. Back now after another email asking me to return. I've tried but I'm totally fed up with all the software problems. The latest incarnation of the screensaver won't go off the screen! It just hangs - the cursor moves but the bloody screen won't disappear. I have to hit reset and reboot. I'm totally over it. PS: Running XP. If you don't make it easy for user's Seti - it won't happen. Personally I think it was a mistake going with BOINC.

It was going with BOINC, or going bust. Without BOINC, Seti would've died as it was out of money.

Anyway, you don't have to run the screen saver to do science here. The Seti application (and BOINC) will happily run without the screen saver on, the monitor off and do science anyway.

A hanging screen saver is usually the result of outdated videocard drivers, outdated DirectX, outdated motherboard chipset drivers, etc.

[edit]: found link to Why classic SETI@home is closing down and other facts of life. Enjoy.[/edit]

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..... Personally I think it was a mistake going with BOINC.

BOINC runs well on about 500 000 computers worldwide.

And yes - you don't have to run the BOINC screen saver - it does not help the computations in any way -
run any screen saver you like or no screen saver at all -
just make in power profile the monitor to sleep after e.g. 15 minutes.

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- ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
 

There have been some fixes for the freeze that were put into the code. Make certain that you are on at least 6.6.38 (or better 6.10.x alpha test code).

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BOINC WIKI

And yes - you don't have to run the BOINC screen saver - it does not help the computations in any way -
run any screen saver you like or no screen saver at all -
just make in power profile the monitor to sleep after e.g. 15 minutes.

In fact, I would imagine that running the screen saver would slow down the processing of the data because rendering 3D graphics takes some computing power.

First thing is first, does your computer meet the system requirements to run BOINC? (http://boinc.berkeley.edu/wiki/System_requirements) I can't imagine trying to use the Internet with a PC that does not, but I'm not going to assume anything. If you are running WinXP, the memory requirement is more like 512MB or 1GB, if Vista, double that.

If your hardware passes muster, Ageless is right, check to make sure you have the latest drivers for all your hardware installed. This also includes, surprisingly, CPU and sound card in addition to the devices Ageless mentioned.

Also John mentioned to make sure you are running the latest stable BOINC version (6.6.38) from http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download.php since snags are expected from the developmental version.

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