SETI won't obey preferences

Hi. I have my preferences set to no computing when computer is in use. However some CUDA WU's continue working even when I have returned to the computer. I am forced to abort these WU's in order to use my computer. Are there any solutions?

Thanks
____________

I have it set to "suspend GPU while computer is in use - YES"; this has been the setting I have always used.

Is this correct?
____________

Check in Windows Task Manager->Processes whether or not boinctray.exe is running.
If it isn't, start it from your BOINC directory, which by default is at C:\Program Files\BOINC\

Despite its name this program does not show any icons in the system tray. It's the idle tracking program that BOINC uses to check if you're still using the keyboard or mouse. When it's not running, neither BOINC or any science application will follow your preferences to do not work when your computer is in use.

Also, make sure that your run based of preferences: BOINC Manager->Advanced view->Activity menu->Run based on preferences.

Apropos:

I am forced to abort these WU's in order to use my computer.

Yes, boinctray.exe is running according to task manager.

Yes, my preferences are at run based on preferences.

I tried suspending the work unit but it kept running.

I have not tried suspending BOIC, SETI, or exiting SETI yet. I could try that. By "forced", I meant that I had to do something to be able to use my computer.
____________

I notice that you have 2 computers. If it is the one with BOINC 6.6 installed, you might want to upgrade it to 6.10.21 from http://boinc.ssl.berkeley.edu/dl

It's the one with 6.10.18 installed. The other one is my old computer, which has been reformatted and is not running SETI at the moment.
____________

So just to be clear - the WU will say "suspended - user active", but the elapsed time is still going up and the computer is very slow in responding. Suspending the WU does nothing. Only when I abort the WU does the computer return to normal.

Thank you to everyone who has been helping me attempt to resolve this issue.
____________

And with 'abort', you mean using the Abort button in Tasks tab of BOINC manager? Or do you terminate the process via Task manager?

If the former, it sounds strange that the manager/client can stop the application in one case (abort) but not the other (suspend).

What is your preference setting for "Leave applications in memory while suspended?"

Does a reboot (without aborting) change the behaviour?

Gruß,
Gundolf
____________
Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)

SETI@home classic workunits 3,758
SETI@home classic CPU time 66,520 hours

I abort via the Commands section at the left hand side of the screen in the Tasks section.

Under preferences I do not have the box for "Use GPU use while computer is in use" checked.

Also, I do not have the box for "Leave applications in memory while suspended" checked.

I have not tried rebooting to cure the issue; however, I do not want to do this every time SETI is causing these problems - I would prefer it did not intrude on my computing. Running as a screensaver during idle time is fine; I would just like it to suspend itself when I come back to the computer and it isn't doing that.

Thank you for your help!
____________

Running as a screensaver during idle time is fine

I had been editing local preferences only, not web-based (or at least I had not unchecked the "use nVidia GPU if present"). I have now done that, and cleared the local preferences as well. Thank you for your help Jord!

The only screensaver running is BOINC. By "running as a screensaver" I meant runnning SETI when I was not using the computer. It actually goes to blank screen after 20 minutes, but SETI keeps running until I start working on the computer again. Sorry if I'm not being clear here. I was not aware that leaving the "use Nvidia GPU" meant that it would run when I am trying to use the computer - my local preferences were set to have BOINC running only when the computer had been idle for 3 minutes, and I thought that was what was supposed to happen. I obviously do not understand what the CUDA is for and how it is used by SETI.

Anyway I have followed all your instructions; unfortunately there are no work units available right now but when I get some I will let you know how things are going.

My sincerest thanks to arkayn, Jord (Ageless), John McLeod VII and Gundolf Jahn for your patience in helping me sort this out - you are the greatest and I really appreciate everything you've done!
____________

I obviously do not understand what the CUDA is for and how it is used by SETI.

What is CUDA or CAL (Brook+)?
CUDA and CAL (Brook+), the next best thing since sliced bread... or so they want you to believe.

Both these versions are a method of doing calculations with the use of your videocard's GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit. CUDA is used by Nvidia GPUs only, while CAL is used by ATI/AMD GPUs only.

Inside the GPU there are multiple stream- or shader processors. While these are usually used to render 3D graphics in detail onto your monitor, they can also be used to do other calculations with.

That's what is being used on some of the projects running under BOINC. Using CUDA & CAL calculations will go much faster than on your CPU, since all the stream processors inside the GPU will attack the task at the same time, running all the calculations in parallel. This in contrast with how they run on your CPU, where one task runs on one CPU or core only.

While running work on your CPU(s) can already slow your computer down, imagine what will happen when you also run work on your GPU. It's already in use by your system to show you everything that happens on your screen, adding a load of work onto what it should do can cause stability problems.

Everything seems fine now. Of course SETI isn't sending me any CUDA WUs now, but I can come back to the computer and as soon as I touch the keyboard BOINC switches off and there are no issues with the computer being slow. So resetting the online preferences was the answer.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me - your patience and courtesy was much appreciated.

Brett
____________