Unable to run BOINC as standard user

Questions and Answers : Windows : Unable to run BOINC as standard user
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DaveTrapnell

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Message 1542559 - Posted: 16 Jul 2014, 13:02:53 UTC

I installed BOINC on a new Windows 8.1 computer while logged in as a standard user, as is customary. I selected "allow all users to control BOINC". It elevated itself to an administrator account for the installation, as is also customary. Once completed, it would not attach to SETI or any project. I found it necessary to exit BOINC, then select "Run as administrator" to get it to attach to SETI and run tasks. Now, when I start the system, it does not find any projects or tasks. It says, "Unable to connect to client". It is necessary to exit BOINC, and select "Run as administrator" for it to find any projects or run any tasks. I find this inconvenient. Will BOINC only run as an administrator? I had a similar problem with Windows 7, which is why I stopped running it.
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Message 1542804 - Posted: 16 Jul 2014, 22:24:40 UTC - in response to Message 1542559.  

Could you try to install BOINC 7.4.8 and see if that acts the same? If it does, the developers will want to know. You can post feedback in this thread.

BOINC 7.4.8 64bit
BOINC 7.4.8 32bit

7.4.8 is technically a development version, but at the same time a release client version. It's safe to work with.
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Message 1542830 - Posted: 17 Jul 2014, 0:15:07 UTC - in response to Message 1542559.  

It has been my experience that in order for standard users to run BOINC, you must add the standard user to the "boinc_admins" security group created by the BOINC installer. By default, it only adds standard users to "boinc_users" as this is supposed to provide the ability to monitor BOINC client, but not enough permissions to actually run the apps.
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Message 1542833 - Posted: 17 Jul 2014, 0:21:15 UTC - in response to Message 1542830.  

True perhaps for the past BOINC versions, but 7.4 has the whole permission thing and user accounts stuff all redone. The BOINC groups are now only added when you install BOINC as a service, not when installing it as the normal user install.

Which is why I ask to test with 7.4.8, without manually adding any user to whatever group.
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Message 1542836 - Posted: 17 Jul 2014, 0:23:23 UTC - in response to Message 1542833.  

That's good to know Ageless. Now I'll have to see how 7.4.x does it so I can fix my GPOs on my local home domain. heh :-)
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Message 1543388 - Posted: 17 Jul 2014, 20:18:45 UTC - in response to Message 1542836.  

OK, yes, I have just done a whole install-uninstall range to find a bug in the present BOINC (it won't remove the groups and accounts on an uninstall under certain circumstances).

I've ended up with a system with BOINC 7.4.8 running as a non-service, yet also no localgroup groupnames and usernames for BOINC. So it really only uses those on a service installation these days (7.4.8+), and thus it's no longer needed to tell people to add their users to any of the BOINC groups.
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Message 1543955 - Posted: 18 Jul 2014, 18:10:40 UTC - in response to Message 1542804.  

Certainly, I will. I didn't know other versions were available. I just installed the version they sent. Also, my concern is that Group Policy settings, which I believe this involves, are not necessarily changed by reinstalling or even removing and reinstalling the software. It is my understanding that the uninstall must explicitly remove these settings, which may have been set to default values by the OS at installation time if they were not explicitly set by the installation. This is further complicated by the fact that the Standard version of Windows, as opposed to the Pro version, lacks the Group Policy Editor, which can view and make GP changes. Although these settings can be changed in the Standard version, it is an ugly mess involving command line utilities. Perhaps this is no longer the case. My information may be out of date. Is it possible that someone has a script that will undo any errant settings and make the correct ones on any (reasonable) version of Windows for any (viable) version of BOINC?
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Message 1543963 - Posted: 18 Jul 2014, 18:53:47 UTC - in response to Message 1542804.  

Thanks. This seems to have completely eliminated the problem. I installed 7.4.8 (64) as a standard user without uninstalling the previous version, although I did shut it down first, probably unnecessarily. The installation elevated itself, installed without any issues, and (I checked the box) started running and found all its data without any issues or protest. In order to be sure it was not running elevated, I shut it down and started it again which occurred without problem. I have not tried rebooting, because the installation of BOINC needed to shut down Firefox, and I just got it running again with all the tabs I was using, so I will try rebooting later.
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Message 1544082 - Posted: 19 Jul 2014, 0:32:49 UTC - in response to Message 1543955.  

Also, my concern is that Group Policy settings, which I believe this involves, are not necessarily changed by reinstalling or even removing and reinstalling the software.


Incorrect. The BOINC installer creates local security groups, but does not require Group Policy. I created a group policy for my home domain to automatically add Domain Users to the boinc_admin security group so any user that logs into one of my several Windows machines will be able to run BOINC without issue.
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Message 1548607 - Posted: 27 Jul 2014, 19:45:55 UTC

I setup the current download of Bonic/Seti last week on a new to me Windows 8/8.1 box (just upgraded). It wouldn't find the bonic seti clients when I logged on as a standard user. Since I was still struggling with other issues I just started logging on as an Admin and went on about my business.

I run a workgroup type setup with no domain systems running (I don't have a windows server anyway).

So it supposed to install and run under Windows 8 just like it did under Windows 7 where I can run the Bonic/Seti setup under a standard user logon?

I have 2 Windows 7 boxes and 1 Windows 8.1 box at this time. Only the Win8 has this issue.

I don't remember if I had to hand add the userids to the Seti groups or not. So should my experience be, install and go, no tinkering needed?

Thanks.
Tom
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Message 1548910 - Posted: 28 Jul 2014, 12:20:11 UTC

I think I have a similar problem.

I'm brand new to SETI, decided to install it yesterday and had nothing but problems ever since.

At first boinc.exe wouldn't run, so I uninstalled and reinstalled and then it ran okay for a few hours, then I restarted my comp and now it's the same problem, boinc.exe won't run again. I looked for the error file and it is empty. I'm not a huge tech expert so if it's going to be this hard to get it working I'm close to giving up on the whole idea.

Perhaps it is because I have a standard user account? I have BOINC v7.2.42 and Windows 7. Should I try installing v7.4 too?
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Questions and Answers : Windows : Unable to run BOINC as standard user


 
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