No tasks, no screen saver, no astro pulse, little patience left

Questions and Answers : Windows : No tasks, no screen saver, no astro pulse, little patience left
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Jim Ramos

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Message 1517444 - Posted: 17 May 2014, 14:36:35 UTC

I've been dealing with this for hundreds of hours since December 013. I've read all the available posts and performed all the suggestions including uninstalling/re-installing.

Last night I discovered that I needed to install a bunch of astro pulse programs that the installation didn't download. I did. No change.

I get no new tasks, the screen saver is the standard Boinc logo telling me that nothing is happening. Astro Pulse seems to be dead. Boinc manager tells me that I need 32 MB more of disk space when it is using 132 MB and I have over 800 MB free. The FAQ forum is full of problems of different kinds.

I feel that if Seti@home wants people to volunteer their time and equipment they should give us seamless, problem free software to use.
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Message 1517488 - Posted: 17 May 2014, 15:39:46 UTC - in response to Message 1517444.  

Just a shot in the dark, might want to try installing Lunatics optimized program and see if that corrects the problem. They usually have all the installers needed to run Seti. Can't hurt since it's not running now. Just a thought

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Message 1517527 - Posted: 17 May 2014, 16:18:53 UTC - in response to Message 1517444.  

When going to the computing preferences, what are your settings for "Disk and memory usage"?
Disk: use at most
Disk: leave free at least
Disk: use at most

??

Are you using these preferences, or the local ones in BOINC Manager?
If the latter, use the values from there.

If in total doubt, navigate to your BOINC Data directory (default at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\BOINC\ in Windows XP, it'll be a hidden directory so just fill in that path into Windows Explorer's path bar and hit Enter) and open global_prefs.xml with Notepad. Post the contents here. If global_prefs_override.xml exists, post the contents of that.

Also of use would be your BOINC's start-up messages. To do so, exit BOINC & restart it, then open BOINC Manager, press CTRL+SHIFT+E simultaneously, select Copy all from the window that opens and post the output here.
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Message 1517536 - Posted: 17 May 2014, 16:33:35 UTC

Tried to find Lunatics and I got "page not found" for every link.
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Message 1517546 - Posted: 17 May 2014, 16:57:09 UTC - in response to Message 1517527.  

When going to the computing preferences, what are your settings for "Disk and memory usage"?
Disk: use at most
Disk: leave free at least
Disk: use at most

??

Are you using these preferences, or the local ones in BOINC Manager?
If the latter, use the values from there.

If in total doubt, navigate to your BOINC Data directory (default at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\BOINC\ in Windows XP, it'll be a hidden directory so just fill in that path into Windows Explorer's path bar and hit Enter) and open global_prefs.xml with Notepad. Post the contents here. If global_prefs_override.xml exists, post the contents of that.

Also of use would be your BOINC's start-up messages. To do so, exit BOINC & restart it, then open BOINC Manager, press CTRL+SHIFT+E simultaneously, select Copy all from the window that opens and post the output here.


Disk: use at most 10 GB
Disk: leave free at least 20GB
Disk: use at most 60%

<global_preferences>
<source_project>http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/</source_project>
<source_scheduler>http://setiboinc.ssl.berkeley.edu/sah_cgi/cgi</source_scheduler>

<mod_time>1399254053</mod_time>
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>0</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>0</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>10</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<suspend_cpu_usage>25</suspend_cpu_usage>
<leave_apps_in_memory>0</leave_apps_in_memory>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<max_cpus>0</max_cpus>
<max_ncpus_pct>100</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>50</cpu_usage_limit>
<disk_max_used_gb>10</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_min_free_gb>20</disk_min_free_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>50</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>90</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<work_buf_min_days>2</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.5</work_buf_additional_days>
<confirm_before_connecting>0</confirm_before_connecting>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
<max_bytes_sec_down>90000</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>90000</max_bytes_sec_up>
<daily_xfer_limit_mb>20</daily_xfer_limit_mb>
<daily_xfer_period_days>1</daily_xfer_period_days>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
</global_preferences>

Override

<global_preferences>
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>0</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>0</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>10.000000</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_cpu_usage>25.000000</suspend_cpu_usage>
<start_hour>0.000000</start_hour>
<end_hour>0.000000</end_hour>
<net_start_hour>0.000000</net_start_hour>
<net_end_hour>0.000000</net_end_hour>
<leave_apps_in_memory>0</leave_apps_in_memory>
<confirm_before_connecting>0</confirm_before_connecting>
<hangup_if_dialed>0</hangup_if_dialed>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
<work_buf_min_days>2.000000</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.500000</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_ncpus_pct>100.000000</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60.000000</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<disk_interval>60.000000</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>10.000000</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>60.000000</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>20.000000</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>75.000000</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>10.000000</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>50.000000</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_up>92160.000000</max_bytes_sec_up>
<max_bytes_sec_down>92160.000000</max_bytes_sec_down>
<cpu_usage_limit>50.000000</cpu_usage_limit>
<daily_xfer_limit_mb>20.000000</daily_xfer_limit_mb>
<daily_xfer_period_days>1</daily_xfer_period_days>
</global_preferences>

From BOINC Manager:

5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Starting BOINC client version 7.2.42 for windows_intelx86
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Libraries: libcurl/7.25.0 OpenSSL/1.0.1 zlib/1.2.6
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Data directory: H:\BOINC DATA
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Running under account JimR
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | CUDA: NVIDIA GPU 0: GeForce GT 430 (driver version 331.82, CUDA version 6.0, compute capability 2.1, 1024MB, 985MB available, 269 GFLOPS peak)
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | OpenCL: NVIDIA GPU 0: GeForce GT 430 (driver version 331.82, device version OpenCL 1.1 CUDA, 1024MB, 985MB available, 269 GFLOPS peak)
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Host name: jim-0ac4b9c31f8
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Processor: 2 AuthenticAMD AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+ [Family 15 Model 107 Stepping 2]
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Processor features: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 htt pni cx16 syscall nx lm svm rdtscp 3dnowext 3dnow
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional x86 Edition, Service Pack 3, (05.01.2600.00)
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 3.85 GB virtual
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Disk: 1.95 GB total, 831.00 MB free
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Local time is UTC -5 hours
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Config: don't compute while fsx.exe is running
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Config: don't compute while GTR2.exe is running
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Config: don't compute while LFS.exe is running
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Config: don't compute while NR2003_No_CD.exe is running
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Config: don't compute while Nr2003-NOCD.eXe is running
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | SETI@home | URL http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID 7269736; resource share 100
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | SETI@home | General prefs: from SETI@home (last modified 04-May-2014 20:40:53)
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | SETI@home | Host location: none
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | SETI@home | General prefs: using your defaults
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Reading preferences override file
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Preferences:
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | max memory usage when active: 204.64MB
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | max memory usage when idle: 1023.21MB
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | max disk usage: 0.00GB
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | don't compute while active
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | don't use GPU while active
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | suspend work if non-BOINC CPU load exceeds 25%
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | max download rate: 92160 bytes/sec
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | max upload rate: 92160 bytes/sec
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | (to change preferences, visit a project web site or select Preferences in the Manager)
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Not using a proxy
5/17/2014 11:53:40 AM | | Suspending computation - computer is in use

Thanks for your help. I hope I can get it fixed soon since I only have another 31 years of life left.
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Message 1517547 - Posted: 17 May 2014, 16:58:06 UTC - in response to Message 1517536.  
Last modified: 17 May 2014, 17:03:07 UTC

Yeah, sorry about that. Forgot they are having issues with the provider of that site. I went to Arkyans website and he has the downloads there as well. Here is the link


http://www.arkayn.us/forum/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=cat3

Just make sure that it's the right version either 64 or 32 bit for your system.

Just saw your last post. Lots of configurations and "don't runs when" in there. Hmm, think we are going to need to review all that and see what someone comes up with.


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Message 1517553 - Posted: 17 May 2014, 17:30:06 UTC - in response to Message 1517547.  

Yeah, sorry about that. Forgot they are having issues with the provider of that site. I went to Arkyans website and he has the downloads there as well. Here is the link


http://www.arkayn.us/forum/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=cat3

Just make sure that it's the right version either 64 or 32 bit for your system.

Just saw your last post. Lots of configurations and "don't runs when" in there. Hmm, think we are going to need to review all that and see what someone comes up with.


Zalster


The "Don't compute..." lines are from the preferences. I don't want BOINC to use the GPU while I use those applications to prevent low frames per second. those apps become unstable or unusable if they have to share their memory.
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Message 1517560 - Posted: 17 May 2014, 17:43:58 UTC - in response to Message 1517546.  
Last modified: 17 May 2014, 18:03:04 UTC

Override

<global_preferences>
...
<disk_max_used_gb>10.000000</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>60.000000</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>20.000000</disk_min_free_gb>
...
</global_preferences>


5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Disk: 1.95 GB total, 831.00 MB free

5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Reading preferences override file
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | Preferences:
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | max memory usage when active: 204.64MB
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | max memory usage when idle: 1023.21MB
5/17/2014 11:53:39 AM | | max disk usage: 0.00GB

First off, the last bit. According to BOINC, your override preferences set the maximum disk usage to 0.00GB. I don't see that in the actual posted global_prefs_override.xml file though. But to be sure, open BOINC Manager->Advanced view->Tools->Computing preferences->disk and memory usage. Make sure that the first value is higher than zero.

The other problem you have is that you are close to run out of available disk space.
You tell BOINC in the override preferences to use 60% of total disk space, which according to your event log is 1.95GB. (1.95 * (60 / 100)) * 1024 = 1198.08; (1.95 * 1024) - 1198.08 = 798.72MB. BOINC reports 831 megabyte free, which really only leaves ~32 MB play ground.

You can fix that by changing Disk: use at most to 100%. Or clear room off the drive. Or move the BOINC data directory to a drive that has even more space free.

Although at that moment the "leave at minimum 20GB of drive space free" will kick into play. Change that to 0.02 (20MB) instead.
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Message 1517735 - Posted: 18 May 2014, 1:17:21 UTC - in response to Message 1517560.  

Thanks Ageless. It worked. Changing the 20 MB to .02 did the trick. I still don't have the AstroPulse screen saver, but that may be another issue. If I move the data directory to another disk, how do I link it back to Boinc?

Thanks again
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Message 1517753 - Posted: 18 May 2014, 1:39:25 UTC - in response to Message 1517735.  

If I move the data directory to another disk, how do I link it back to Boinc?

If you're brave, you can do it by changing the path for the DATADIR key in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Space Sciences Laboratory, U.C. Berkeley\BOINC Setup in the Windows registry.
You then move the data directory to the place you put in the registry. However, this may cause problems with permissions not being set correctly on the data directory.

Else you can tell BOINC to use that by uninstalling BOINC through Add/Remove Programs, then reinstalling it. Then in the third screen in the installer, click Advanced, and change the path for the data directory to where you moved/copied the data directory to.


(Apropos, do NOT check Service Install! The image is just for example purposes, so you know what it looks like.)

First exit BOINC completely.
Next move or copy the data directory to elsewhere.
Then uninstall/reinstall BOINC and put the new path in.
Following the steps that way you make sure you set the correct permissions on the data directory.
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Message 1518555 - Posted: 20 May 2014, 3:17:21 UTC - in response to Message 1517753.  

Thanks again. I'd rather edit the registry. The permissions are not an issue for me. If I reinstall, it will reset everything to defaults and I'll have to do it all over again.
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Message 1518621 - Posted: 20 May 2014, 6:48:57 UTC - in response to Message 1518555.  

The permissions are not an issue for me.

With permissions, I did not mean permissions for you to run your computer, or to do things on it. With permissions I meant for BOINC to be able to read/write to the directory and for the processes under BOINC to start/stop applications in the directory. Those permissions are set when you install through the BOINC installer.

If I reinstall, it will reset everything to defaults and I'll have to do it all over again.

What do you think will reset? When you uninstall/reinstall BOINC, or when you do an upgrade install of BOINC, all data in the BOINC data directory will be left in place. The data directory will not be removed, tasks that had been in progress and written at least one checkpoint will continue from that checkpoint at a next start. In not one of the recommended BOINC versions has there ever been (v3.xx till present 7.2.42) that the contents of the data directory were affected in any way by uninstalling BOINC & reinstalling it at a later time.
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Questions and Answers : Windows : No tasks, no screen saver, no astro pulse, little patience left


 
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