i would like to say thanks to OzzFan1 for the information you sent to my statement!
for ageless,
What is your problem? If you don't have problems with this boinc-software then be happy and don't say that i have lied here - THIS IS NOT THE TRUTH!
For your information, i tried the boinc software on 2 different pc's, both are pentium 4, 2.4 GHz with enough memory space and in excellent condition with well working windows (XP-pro and 2000-pro). One computer is packed with several applications and the other is only for my business in a standard configuration. Both pc's never had heating problems and the windows ist stable before i tried to use boinc. Now i have removed boinc from my business pc and i will remove it from this machine as well, because i have several problems when boinc is working.
The problems are black screens after a while of NOT WORKING, because i still can get no new work units! I have a DSL-connection and a flat rate, so my computer is able to try to get wu's about 16 hours a day! Sometimes the computer stops or is not able to open other applications. When i stop boinc, everything is working again!

I changed the boinc-settings but nothing works, for example, when i activate the boinc-screensaver, the pc did not come back to normal business, i have to make a restart!

ageless, this is my experience with boinc, if you don't want to hear it, then don't read it! I really don't need your answers.

The reason i write here in a foreign language is to give my experiences to other users. I really like the idea of SETI and climateprediction! This is a very sad thing for me to end this projects because of a software with problems!

And i agree to maddenc, a good statement!
Thank's

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OzzFan1:

Thank you very much for your cogent response. I should of course have mentioned that I am running XP, but I'm glad to know the shut-down problem is not unique. I will try again with the latest version of BOINC and hope for the best.

The "Battle for the CPU" and extra-logo issues may have been isolated incidents. If they crop up again, I'll be back. Is it best to start a fresh thread for the problem? I think that's what I'll do regarding the dish-logo.

Finally, thank you for avoiding condescension. I realize how frustrating it must be for adepts like yourself to see folks like me, who have never invested serious time in the arcana of either seti or BOINC, blundering around the new interface as if the sky were falling. Call us the blissful idiots: we spent years "doing good" without having to apply much effort, and now we feel we've been forcibly turned into beta-testers, into the early-adopters that we are (I am) most decidedly not. I am grateful for having seen posts like yours on this and other threads that assured me help was there for the asking, and most particularly grateful to find your response clear, factual, jargon-free and nonjudgmental.

Chris Madden

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a) get one work unit and after that, boinc is not able to get more seti-wu's

With you crunching a CPDN unit on unknown hardware that isn't so strange. Once you have a CPDN unit, only crunch that one or make sure you have a very powerfull PC.

b) climateprediction start for 5 minutes and then it ends with an error, every day, after that, error "no work"

Complain at Climate Prediction forums.

c) nearly 5.000 work units of old seti is not added to my "new" boinc-account

Go to your Seti Account, scroll down to SETI@home classic workunits (as of 15 March 2005);

It was a snapshot made of the Seti Classic database on the 15th of March 2005. Seti/Boinc cannot update the Classic database in realtime, as the whole Classic database needs to be offline to make a snapshot. So the next and last update will be done once Classic shuts down.

You start from zero credits in Seti/Boinc. Read this FAQ in the Wiki on that. The credits in Classic aren't compatible with the credits in Boinc. So the old ones won't be added to the new ones, ever.

d) old seti passwort works for all years but boinc did not accept it!

See C: Not needed. Your account is already put over. Classic password will never work on anything new on Boinc New.

e) no problems with windows since month - but with boinc i have problems to restart the system after a while working with boinc

Explain that again? Without explanation, and this is your first post, we cannot help you any further. Leave some messages from the Messages tab. Post in a new thread please.

f) i really liked the old graphics of seti, now the new rotating graphics makes me nervous!

We have an emulation work around for that.

This software is not working! Shut it down and come back until it works properly!

No, the software is working perfectly, you just don't want to investigate into what it is doing, nor do you want to ask for any help!

Sorry but this is the truth!

Yep, it's the truth that you lied on your application form.

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Maddenc:

some element of it never seemed to run properly. The evidence of this was that everytime I shut down my computer, I would (after a long wait) get an "End Now" dialog-box on some element of BOINC

This happens on all Windows 9x and ME systems with older versions of BOINC. This has been fixed (I've even verified this with my three 9x systems and my ME system) in BOINC v5.2.x series.

the fact that starting up had slowed way down and on at least one occasion, a BOINC-related seti@home process attracted so much attention from the Zone Labs vsmon.exe traffic-monitoring function that the two processes together completely absorbed my CPU (a three-year-old Dell desktop with an Intel Celeron CPU running at 2.20 GHz with 256 MB of RAM)

I cannot verify this, but it appears that when another process is running in the lowest priority as BOINC, they both seem to collide for CPU usage ("You go first" "No, you go first"). I've seen this happen on a couple of my systems. If my theory is correct, there's nothing to do about this since it's a problem with the Windows 9x scheduler (it has happened in Windows 2000 and XP as well).

Is it possible to run the screensaver, with graphics, without running BOINC manager?

Someone might have to answer this one. I don't run screen savers; I simply have Windows turn off the monitor after x minutes (depends on which system, a lesser used system will have it shut off after 3 min., others might have it set at 15 min).

by the way, is there a method for substituting the old seti dish for that stupid "B" logo?

Not that I know of. It's an interesting suggestion though.

Other minor distraction were things like multiple BOINC symbols showing up in the system tray, only one of which was active

Not sure about this. I've heard users of previous versions of BOINC have this problem, but I have not encountered this myself. I'd think it's a double entry in the startup section of the Windows Registry. Perhaps running the Windows startup editor (I don't remember what it's called) can confirm this.


Lars:

a) get one work unit and after that, boinc is not able to get more seti-wu's

I don't know when you've tried, but I know in the last three days BOINC has had it's servers being worked on, which can cause problems right now. Just some patience is all I can suggest.

b) climateprediction start for 5 minutes and then it ends with an error, every day, after that, error "no work"

I don't run ClimatePrediction, so someone else will have to confirm this, but when something like this happens with SETI, it's usually due to overheating hardware. If you can come up with the specific error, that might help troubleshoot the error better.

c) nearly 5.000 work units of old seti is not added to my "new" boinc-account

They will be added after SETI Classic closes down. Everyone's stats are "as of March 15th, 2005" which was the last time the servers were synchronized.

d) old seti passwort works for all years but boinc did not accept it!

When were you trying to use your SETI Classic password?

e) no problems with windows since month - but with boinc i have problems to restart the system after a while working with boinc

This is usually cased by bad system drivers (video) or overheating hardware. Combine this clue with the one from above (having errors in Climate Prediction) and I'd say it's probably overheating hardware.

f) i really liked the old graphics of seti, now the new rotating graphics makes me nervous!

There's a way to emulate the old graphics (and keep them from spinning), but I don't remember how to do it. Perhaps someone else can provide more information here.

This software is not working! Shut it down and come back until it works properly!

This software is working with 500,000 other systems. I don't believe it's the software in this case. The software does have problems, but it's stable enough to go live with.

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I am a SETI@home user for about 6 years! Some month ago I tried to use boinc but it did not work well so I get back to old Seti!
Now and after a new installation of my windows 2000 I tried boinc for a second time and the result is:
a) get one work unit and after that, boinc is not able to get more seti-wu's
b) climateprediction start for 5 minutes and then it ends with an error, every day, after that, error "no work"
c) nearly 5.000 work units of old seti is not added to my "new" boinc-account
d) old seti passwort works for all years but boinc did not accept it!
e) no problems with windows since month - but with boinc i have problems to restart the system after a while working with boinc
f) i really liked the old graphics of seti, now the new rotating graphics makes me nervous!

This software is not working! Shut it down and come back until it works properly!

Sorry but this is the truth!
by the way, sorry for my bad english!!!

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Well, there are obviously a lot of strong feelings about the change. I, for one, am glad to see that I was not the only person humbled by the switch. I became so frustrated that I uninstalled yesterday. And though I'm finding that a less satisfying solution today (for one thing, what the heck will I use as a screensaver!?), I empathize with all those too frustrated to continue. Seti@home classic ran flawlessly on my computer for years.

Still, I'd hate to give up without making some sort of effort, so I will avail myself of the offered help. My two biggest beefs with BOINC were that (1) some element of it never seemed to run properly. The evidence of this was that everytime I shut down my computer, I would (after a long wait) get an "End Now" dialog-box on some element of BOINC (sorry, I did not capture the text of the message or the process-header). This rogue process may also have contributed to (2) the fact that starting up had slowed way down and on at least one occasion, a BOINC-related seti@home process attracted so much attention from the Zone Labs vsmon.exe traffic-monitoring function that the two processes together completely absorbed my CPU (a three-year-old Dell desktop with an Intel Celeron CPU running at 2.20 GHz with 256 MB of RAM).

Other minor distraction were things like multiple BOINC symbols showing up in the system tray, only one of which was active (by the way, is there a method for substituting the old seti dish for that stupid "B" logo?) and BOINC manager opening then immediately closing at starup (and taking its damn time about it, too). Is it possible to run the screensaver, with graphics, without running BOINC manager?

That ought to be enough questions for a start. Please pardon my ignorance, but I have honestly not had time to search through all the FAQs to see if each of my questions is answered somewhere. I dont want to give up without a fight (though I find the new graphics distastefully large--must be age or something), but so far the pain-quotient has been awfully high.

Thanks in advance for any help.

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Bonic has been working well for me. Still using both old Seti (will end 12/15/2005). Using Bonic 50/50 with Seti & Einstein. Uploads sometimes take awhile due to system problems at the other end but ususlly resolved within a day or three.

The problem with the world is ignorance and apathy
but most people don't know and don't care!

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The problem with the world is ignorance and apathy
but most people don't know and don't care!

Regards; :-) Jim

After a long drawn out process of trying to find out my SETI classic password, the hair-pulling expierience of actually getting BOINC to run as a screensaver because apparently the program read the act of running as a screensaver as "User Activity", and now I am not getting any messages in the message tab where before I was getting all of my messages (the ones that let you know just what the program has done), and this has all been in the course of only a week or so, I would have to say, DUMP IT!!!! Give me back my Classic SETI where everything ran perfectly and was so easy to run. (basically it ran itself!!!!!)

I have looked all through the BOINC site trying to find a way to contact them. I can't log in as it says my Email address is no good. BOINC keeps crashing my computer and I've had it with them. After all these years with SETI, this is my goodbye message.

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DUMP IT!

Please give us back the simpler, much loved SETI@home classic.

Or else it's goodbye.

Goodbye!

Well, the fish were nice.

What a pity that the original concept of allowing non-experts to help with this project has been sold out to the nerd world.

Make this a seamless changeover and I'll stay. Otherwise, goodbye.

DUMP IT!

Please give us back the simpler, much loved SETI@home classic.

Or else it's goodbye.

Goodbye!

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Hmmm, we're adding 5,000 users a day, less than 1% have problems. I'd say it's doing exceedingly well. Most of those 1% are asking about credit and such, and don't really have any issues other than they just don't want change.

DUMP IT!

Please give us back the simpler, much loved SETI@home classic.

Or else it's goodbye.

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After a long drawn out process of trying to find out my SETI classic password, the hair-pulling expierience of actually getting BOINC to run as a screensaver because apparently the program read the act of running as a screensaver as "User Activity", and now I am not getting any messages in the message tab where before I was getting all of my messages (the ones that let you know just what the program has done), and this has all been in the course of only a week or so, I would have to say, DUMP IT!!!! Give me back my Classic SETI where everything ran perfectly and was so easy to run. (basically it ran itself!!!!!)

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Classic SETI! BOINC is not responsive. When I shut down my computer (rarely) I lose BOINC and cannot reconnect. I'll run classic until it goes (*sob*) then I still am open to it but only by a whisker. Hate to stop, but enough of life is frustration.

I'm sorry to read that BOINC is so frustrating for you. Since this is your only post on these boards, I'm going to presume that you haven't bothered to ask anyone for help figuring it out.

Shame, because BOINC runs flawless on at least 300,000 other systems. I know it isn't perfect, but it does run!

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Classic SETI! BOINC is not responsive. When I shut down my computer (rarely) I lose BOINC and cannot reconnect. I'll run classic until it goes (*sob*) then I still am open to it but only by a whisker. Hate to stop, but enough of life is frustration.

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Hi walker,

as Matt Lebofsky pointed out, the next generation BOINC software will do without account keys and will be as easy to install as the old one (install, enter address, run, that's it):

At this point we're basically just waiting on the latest release of BOINC, which includes newer user-friendly features (like not having to deal with an account key). This should make transitioning over from Classic even easier.

As Berkeley plans to release this software around mid-october, you might just take a break now and try it when it comes out. It would be a pity to leave the Seti project because of the software. Keep it up, it's one of the greatest adventures of our time.

Regards,

Christoph

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"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." R.M. Nixon

I have more important things to to with my life than figuring out why it will not work.

So, when you shut Classic SETI down, that's it, good bye.

Well, thanks for your CPU cycles in the past. I wish you well with whatever you deem is more important (that's not saying nothing else is more important than SETI), and if you ever change your mind, we'll be here waiting and willing to help.

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Classic is shuting down, so is my relation with SETI. As of today I have completed 2240 units. I tried to run the BOINC software but to no avail. The thing is hopeless. It is supposed to be eaay to understand but it is not.

I have more important things to to with my life than figuring out why it will not work.

So, when you shut Classic SETI down, that's it, good bye.

For someone with only two posts on the forums, both in this thread, you must be too proud to request for help. That's too bad.

There are enough people around here willing to try to help you. All we need is the question. The solution might be simple.

So it's good not everyone gives up so easily.

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not to BOINC

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ONE MORE THING....Classic is closing, so your poll is meaningless!
Maybe you should have asked "do I use Boinc or not"? Then the answer would have been a resounding "YES"!!!

Classic is shuting down, so is my relation with SETI. As of today I have completed 2240 units. I tried to run the BOINC software but to no avail. The thing is hopeless. It is supposed to be eaay to understand but it is not.

I have more important things to to with my life than figuring out why it will not work.

So, when you shut Classic SETI down, that's it, good bye.

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