5.4.9 screensaver problem on OS X 10.4.7 PPC.

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Cerebus

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Joined: 15 Jul 06
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Message 5013 - Posted: 15 Jul 2006, 3:34:29 UTC

I've just installed BOINC 5.4.9 and when I launch the screensaver, it connects to BOINC, displays graphics for ~1sec, and then pops up the authentication window to unlock the screensaver. If I cancel the dialog, it does the same thing again.

The graphics displayed for that second depend on which project is running, of course, and appear correct & updated during that second.

Any ideas?

-- C
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Charlie Fenton
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Message 5036 - Posted: 17 Jul 2006, 0:43:22 UTC

I have had one other report of a similar problem, but I have not been able to reproduce this on either my PowerPC Mac (dual G4) or my Intel iMac. I suspect this may be due to a change in the graphics code in the project applications (SETI@home, Einstein@home, etc.) rather than in the BOINC screensaver code, but I am not sure.

Would you be kind enough to run a test for me?

First, go to the folder /Library/Receipts and delete BOINC.pkg (i.e., move it to the trash.) Then go to the BOINC downloads page http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download.php and download and install the older version 5.2.13. This should allow you to run the current project application with the older version of BOINC.

Please let us know whether the screensaver problem persists with BOINC version 5.2.13.

Also:
- which project(s) are you running which cause this problem?
- what model Mac are you running (G4, G5, Intel, single or dual processor)?

After you have tested this, please reinstall version 5.4.9.

Thank you for your help.

Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer
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Cerebus

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Message 5039 - Posted: 17 Jul 2006, 4:00:03 UTC

I saw that a bug report was logged for this problem.

I deleted the receipt and installed 5.2.13, and I get the exact same behavior as with 5.4.9.

I'm currently running SETI and Rosetta, and I can show graphics with 5.4.9 on both projects with no problem, but the screensaver problem appears with both. Currently I'm running on a 1.33 GHz G4 PowerBook; I've not (yet) set up my iMac DC to contribute.

After reinstalling 5.4.9 the problem persists.

Perhaps the change is part of 10.4.7? I don't have a backlevel system to test on, unfortunately.

-- C
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Charlie Fenton
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Message 5040 - Posted: 17 Jul 2006, 4:15:33 UTC

Thanks for your quick response. Your results confirm my suspicion that the bug was caused by a change I introduced to the libraries used to build the project applications, rather than in BOINC or the screensaver itself. This change was intended to make the screensaver more responsive to mouse movement under OS 10.3.9, but did not seem to help that problem (OS 10.3.9 users must click the mouse button or press a key to exit the screensaver.)

I will remove this change and ask the projects to build a new release of their Mac software. Unfortunately, this may take a while before it is done.

I'm curious, do you have any additional input devices (other than the standard Apple mouse and keyboard) connected to your system?
Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer
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Cerebus

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Message 5041 - Posted: 17 Jul 2006, 5:23:16 UTC

Not on this system; although I have drivers installed for a Wacom tablet it's not connected.

Thanks for the quick debug.
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Charlie Fenton
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Message 5075 - Posted: 21 Jul 2006, 4:52:47 UTC

I downloaded the Wacom tablet driver from their web site, and I was able to reproduce your problem with 100% consistency. This allowed me to build a test version of the SETI@home application, which confirmed my suspicions about the cause.

I've now updated the source code for the BOINC graphics library used in all all projects, including Rosetta@home, Einstein@home and SETI@home, to incorporate this fix in their next release.

I'm sorry I can't tell you when the projects will release updated versions, but your assistance was very valuable in solving this problem.

Would you be interested in becoming an Alpha tester for BOINC? We could definitely use more Mac testers. If you would like to become an Alpha tester, or know others who might, please let me know.

Thank you again for your help.

Cheers,
--Charlie

Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer
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Marnix

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Joined: 27 Aug 06
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Belgium
Message 5453 - Posted: 27 Aug 2006, 21:45:10 UTC

Hello,

I have to say that the same problem also happens on a PC ! When the screensaver activates, it immediately deactivates again and my screen returns to normal ( I do not use a screensaver log-off ).

Any help ? Thanks.

Marnix, Belgium.
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Luca Boccaccini

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Italy
Message 5557 - Posted: 6 Sep 2006, 18:04:26 UTC - in response to Message 5075.  

I downloaded the Wacom tablet driver from their web site, and I was able to reproduce your problem with 100% consistency. This allowed me to build a test version of the SETI@home application, which confirmed my suspicions about the cause.

I've now updated the source code for the BOINC graphics library used in all all projects, including Rosetta@home, Einstein@home and SETI@home, to incorporate this fix in their next release.


Good morning Charlie,
any news about the next release which, hopefully, will solve the screensaver issue on MacOS 10.4.7?
Unfortuntely I've got the same symptoms described by Cerebus.
And, yes, I own a Wacom tablet (Graphire CTE 430), always connected to the iMac 20", but without any of the instruments provided (not the pen nor the mouse) staying on its surface.
(actually I noticed that the simple presence of the Wacom mouse on the tablet could cause even Apple's screensavers not to run).
The tablet's driver version is 4.9.5, the last one.

Thanks for your work, hope to read you asap.

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Profile Jord
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Message 5560 - Posted: 7 Sep 2006, 0:35:44 UTC - in response to Message 5557.  

I may not be Charlie, but I can answer that we're in final test of the new 5.6.x version for all platforms. So have a little longer wait.
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Charlie Fenton
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Message 5562 - Posted: 7 Sep 2006, 1:14:22 UTC - in response to Message 5560.  

Actually, the problem was not in BOINC itself but in the libraries used to build the project applications such as SETI@home. So it is up to each project to use the latest library source code when they next update their applications.

SETI@home is currently in Beta test with new versions. I don't know about other projects.
Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer
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Profile Jord
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Message 5564 - Posted: 7 Sep 2006, 1:52:21 UTC - in response to Message 5562.  

I stand corrected. Thank you Charlie for keeping an eye on this. :-)
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cmbg

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Message 5803 - Posted: 28 Sep 2006, 1:45:08 UTC - in response to Message 5564.  

I have been keeping an eye on this thread but haven't seen any new information. Has the issue been fixed yet? I'm running on os x 10.4.7 ppc too. On all my projects (einstein, seti, and rosetta) the screensaver starts, brings the graphics up but then blanks out and goes back to my desktop.

I've also interested in the alpha project but it looks like they aren't taking new applications.
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Message boards : BOINC Manager : 5.4.9 screensaver problem on OS X 10.4.7 PPC.

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