I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this but ...

I run Windows XP. There are 3 users. I require to use fast user switching with passwords required (a) at logon, (b) to get back in after the screen saver runs (initiated by an idle time-out as per standard Windows technology) and (c) on "re-login" after someone did a "switch user".

I'd like to install BOINC with two or three projects: SETI, Climate Change, Einstein@home.

I'd like to see the *projects'* screensavers, *not* BOINC's screensaver.

I'm happy to install BOINC in any of the available modes.

Last time I tried, probably a year ago or more, the system would grind to a halt because one or other of the BOINC applications was running for a logged-on user even though that user was not the "active" user. In other words, User A would log on and then go "idle" (or do a "switch user"). User B would log on via Fast User Switching but the system would be unusably slow because BOINC or one of its applications) was running for user A.

Is there a way to overcome this now?

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Install as a service and enable the graphics.

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BOINC WIKI

BOINCing since 2002/12/8

Thank you. I will give it a try.

It's curious because the BOINC Windows Installer page says, under Service Installation:

"The 'Show graphics' command in the BOINC manager will not work for any user. The BOINC screensaver will only show textual information."

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Well, I tried it and it sort of works but sort of doesn't ...

I installed BOINC and SETI@home. The installing user (Administrator) gets the SETI graphical screen saver. Other users do not. Instead, they get the BOINC logo moving around an otherwise black screen. The logo is accompanied on its journey by the text "BOINC system status: SETI@home" and a percentage.

What I'd like is for any user who selects BOINC as the screen saver to get the *application* graphics.

Have I done something wrong? Missed an option?

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I got this slightly wrong. It's not the *installing* user who gets the application graphics as screen saver. It's the *first* user to log on after a reboot. The second and subsequent users only get the BOINC logo & status as per my previous post.

Help.

Please.

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Thank you. I will give it a try.

It's curious because the BOINC Windows Installer page says, under Service Installation:

"The 'Show graphics' command in the BOINC manager will not work for any user. The BOINC screensaver will only show textual information."

BOINC is coded this way because it is a security risk to allow BOINC to run as the local system account. I find that risk acceptable, others do not.

I personally do not use fast user switching, the drawbacks outweigh the benifits in my opinion. However I would be willing to bet that it is the first user to access the screensaver (or graphics) rather than the first to log on. The graphics thread usually runs as the requesting user instead of the BOINC user. Once a user 'claims' that thread the other users can not access it. I would expect the screensaver would work if the first user was logged off instead of just switched as well.

[edit] There is hope though, one of the item on the to-do list is to make the screensaver work for service installs without messing with it. Of course the to-do list is fairly long and this will not be a high priority item.

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BOINC WIKI

BOINCing since 2002/12/8

Thank you. The way it works at the moment is OK but it would be nice if all the users had the choice to display the application graphic screensaver.

A (large) bit off topic but why do "the drawbacks outweigh the benifits" of fast user switching?

A (large) bit off topic but why do "the drawbacks outweigh the benifits" of fast user switching?

The only benefit I see in fast user switching is that it is a bit quicker than logging out and back in, but not by a large amount.

When you just switch you have all the different programs from all the users that are logged on running, this can cause slowdowns. It is especially annoying since some of my family members seem to think that spyware and virus scanners are a 'problem' rather then protection from the problems they want to cause. Some programs will have conflicts when running twice as 2 different users.

Actually the standard in the house is to restart the computers when through rather than log out. This cleans out all the extra junk windows starts running and gets a fresh start.

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BOINC WIKI

BOINCing since 2002/12/8