SETI@Home freezing my laptop

Questions and Answers : Preferences : SETI@Home freezing my laptop

Author	Message
UFO Pilot Send message Joined: 16 Jul 99 Posts: 2 Credit: 43,125 RAC: 2	Message 972405 - Posted: 20 Feb 2010, 19:16:15 UTC
	I have a Dell Inspiron laptop with a dual-core CPU, 3 GB RAM, 200+ GB Hard Drive, 64-bit operating system running Windows 7 Home Premium and SETI@Home seems to regularly freeze my operating system, causing me to have to do a hard boot down. I also run the Einstein@Home project on the same laptop, which does not do this. Ideas? I really don't want to stop participating in SETI! Also, this does not occur on my desktop, which is an older model PC running Windows XP. Thanks! ____________
	ID: 972405 ·

Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 11987 Credit: 17,926,953 RAC: 60,415	Message 972421 - Posted: 20 Feb 2010, 19:37:12 UTC - in response to Message 972405.
	Different science apps stress the CPU in different ways. If your laptop is freezing up, there's a good chance that it is overheating, which is why I personally don't like to run BOINC on laptops (which are designed for portability and not performance). My best suggestion would to be watch your temps and possibly limit BOINC's CPU usage on the laptop. ____________
	ID: 972421 ·

UFO Pilot Send message Joined: 16 Jul 99 Posts: 2 Credit: 43,125 RAC: 2	Message 972444 - Posted: 20 Feb 2010, 21:10:55 UTC - in response to Message 972421.
	Thanks for the reply and the info. I guess I just won't run SETI@Home on my laptop, although I seem to not have any trouble with Einstein@Home. BTW, I don't know how to check my laptop's temp --- is there an actual software way to do this or do I just put my hand by the fan exhaust? ____________
	ID: 972444 ·

Gundolf Jahn Send message Joined: 19 Sep 00 Posts: 3075 Credit: 341,354 RAC: 88	Message 972477 - Posted: 20 Feb 2010, 22:11:59 UTC - in response to Message 972444.
	With my laptop, Einstein is heavier on the CPU than SETI. Are you using the BOINC screensaver? If so, try if running without avoids the freezes. Otherwise, see if TThrottle from the BOINC add-on software page works for you. Gruß, Gundolf ____________ Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz) SETI@home classic workunits 3,758 SETI@home classic CPU time 66,520 hours
	ID: 972477 ·

BilBg Send message Joined: 27 May 07 Posts: 2019 Credit: 3,011,308 RAC: 6,199	Message 972688 - Posted: 21 Feb 2010, 6:48:38 UTC - in response to Message 972444.
	Thanks for the reply and the info. I guess I just won't run SETI@Home on my laptop, although I seem to not have any trouble with Einstein@Home. BTW, I don't know how to check my laptop's temp --- is there an actual software way to do this or do I just put my hand by the fan exhaust? For info on Maximum CPU temperature look: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=58479&nowrap=true#970237 How to check the Temperature of the CPU look: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=58757&nowrap=true#969863 ____________ - ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
	ID: 972688 ·

Steve Send message Joined: 22 Mar 10 Posts: 1 Credit: 4,661 RAC: 0	Message 987069 - Posted: 6 Apr 2010, 13:23:57 UTC - in response to Message 972405.
	I had the same problem and solved it by not using the BOINC screensaver
	ID: 987069 ·

Questions and Answers : Preferences : SETI@Home freezing my laptop