Boinc on Windows XP Pro is installed with default permissions (running as an unprivileged users, etc). After the latest Windows upgrade, permissions look broken and Boinc doesn't start anymore. Please help.

10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Starting BOINC client version 6.6.38 for windows_intelx86
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Libraries: libcurl/7.19.4 OpenSSL/0.9.8k zlib/1.2.3
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Running as a daemon
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Data directory: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS\Application Data\BOINC
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Running under account boinc_master
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Processor: 2 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5300 @ 1.73GHz [x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 2]
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Processor features: fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 mmx
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional x86 Edition, Service Pack 3, (05.01.2600.00)
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 3.85 GB virtual
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Disk: 32.38 GB total, 1.21 GB free
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Local time is UTC -4 hours
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM No CUDA-capable NVIDIA GPUs found
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM No coprocessors
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM SETI@home Found app_info.xml; using anonymous platform
10/12/2009 11:08:05 AM Not using a proxy
10/12/2009 11:08:16 AM Can't delete previous state file; The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable. (0x570)
10/12/2009 11:08:29 AM Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
10/12/2009 11:08:34 AM Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
10/12/2009 11:08:34 AM Couldn't write state file
10/12/2009 11:08:34 AM Make sure directory permissions are set correctly
10/12/2009 11:08:34 AM SETI@home URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID: 0000000; location: home; project prefs: default

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For starters, browse to this folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS\Application Data\

Right-click on the BOINC folder you see, select properties, select Security.

Reset all permissions to enable full access.

Then, restart BOINC.

Also, have you tried the Q&A forum here? More people there may be able to help.
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_forum.php?id=12

Alternatively, re-run the BOINC installer for your current version. When prompted, select 'Repair' mode.

Right-click on the BOINC folder you see, select properties, select Security.

You don't have that one in Windows XP Pro, unless you have Advanced Network Sharing enabled. On Simple Network Sharing or no network sharing, the Security tab is AWOL.

So then you'll have to check through the Local User and Groups permissions, check if your name is in the boinc_admins group.

But as Richard says, it's easier to repair install BOINC, or if that fails completely, to uninstall & reinstall BOINC.

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I thought it was XP Home that didn't have the Security tab, but XP Pro has it by default.

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XP Home doesn't have it at all, any which way

XP Pro, when attached to a domain, has it by default

XP Pro, free-running on its own, is sort-of half way: you can invoke it, but that's not the way it runs out of the box.

That's right. Now I remember.

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Alternatively, re-run the BOINC installer for your current version. When prompted, select 'Repair' mode.

did it twice. does not fix the problem. should i try the other suggestion w/permissions?

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The actual folder where the files are kept may be fouled up.

I would run a disk check and then delete the actual boinc data folder.

Then try the re-install.

The messages seems to indicate that it cant delete or rename the existing state file, and thats most likely a messed up directory structure.

Ian

If you have work in that folder I wouldnt delete it just move to someplace convenient then reinstall boinc and move the files back to where they were before.

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

The actual folder where the files are kept may be fouled up.

I would run a disk check and then delete the actual boinc data folder.

Then try the re-install.

The messages seems to indicate that it cant delete or rename the existing state file, and thats most likely a messed up directory structure.

Ian

and that was the problem and the fix! Great!

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If you have work in that folder I wouldnt delete it just move to someplace convenient then reinstall boinc and move the files back to where they were before.

and that's how I found that disk corruption was the problem. thanks to all.

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