Hello. I have a Dell XPS Inspiron M170. I think i have narrowed this down to a BIONC problem. I just freshly installed windows, and it didnt do it before i reinstalled.

Problem: If i close the lid without locking the PC, all of my icons get smooshed into a 800x600 screen size. It doesnt seem to change my res, but the icons move like it does. I have the settings in Power Management set to do nothing when i close the lid. Hibernation is turned off. Standby is turned off. This is used as a Desktop Replacement and Gaming machine.

Example: Last night i just got done reinstalling Windows XP and SP2. I put all my driver updates on, blah blah. I locked the PC but did NOT close the lid. Since i have BIONC running full time (Seti@home) i usually leave it open to help disipate some heat (the XPS tends to get a little warm at full power, weither using 3D or not). Well, when i came home on lunch, all the icons were fine (set at 1920x1200, 16x10 Widescreen). For some odd reason, i closed the lid with out locking it. Since i didnt lock the PC (Fast user switching turned off, Windows L to lock), it seems Boinc somehow resized my desktop.

This doesnt happen if Bionc is Not running or installed. This is why i think it is a Bionc issue. Anyone else have this problem? I know just making sure i lock the PC if i close the lid is an "easy fix" but still annoying when i am "drunk" or just plain forget to lock it and close it.

So any ideas?

- Keith Morris.
(Boinc Stats)
http://www.boincstats.com/stats/boinc_user_graph.php?pr=bo&id=fda4c7ee3a216f3b52caed1bd235e269

Have you tried to install BOINC as a service (3rd option in the installer) and only run Boinc Manager when you absolutely want to see something, then exiting BM before you close the lid?

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Have you tried to install BOINC as a service (3rd option in the installer) and only run Boinc Manager when you absolutely want to see something, then exiting BM before you close the lid?

I will give this a try. Is there a way to change the type of install? or should I just uninstall and reinstall choosing the new install type?

Since i dont care about the Screensaver function (i have the screen set to turn off after 5 mins anyway) i just have SETI set to run all the time. I can still open Boinc, connect to localhost, and disable it if i want to play a game correct?

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I will give this a try. Is there a way to change the type of install? or should I just uninstall and reinstall choosing the new install type?

Uninstall and reinstall is the only (correct) way to change the installation option.

Since i dont care about the Screensaver function (i have the screen set to turn off after 5 mins anyway) i just have SETI set to run all the time. I can still open Boinc, connect to localhost, and disable it if i want to play a game correct?

Yep.

With a service install you don't even get the graphics or screen saver by default. If you ever would want to see that, you'd need a work around (set service to use localsystem and interaction with desktop).

You can also opt out on having Boinc start at Windows start up, since the Boinc Manager is meant with this option.
The BOINC service will start way before Windows logon. So you can even log off and the service would continue to run.

Oh, I did report this behaviour to a developer, so it's possible he'll peek in later on. :)

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I will give this a try. Is there a way to change the type of install? or should I just uninstall and reinstall choosing the new install type?

Uninstall and reinstall is the only (correct) way to change the installation option.

Since i dont care about the Screensaver function (i have the screen set to turn off after 5 mins anyway) i just have SETI set to run all the time. I can still open Boinc, connect to localhost, and disable it if i want to play a game correct?

Yep.

With a service install you don't even get the graphics or screen saver by default. If you ever would want to see that, you'd need a work around (set service to use localsystem and interaction with desktop).

You can also opt out on having Boinc start at Windows start up, since the Boinc Manager is meant with this option.
The BOINC service will start way before Windows logon. So you can even log off and the service would continue to run.

Oh, I did report this behaviour to a developer, so it's possible he'll peek in later on. :)

Sweet thanks. I will try it in Service mode and see what i get. Havent tried it yet.

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One omission I made, to install BOINC as a service you will need an administrator account with a password. If you use a blank password, you will not be able to install. This is to an option in later BOINC versions, but all up till now don't have it.

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Dont know who would have Administrator without a Pass, but thanks for the update.

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Well, i was wrong... I dont think this is a BOINC error after all.

This problem did start about the same time i started using BOINC, but now it doesnt seem to be related at all. I installed BOINC as a service with out the client running. This problem still happens. I even started closing programs and then closing the lid to try to find hte culprit. No luck...

So, pass on to Development that this is NOT a BIONC error and to disreguard any previous reports.

Thanks for the help though =(

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I'll let them know.

Although it could still be a thing with that the graphics (and screen saver) are OpenGL. Have you taken that into consideration?

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Dont know who would have Administrator without a Pass, but thanks for the update.

Only just about everyone who runs Windows XP Home... :P

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oh yeah, XP Home does have a blank default pass doesnt it...

But i dont have the Boinc screensaver running, so i dont see how it could be that. Plus since i am running in "service" mode, the screensaver portion is disabled. But thanks for the thought.

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