I am monitoring earthquakes using the Quake Catcher seismograph accelerometer, and for the last week or so, after it has been running for a while, when I open the graphics, there are no traces and the error "cannot find sensor, demo mode" is displayed in the lower left corner.
Here is my latest startup log:
3/13/2015 10:18:33 PM | | cc_config.xml not found - using defaults
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Starting BOINC client version 7.4.36 for windows_x86_64
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Libraries: libcurl/7.39.0 OpenSSL/1.0.1j zlib/1.2.8
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Data directory: C:\ProgramData\BOINC
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Running under account WillysSecurity
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | CAL: ATI GPU 0: ATI Radeon HD 2300/2400/3200/4200 (RV610) (CAL version 1.4.1385, 368MB, 336MB available, 128 GFLOPS peak)
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Host name: WillysSecurity
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Processor: 6 AuthenticAMD AMD Phenom(tm) II X6 1100T Processor [Family 16 Model 10 Stepping 0]
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | 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 popcnt syscall nx lm svm sse4a osvw ibs skinit wdt page1gb rdtscp 3dnowext 3dnow
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | OS: Microsoft Windows 7: Ultimate x64 Edition, Service Pack 1, (06.01.7601.00)
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Memory: 11.75 GB physical, 12.53 GB virtual
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Disk: 465.76 GB total, 281.75 GB free
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Local time is UTC -7 hours
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | URL http://qcn.stanford.edu/sensor/; Computer ID 28261; resource share 100
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | General prefs: from Quake-Catcher Network (last modified 08-Sep-2012 01:21:50)
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Computer location: home
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | General prefs: no separate prefs for home; using your defaults
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Reading preferences override file
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Preferences:
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | max memory usage when active: 6015.58MB
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | max memory usage when idle: 10828.04MB
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | max disk usage: 10.00GB
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | max CPUs used: 1
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | (to change preferences, visit a project web site or select Preferences in the Manager)
3/13/2015 10:18:35 PM | | Not using a proxy
3/13/2015 10:26:11 PM | | Re-reading cc_config.xml
3/13/2015 10:26:11 PM | | Not using a proxy
3/13/2015 10:26:11 PM | | log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task

I have to restart my computer to get connected again. Shutting down Boinc and restarting the app does not restore communication.

I have had good success for a couple of years, and this just started happening.
I haven't installed anything lately except a new processor and added more memory, but this was done after the problems started, but there may have been a windows update for the usb-serial emulator...don't remember (that's alot of help, huh!).
I need to recheck the cable connecting the sensor under the house and see if it is loose or flakey, but thought I would post this here just in case there is a problem with Boinc.

Info:
Boinc ver.7.4.36 x64
Win7 64 bit

Thanks!

Another problem...
I had the strip chart running full screen and it froze at about 5 minutes. I wasn't watching when it did, but I looked very shortly after starting so I am not sure about the time.
I looked at advanced view, projects (quake catcher is my only active project), and it indicated that it was running something.
Then I quit Boinc and task manager said it was still running the boinctray, so I killed the process.
Then I restarted Boinc and:
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Starting BOINC client version 7.4.36 for windows_x86_64
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Libraries: libcurl/7.39.0 OpenSSL/1.0.1j zlib/1.2.8
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Data directory: C:\ProgramData\BOINC
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Running under account WillysSecurity
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | CAL: ATI GPU 0: ATI Radeon HD 2300/2400/3200/4200 (RV610) (CAL version 1.4.1385, 368MB, 336MB available, 128 GFLOPS peak)
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Host name: WillysSecurity
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Processor: 6 AuthenticAMD AMD Phenom(tm) II X6 1100T Processor [Family 16 Model 10 Stepping 0]
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | 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 popcnt syscall nx lm svm sse4a osvw ibs skinit wdt page1gb rdtscp 3dnowext 3dnow
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | OS: Microsoft Windows 7: Ultimate x64 Edition, Service Pack 1, (06.01.7601.00)
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Memory: 11.75 GB physical, 12.53 GB virtual
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Disk: 465.76 GB total, 281.72 GB free
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Local time is UTC -7 hours
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | URL http://qcn.stanford.edu/sensor/; Computer ID 28261; resource share 100
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | General prefs: from Quake-Catcher Network (last modified 08-Sep-2012 01:21:50)
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Computer location: home
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | General prefs: no separate prefs for home; using your defaults
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Reading preferences override file
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Preferences:
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | max memory usage when active: 6015.58MB
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | max memory usage when idle: 10828.04MB
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | max disk usage: 10.00GB
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | max CPUs used: 1
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | (to change preferences, visit a project web site or select Preferences in the Manager)
3/13/2015 11:12:22 PM | | Not using a proxy
3/13/2015 11:12:48 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | update requested by user
3/13/2015 11:12:53 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Sending scheduler request: Requested by user.
3/13/2015 11:12:53 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Not requesting tasks: non CPU intensive
3/13/2015 11:12:54 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Scheduler request completed
3/13/2015 11:12:54 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Project has no tasks available

and trying to look at the graphics, no traces and "demo mode-sensor not found" again.
Something was running as Boinc indicated progress.

So I unplugged the sensor, waited a few seconds for windows to acknowledge the disconnect, then reconnected, windows acknowledged the reconnect, and the sensor is back! along with the strip chart updating like it should.
Here is the restart log:

3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Starting BOINC client version 7.4.36 for windows_x86_64
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Libraries: libcurl/7.39.0 OpenSSL/1.0.1j zlib/1.2.8
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Data directory: C:\ProgramData\BOINC
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Running under account WillysSecurity
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | CAL: ATI GPU 0: ATI Radeon HD 2300/2400/3200/4200 (RV610) (CAL version 1.4.1385, 368MB, 336MB available, 128 GFLOPS peak)
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Host name: WillysSecurity
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Processor: 6 AuthenticAMD AMD Phenom(tm) II X6 1100T Processor [Family 16 Model 10 Stepping 0]
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | 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 popcnt syscall nx lm svm sse4a osvw ibs skinit wdt page1gb rdtscp 3dnowext 3dnow
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | OS: Microsoft Windows 7: Ultimate x64 Edition, Service Pack 1, (06.01.7601.00)
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Memory: 11.75 GB physical, 12.53 GB virtual
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Disk: 465.76 GB total, 281.71 GB free
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Local time is UTC -7 hours
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | URL http://qcn.stanford.edu/sensor/; Computer ID 28261; resource share 100
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | General prefs: from Quake-Catcher Network (last modified 08-Sep-2012 01:21:50)
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Computer location: home
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | General prefs: no separate prefs for home; using your defaults
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Reading preferences override file
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Preferences:
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | max memory usage when active: 6015.58MB
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | max memory usage when idle: 10828.04MB
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | max disk usage: 10.00GB
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | max CPUs used: 1
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | (to change preferences, visit a project web site or select Preferences in the Manager)
3/13/2015 11:23:45 PM | | Not using a proxy

(NOT windows restart... Boinc restart).

Did you try unplugging the sensor and then plugging it back in? I have to do that with mine every now and then.

---

My Detailed BOINC Stats

Did you try unplugging the sensor and then plugging it back in? I have to do that with mine every now and then.

He said he did:

So I unplugged the sensor, waited a few seconds for windows to acknowledge the disconnect, then reconnected, windows acknowledged the reconnect, and the sensor is back! along with the strip chart updating like it should.

Claggy

Then I quit Boinc and task manager said it was still running the boinctray, so I killed the process.

Boinctray is the idle detection process for Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10. It does not start with BOINC, but instead starts from the registry at Windows logon, or at the end of using the BOINC Installer.

---

Ok... I just thought that Boinc didn't terminate correctly and left a process running.
The sensor disappeared again on 3.13.15 and hasn't come back (3.15).
Here is that last part of the log where the sensor is seen:

3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | General prefs: from Quake-Catcher Network (last modified 08-Sep-2012 01:21:50)
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Computer location: home
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | General prefs: no separate prefs for home; using your defaults
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | | Reading preferences override file
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | | Preferences:
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | | max memory usage when active: 6015.58MB
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | | max memory usage when idle: 10828.04MB
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | | max disk usage: 10.00GB
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | | max CPUs used: 1
3/13/2015 11:46:20 PM | | (to change preferences, visit a project web site or select Preferences in the Manager)
3/13/2015 11:53:46 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Sending scheduler request: To send trickle-up message.
3/13/2015 11:53:46 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Not requesting tasks: non CPU intensive
3/13/2015 11:53:48 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Scheduler request completed
3/13/2015 11:53:48 PM | Quake-Catcher Network | Project has no tasks available
3/14/2015 12:23:48 AM | Quake-Catcher Network | Sending scheduler request: To send trickle-up message.
3/14/2015 12:23:48 AM | Quake-Catcher Network | Not requesting tasks: non CPU intensive


This continues up until today 3.15...
without closing Boinc, I unplugged the sensor (windows did NOT see the disconnect) and plugged it back in, windows recognized the sensor and the graphics started displaying data.

So either disconnecting/reconnecting, or restarting my computer restores the connection.

Next, I'll take a look at my cable and sensor to see if it has been damaged.
Strange that this happened all of a sudden though...

Is there a flag that I can set in the event log diagnostics to log the state of the sensor, or to see when it disappears?

Strange....
As of 3-18, the sensor is still displaying graphics! I haven't done anything to change that, other than several unplug/replugs to get the sensor back.
Maybe a flakey USB connector???? Don't know. Need to check the connector at the sensor (under the house) and will do so when I have a second.

Still seem strange that restarting the computer re-establishes connection....