Hi all,

I've been running Boinc for some years now and rarely had any problems (which probably is the reason that I don't know too much about how this thing really works).
On my Notebook it's the first time I use Windows Vista (Home Premium). Unfortunately, Boinc doesn't start automatically any longer (service???).
When logging in, the Boinc-Manager will be blocked from execution and needs to be started manually. It's only then, when the manager starts, that the CPU-load is going up. Before the manager starts, execution of Boinc-projects is not running. I really can't explain why this is. Boinc should be running as a service and thus execute even before login. I can't see why computation starts when the manager is started manually.
I always keep my Boinc installation current (that is 6.6.28 at the moment).
There are no errors (that I have found) anywhere.
Please let me know what information I need to provide and what can be done to get Boinc to run as a service again.

Thanks in advance,
regards,
Pelle.

P.S. here's some of the most recent information:

13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] Starting BOINC client version 6.6.28 for windows_intelx86
13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] Libraries: libcurl/7.19.4 OpenSSL/0.9.8j zlib/1.2.3
13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] Data directory: D:\Programme\Boinc\Data
13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] Running under account Pelle
13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] Processor: 2 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo CPU T2450 @ 2.00GHz [x86 Family 6 Model 14 Stepping 12]
13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] Processor features: fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 pni mmx
13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] OS: Microsoft Windows Vista: Home Premium x86 Edition, Service Pack 1, (06.00.6001.00)
13-Jun-2009 12:50:51 [---] Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 4.25 GB virtual

The default service installation was changed a couple of versions ago, due to it giving problems with CUDA on Vista and above. So if you want to install as a service, you have to press the Advanced button in the third screen of the installer, then check the "protected application execution" option.

That will install BOINC as a service.
To get rid of BOINC Manager starting at Windows login, you have to start it at least once, then go Advanced view->Advanced->Options, uncheck "Run Manager at login?" and OK out. That will set a marker in the registry that you do not want BM to start up at Windows login. The service will always start, before login even.

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Dear Jord,

thanks for your reply.
Did I understand your post correctly that I need to uninstall and reinstall Boinc? I have tried to "repair" the current installation, but it doesn't give me the option of installing as a service on any screen.

I thought that the service ought to start without logging in. That's one reason I really wondered that I needed to start the Manager to get the Boinc-projects running.

Regards,
Pelle.

Did I understand your post correctly that I need to uninstall and reinstall Boinc?

Sorry for not making that clear in my last post. Yes, you have to uninstall and reinstall for this screen to come up.

I thought that the service ought to start without logging in.

You thought correct. It's just that BOINC Manager will always start from the registry at login, until you tell it to stop that behaviour. You can't choose from the installer anymore if you want BM to start or not, it's always installed as runnable from the registry.

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Why download and install a separate program, when you can do that from within BOINC Manager?

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it's because this wonderful workaround of having to uninstall to reinstall to get at an option one chose during install

He wanted the service installation, but didn't do that one as shown by the line Running under account Pelle, so he has to uninstall and reinstall. Not even Autoruns will change that option.

To then disable BOINC Manager from starting up you can either choose to install (off the top of my head) at least 3 programs you have to download separately... or just go through BOINC Manager and tell it to stop that behaviour.

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I am using 6.6.36 on Win XP SP3 and checked "Run in Protected Application Execution" mode when I installed over 6.6.28 (which was also intalled to run in PAE mode). I also changed the location of the files (when installing). I expected the installer to copy the existing files across to the new location. It did not and in fact prompted me to attach to a project. I exited BOINC and copied the files from the old location manually. That seemed to work in that the tasks seem to be registered etc. To make sure, I uninstalled BOINC and re-installed it. This time it suggested my new data location and Protected Apllication Execution was checked. It all seemed fine.

Here is an extract from the messages:

14/06/2009 15:08:34		Starting BOINC client version 6.6.36 for windows_intelx86
14/06/2009 15:08:34		log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
14/06/2009 15:08:34		Libraries: libcurl/7.19.4 OpenSSL/0.9.8j zlib/1.2.3
14/06/2009 15:08:34		Data directory: E:\Settings\BOINC
14/06/2009 15:08:34		Running under account Richard
14/06/2009 15:08:34		Processor: 2 AuthenticAMD AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5000+ [x86 Family 15 Model 107 Stepping 2]

I notice that it says it is running under my account - which I don't think it should be doing. If I log out and log back in, it seems to be restarting the various project work units, which seems to also support the idea that it is not running as a service. Is something awry?

I also notice that the projects seem to lose some of the percentage they have completed when I log out and log back in, which again to me implies that they are not being run as a service - presumably they do not save the full state to which I have got them and when restarted revert to the last 'save point'.

Can anyone help shed some light on this, please?

TIA

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After much installing, removing and re-installing, and with the help of renemayer (BOINC skype helper), I finally fixed this problem. First I uninstalled BOINC, and then re-installed it as a normal (ie. non protected app mode). That installed as you would expect (under my account).

Then I uninstalled it.

Then I re-booted the computer.

Then I re-installed making sure that protected application execution was checked (but not allow all users to use BOINC).

That worked, and BOINC is now installed as a service.

When I checked my logs, ever since BOINC was inatlled on this machine (as 6.4.5) it has not been working as service - it was always running under my account. I know I specified that it should run as a protected application. I suspect that the re-boot was necessary, but also I have a feeling that the original problem may have had something to do with selecting both protected app execution and allow other users checked - although I could easily be wrong.

I hope this helps someone else.

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