I have my preferences set to:
Do work while computer is in use? no
Do work only after computer is idle for 7 minutes

However, the seti@home and Rosetta@home both run continuously (whichever one is active)regardless what I'm doing on the pc. I can suspend all work manually, but I'd rather the preference work.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to make this work?

I've tried adjusting the time - hoping that would reset a database parm. I've also toggled the " Do work while computer is in use?" from NO to YES and again to NO (allowing time for the computer to update each time)

In BOINC manager, in the advanced view (the one with all the tabs). Check under the activity menu. Make sure it's set to run based on preferences.

In the simple view (assuming a 5.8.x client), click on preferences and make sure you haven't set up preferences locally that would override what's set up on the website. That first check box should be unchecked and the options grayed out.

---

Kathryn :o)

Additionally, after you changed your preferences, you did save them on the page with the button at the bottom? And you did update BOINC afterwards on the project you changed the settings on?

So if you changed them on Seti, you did open Boinc Manager, Advanced view, Projects tab, select Seti, press Update?

---

I am running 5.8.11. Under the "Activity" tab, "Run Based on Preferences" is selected. I don't think that I have a local preference (if I do, I'm not sure how to create one).

I tried to find a "global_prefs_override.xml" file on my pc, but it doesn't exit (or couldn't be found).

Additionally, after you changed your preferences, you did save them on the page with the button at the bottom? And you did update BOINC afterwards on the project you changed the settings on?

So if you changed them on Seti, you did open Boinc Manager, Advanced view, Projects tab, select Seti, press Update?

Yes, the changes have been saved. During the time that I was changing the settings from 5-7 minutes and then toggling on/off, each time- it was saved.

Additionally, after you changed your preferences, you did save them on the page with the button at the bottom? And you did update BOINC afterwards on the project you changed the settings on?

So if you changed them on Seti, you did open Boinc Manager, Advanced view, Projects tab, select Seti, press Update?

Yes, the changes have been saved. During the time that I was changing the settings from 5-7 minutes and then toggling on/off, each time- it was saved.

Thanks to everyone that helped on this. I realized the issue. When I installed the program the first time, there are 3 options (and I'm paraphrasing) - 1)run only when a single user is logged on - 2)run when any user is logged on and 3) run as a service - even if nobody is logged on. I wanted to program to run all the time (even if the PC restarted and nobody logged on). I used option 3 - therefore, my setting to run only when the PC is not busy was overridden. I un-installed boinc and re-installed using the first option.

The method of install has nothing to do with a project's preferences.
You see, BOINC is just a managing program, it doesn't do any scientific computing of its own. So the preferences you set through any project's preferences pages are for how that project's science application will work under BOINC.

The installation method of BOINC depicts:
1. As a single User install (if multiple users work on your computer, the one person who installed it will be able to run BOINC and see the graphics/screen saver).

2. As a shared User install (if multiple users work on your computer, everyone can run BOINC, but only the first one to log on will be able to use the graphics/screen saver).

3. As a Service install (BOINC runs always, even when no one is logged in. To be able to use the graphics/screen saver one needs to register BOINC as a local system account with interaction to the desktop).

---

The method of install has nothing to do with a project's preferences.
You see, BOINC is just a managing program, it doesn't do any scientific computing of its own. So the preferences you set through any project's preferences pages are for how that project's science application will work under BOINC.

"Run only when user is idle" is a BOINC setting, it's set via project websites like any other BOINC setting. Apparently it's not working as a service, and that makes sense, maybe BOINC has no way to "see" when users are idle as a service (if it was possible, I think it would be a security/privacy vulnerability on Windows).

Apparently it's not working as a service, and that makes sense, maybe BOINC has no way to "see" when users are idle as a service (if it was possible, I think it would be a security/privacy vulnerability on Windows).

I'm running BOINC as a service.
I just changed my preferences to run only when idle.

12/03/2007 17:20:24||General prefs: from PrimeGrid (last modified 2007-03-12 17:19:31)
12/03/2007 17:20:24||Host location: none
12/03/2007 17:20:24||General prefs: using your defaults
12/03/2007 17:20:25||Suspending computation - user is active

Waiting 1 minute now to see if it works...

12/03/2007 17:20:25|climateprediction.net|[cpu_sched] Preempting hadcm3ohc_103y_05595157_0 (left in memory)
12/03/2007 17:20:25|climateprediction.net|[task_debug] task_state=SUSPENDED for hadcm3ohc_103y_05595157_0 from suspend

12/03/2007 17:22:56||Resuming computation

12/03/2007 17:22:56|climateprediction.net|[cpu_sched] Resuming hadcm3ohc_103y_05595157_0
12/03/2007 17:22:56|climateprediction.net|[task_debug] task_state=EXECUTING for hadcm3ohc_103y_05595157_0 from unsuspend

12/03/2007 17:23:19||Suspending computation - user is active

12/03/2007 17:23:19|climateprediction.net|[cpu_sched] Preempting hadcm3ohc_103y_05595157_0 (left in memory)
12/03/2007 17:23:19|climateprediction.net|[task_debug] task_state=SUSPENDED for hadcm3ohc_103y_05595157_0 from suspend

Works fine for me... :)

---

"Run only when user is idle" is a BOINC setting, it's set via project websites like any other BOINC setting. Apparently it's not working as a service, and that makes sense, maybe BOINC has no way to "see" when users are idle as a service (if it was possible, I think it would be a security/privacy vulnerability on Windows).

I have two Windows hosts (XP Pro & 2003) with BOINC installed as a service, and because they're other people's workstations I have them in a venue where the preference is set not to run while in use -- 'just in case'. Crunching definitely stops as specified on these systems, which I've verified by observing both that BOINC Manager (v5.4.x) shows all incomplete tasks' status as "Actvities suspended" and that the Task Manager shows the CPU usage dropping to 'background' levels, with BOINC's science apps at 0%.

---