There was still a global_prefs_override.xml file in your BOINC directory? There shouldn't have been, not if you cleared it.

In the Messages of your latest startup do you have line at the start that says something like "Reading preferences override file"? If you do, it's been made again. Which means your simple view or advanced view preferences are still on.

I checked the preferences and it was showing that they were set for the ones from the net. I deided to reinstall the OS (for other reasons as well as this) and that semms to have fixed it. Again, Thanks for all your help :)

There was still a global_prefs_override.xml file in your BOINC directory? There shouldn't have been, not if you cleared it.

In the Messages of your latest startup do you have line at the start that says something like "Reading preferences override file"? If you do, it's been made again. Which means your simple view or advanced view preferences are still on.

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ps - thanks for all your help to so far

That's what I meant. If the other 80% is going to the System Idle Process, it'll be something else. So let's check some other things.

1. Heat: Check if your computer isn't overheating. Is it running normal otherwise, no slowdowns?
2. How do you have BOINC set to run? When idle, or all the time?
3. Navigate to your BOINC directory and double check if you don't have a file called global_prefs_override.xml .. if you still do, you're still using BOINC's own preferences, not those of the web site.
4. While you're there, can you open global_prefs.xml and post the contents of it here, please? You can open any XML file with Notepad, or even Firefox.
5. Have you check your system for virusses/spyware or other baddies lately? What if anything do you use to check with?

1. Thought it might be over heating so i turned the PC off over night and restarted but still happening.
2. I have BOINC set to run al the time
3. still had the global_prefs_override.xml file so i deleted it and restarted boinc - no change :(
4.
<global_preferences>
<source_project>http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/</source_project>
<source_scheduler>http://setiboinc.ssl.berkeley.edu/sah_cgi/cgi</source_scheduler>
<mod_time>1206037243</mod_time>
<run_if_user_active/>
<idle_time_to_run>1</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<work_buf_min_days>0</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.1</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_cpus>4</max_cpus>
<max_ncpus_pct>100</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>0.1</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>100</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>100</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>0</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>0</max_bytes_sec_up>
</global_preferences>


5. i use an online scanner for virus detection (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/uk/) - though i havent checked for a month or so so ill double check.

Not sure if this is confusing you as much as it is me lol

That's what I meant. If the other 80% is going to the System Idle Process, it'll be something else. So let's check some other things.

1. Heat: Check if your computer isn't overheating. Is it running normal otherwise, no slowdowns?
2. How do you have BOINC set to run? When idle, or all the time?
3. Navigate to your BOINC directory and double check if you don't have a file called global_prefs_override.xml .. if you still do, you're still using BOINC's own preferences, not those of the web site.
4. While you're there, can you open global_prefs.xml and post the contents of it here, please? You can open any XML file with Notepad, or even Firefox.
5. Have you check your system for virusses/spyware or other baddies lately? What if anything do you use to check with?

---

What else is taking up the left-over CPU cycles? not sure - how do i find out?

In Task Manager. How else are you now seeing that Seti only takes 20% of CPU cycles?

lol. you mean the processes i assume?? not running anything else but firefox and boinc. let me know if this is not what you mean

What else is taking up the left-over CPU cycles? not sure - how do i find out?

In Task Manager. How else are you now seeing that Seti only takes 20% of CPU cycles?

---

How many CPUs do you have in that computer? Or cores? How many is BOINC allowed to take? What else is taking up the left-over CPU cycles?

It has one CPU (1.6 GHz) with 1GB RAM (Shared with GPU) and on multiple processors PC's it can use 4 cores (which the Q6600 has).

What else is taking up the left-over CPU cycles? not sure - how do i find out?

How many CPUs do you have in that computer? Or cores? How many is BOINC allowed to take? What else is taking up the left-over CPU cycles?

---

Did you set that option through the web site, or through BOINC Manager's Simple or Advanced View's preferences? if the latter, then these override any settings you set on the web site, for that computer only.
Uninstalling/reinstalling BOINC won't help, as the global_prefs_override.xml file that holds these preferences is not deleted when you uninstall BOINC.

If you want to use the web site preferences only, open BOINC Manager, Advanced view, Advanced, Preferences, Clear. This deletes that file.
If you then go Projects tab, select Seti, click Update, BOINC will download the preferences from the web site again.

Cleared the settings and updated as you suggested but it still shows between 15-20%. Exited and restarted boinc to make sure and then it worked at 100% for about 20 seconds then back to ~20% and stayed there :(

Did you set that option through the web site, or through BOINC Manager's Simple or Advanced View's preferences? if the latter, then these override any settings you set on the web site, for that computer only.
Uninstalling/reinstalling BOINC won't help, as the global_prefs_override.xml file that holds these preferences is not deleted when you uninstall BOINC.

If you want to use the web site preferences only, open BOINC Manager, Advanced view, Advanced, Preferences, Clear. This deletes that file.
If you then go Projects tab, select Seti, click Update, BOINC will download the preferences from the web site again.

---

Hi all,

I currently have 2 PC's that are supposed to be working at 100%. ie. Use at most = 100%. My Q6600 is working fine at 100% on all 4 cores but my other - set to the same preferences is only working at approx 20%. Any body have any ideas about what is going on? I have tried to uninstall and reinstall and changed the settings and then put them but but it didnt work :(