Hello BOINC forum,

I require some assistance. My BOINC client seems to be malfunctioning. When I start it up, it attempts to connect to localhost, then after a while it says it isn't connected to a client, which is weird because I haven't done anything to the config, my connection is working fine (apparently, because I am writing this post), and my firewall isn't blocking it, AND it was working fine yesterday. Every once and a while, I does manage to connect, though, and when it does, the messages tab has this to say:

2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||Starting BOINC client version 5.10.30 for windows_intelx86
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||Libraries: libcurl/7.17.1 OpenSSL/0.9.8e zlib/1.2.3
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||Data directory: C:Program FilesBOINC
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||Processor: 2 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz [x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 4]
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||Processor features: fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 mmx
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.01.2600.00)
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 3.35 GB virtual
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||Disk: 140.60 GB total, 108.54 GB free
2/3/2008 5:47:42 PM||Local time is UTC -8 hours
2/3/2008 5:47:48 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||Couldn't write state file
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||Make sure directory permissions are set correctly
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM|rosetta@home|URL: http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/; Computer ID: 736014; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM|Einstein@Home|URL: http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/; Computer ID: 1105323; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM|SETI@home|URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID: 4194178; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||General prefs: from rosetta@home (last modified 08-Aug-2006 19:44:35)
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||Host location: home
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||General prefs: no separate prefs for home; using your defaults
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when active to 1023.19MB
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when idle to 1841.75MB
2/3/2008 5:47:54 PM||Preferences limit disk usage to 70.30GB
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||Starting BOINC client version 5.10.30 for windows_intelx86
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||Libraries: libcurl/7.17.1 OpenSSL/0.9.8e zlib/1.2.3
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||Data directory: C:Program FilesBOINC
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||Processor: 2 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz [x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 4]
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||Processor features: fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 mmx
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.01.2600.00)
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 3.35 GB virtual
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||Disk: 140.60 GB total, 108.54 GB free
2/3/2008 5:51:56 PM||Local time is UTC -8 hours
2/3/2008 5:52:02 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Couldn't write state file
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Make sure directory permissions are set correctly
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM|rosetta@home|URL: http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/; Computer ID: 736014; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM|Einstein@Home|URL: http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/; Computer ID: 1105323; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM|SETI@home|URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID: 4194178; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||General prefs: from rosetta@home (last modified 08-Aug-2006 19:44:35)
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Host location: home
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||General prefs: no separate prefs for home; using your defaults
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when active to 1023.19MB
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when idle to 1841.75MB
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Preferences limit disk usage to 70.30GB
2/3/2008 5:52:46 PM||Can't write state file, exiting in 10 seconds

At this point it is connected to localhost, the projects are showing (Seti, Rosetta, Einstein, they weren't showing before), but it will not compute the workunits, it just kinda sits there with waiting to run under their status. Some of these entries seem to show that the prefs are restraining it, but I didn't put anything of the sort in the prefs.

I'm thinking the installation might have been corrupted, but the first thing I did was reinstall it, and that did nothing. I tried reverting to an older version, nothing. I even tried the new 5.10.39 beta release, that actually made the workunits run for a while, but after a short amount of time it crashed so bad I had to terminate the process.

Someone please help, this is really frustrating because it appears to be a simple config problem.

---

2/3/2008 5:52:02 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Couldn't write state file
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Make sure directory permissions are set correctly

Make sure you do have your permissions set up correctly, that the account you try to run BOINC with is allowed to write to the BOINC directory and sub-directories and that there are no files in the BOINC directory that have their read-only attributes set.

---

BOINC won't work correctly even with all my protection off (Kaspersky Internet Security 7). The account can write to all BOINC directories. There was some read-only files in the BOINC directory, I removed all the read-only attributes from the files, but that did nothing. When I went back to the properties of the BOINC directory, some read-only attributes came back. 0_o

I think another problem might be why it works sporadicly as it does.

---

2/3/2008 5:52:02 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Couldn't write state file
2/3/2008 5:52:07 PM||Make sure directory permissions are set correctly

Make sure you do have your permissions set up correctly, that the account you try to run BOINC with is allowed to write to the BOINC directory and sub-directories and that there are no files in the BOINC directory that have their read-only attributes set.

And that BOINC isn't already running. Double-check the read-only properties of client_state.xml too. If you have a client_state_next.xml, delete it (while BOINC is not running).

---

Sorry, there was a client_state_next.xml, I deleted it while BOINC was off, it did nothing. client_state.xml is not read-only. Maybe I should restart.

Better yet, maybe I should try BOINC in safe mode with networking, that might do it.

---

Hallelujah! It works in safe mode. So that means that some service is keeping this client_state.xml file from being overwritten. Right. I've restarted a second time in regular mode now, and in regular mode the log now says this:

2/3/2008 7:33:38 PM||Starting BOINC client version 5.10.30 for windows_intelx86
2/3/2008 7:33:38 PM||log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
2/3/2008 7:33:38 PM||Libraries: libcurl/7.17.1 OpenSSL/0.9.8e zlib/1.2.3
2/3/2008 7:33:38 PM||Data directory: C:Program FilesBOINC
2/3/2008 7:33:40 PM||Processor: 2 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz [x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 4]
2/3/2008 7:33:40 PM||Processor features: fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 mmx
2/3/2008 7:33:40 PM||OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.01.2600.00)
2/3/2008 7:33:40 PM||Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 3.35 GB virtual
2/3/2008 7:33:40 PM||Disk: 140.60 GB total, 108.54 GB free
2/3/2008 7:33:40 PM||Local time is UTC -8 hours
2/3/2008 7:33:45 PM|rosetta@home|URL: http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/; Computer ID: 736014; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 7:33:45 PM|Einstein@Home|URL: http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/; Computer ID: 1105323; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 7:33:45 PM|SETI@home|URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID: 4194178; location: home; project prefs: default
2/3/2008 7:33:46 PM||General prefs: from rosetta@home (last modified 08-Aug-2006 19:44:35)
2/3/2008 7:33:46 PM||Host location: home
2/3/2008 7:33:46 PM||General prefs: no separate prefs for home; using your defaults
2/3/2008 7:33:46 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when active to 1023.19MB
2/3/2008 7:33:46 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when idle to 1841.75MB
2/3/2008 7:33:46 PM||Preferences limit disk usage to 70.30GB
2/3/2008 7:33:50 PM|rosetta@home|Restarting task 2tif__HAND_ABRELAX_SS_FEAT_SAVE_ALL_OUT-2tif_-_BARCODE__2749_2457_0 using rosetta_beta version 593
2/3/2008 7:34:39 PM|Einstein@Home|Restarting task h1_0747.50_S5R2__88_S5R3a_1 using einstein_S5R3 version 415
2/3/2008 7:34:43 PM|rosetta@home|Task 2tif__HAND_ABRELAX_SS_FEAT_SAVE_ALL_OUT-2tif_-_BARCODE__2749_2457_0 exited with a DLL initialization error.
2/3/2008 7:34:43 PM|rosetta@home|If this happens repeatedly you may need to reboot your computer.
2/3/2008 7:34:43 PM|rosetta@home|Restarting task 2tif__HAND_ABRELAX_SS_FEAT_SAVE_ALL_OUT-2tif_-_BARCODE__2749_2457_0 using rosetta_beta version 593
2/3/2008 7:34:50 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:36:55 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:37:00 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:37:00 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:37:15 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:37:20 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:37:20 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:37:27 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:37:33 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:37:33 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:38:43 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:38:50 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:38:50 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:38:57 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:39:02 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:39:02 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:40:06 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:40:12 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:40:12 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:40:57 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:41:02 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:41:02 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:41:31 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:41:37 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:41:37 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:42:54 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:42:59 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:42:59 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:43:06 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:43:12 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:43:12 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:44:18 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:44:23 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:44:23 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:44:57 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:45:03 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:45:03 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:46:07 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:46:13 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:46:13 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/3/2008 7:46:58 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:47:03 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/3/2008 7:47:03 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename

WTF is this??? I've never seen anything like it in my year or so of BOINCing!

Workunits are running now, I can report finished work, no crashes, graphics are okey, etc. Everything seems to be copacetic, but all these errors (in red text) are kind of unsettling.

Someone please explain.

EDIT: I closed and opened BOINC and it's back to being it's cantankerous self. Exactly the same as before. I'm going to look for a service that might be doing this.

---

Did you recently install any software?

Did your AV update?

---

Kathryn :o)

No, I didn't install anything of significance.

My AV is updating fine. If you're asking if my computer is clean, it sure is. I always do a full scan every other day.

Anyway, it's back to processing workunits, but the errors are still there. I haven't found a process that might be doing this.

---

I don't think that Kathryn asked about the AV because of virii.

The scanner itself can cause problems for BOINC. You could try to exclude the BOINC directory with all its subdirectories from beeing scanned.

Running BOINC with a different user than the one who has installed it might cause such a problem too, if the BOINC user has no "delete" (i.e. modify, write and so) right on the directory. The user running BOINC needs full access.


There is a third possibility but I don't think that this still happens with current BOINC versions. Running BOINC as a service or screensaver _plus_ running BOINC from the BOINC icon caused trouble in older versions.

You could try to exclude the BOINC directory with all its subdirectories from beeing scanned.

I already did that.

Running BOINC with a different user than the one who has installed it might cause such a problem too, if the BOINC user has no "delete" (i.e. modify, write and so) right on the directory. The user running BOINC needs full access.

There's only one account on my computer, and there always has been. Obviously it has admin privileges. It's definitely running on the same account that it was installed on.

There is a third possibility but I don't think that this still happens with current BOINC versions. Running BOINC as a service or screensaver _plus_ running BOINC from the BOINC icon caused trouble in older versions.

I've never really done this before. Normally, it just chills in the system tray.

Remember, it works perfectly fine in Safe Mode with Networking. I still think some service is keeping BOINC from overwriting that file, though I'm too lazy to sort through all of them and fond out.

I think I'm going to do a System Restore. If that doesn't work, I'll do a System Recovery since I have an HP computer. If that doesn't fix it, IDK what will.

---

Hold on, try something simpler first.

Put your projects to No New Tasks. Run your cache dry. Upload & report everything.
Then exit BOINC and uninstall it.

Navigate to your BOINC directory and delete client_state.xml and client_state_prev.xml

(if you want to, defragment your drive now)

Restart BOINC.

Allow new tasks on your projects.

See if that fixes things.

---

Well, here's how it went down:

Turns out I deleted all my System Restores from last month to save some space, which included all the restores from before this problem started. But I did have one before the problem started on Recovery Commander from V-Com (now Avantquest, I think). Anyway I tried that, the restore was successful, but it did NOT solve the BOINC problem. So I reverted the Recovery Commander checkpoint, and here I am.

Oh, yeah, what Ageless suggested. Well, I can't connect to any projects because it is intermittently connecting to localhost again, but it had Seti@home there for some reason. It's not letting me put it on no new tasks, so I detached from it. So now I am not attached to any projects. I'm a gonna sit and wait now for it to run.

The log says this:

2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Starting BOINC client version 5.10.30 for windows_intelx86
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Libraries: libcurl/7.17.1 OpenSSL/0.9.8e zlib/1.2.3
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Data directory: C:Program FilesBOINC
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Processor: 2 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz [x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 4]
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Processor features: fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 mmx
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.01.2600.00)
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 3.35 GB virtual
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Disk: 140.60 GB total, 113.57 GB free
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Local time is UTC -8 hours
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM|SETI@home|URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID: not assigned yet; location: (none); project prefs: default
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||General prefs: from http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/ (last modified 08-Aug-2006 19:44:35)
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Host location: none
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||General prefs: using your defaults
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when active to 1023.19MB
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when idle to 1841.75MB
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Preferences limit disk usage to 70.30GB
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM||Running CPU benchmarks
2/17/2008 10:52:18 PM|SETI@home|Fetching scheduler list
2/17/2008 10:52:27 PM|SETI@home|Master file download succeeded
2/17/2008 10:52:33 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:52:38 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:52:38 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:52:39 PM|SETI@home|Sending scheduler request: Project initialization. Requesting 1 seconds of work, reporting 0 completed tasks
2/17/2008 10:52:51 PM|SETI@home|Scheduler request succeeded: got 1 new tasks
2/17/2008 10:52:51 PM|SETI@home|New host venue: home
2/17/2008 10:52:57 PM|SETI@home|[error] Can't write account file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:53:24 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:53:29 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:53:29 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:53:32 PM|SETI@home|Sending scheduler request: Requested by user. Requesting 0 seconds of work, reporting 0 completed tasks
2/17/2008 10:53:43 PM|SETI@home|Scheduler request succeeded: got 0 new tasks
2/17/2008 10:53:49 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:53:55 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:53:55 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:53:58 PM|SETI@home|Started download of arecibo_181.png
2/17/2008 10:53:58 PM|SETI@home|Started download of sah_40.png
2/17/2008 10:54:04 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:54:09 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:54:09 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:54:11 PM|SETI@home|Temporarily failed download of sah_40.png: http error
2/17/2008 10:54:11 PM|SETI@home|Backing off 1 min 0 sec on download of sah_40.png
2/17/2008 10:54:11 PM|SETI@home|Started download of sah_banner_290.png
2/17/2008 10:54:16 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:54:22 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:54:22 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:54:25 PM|SETI@home|Finished download of arecibo_181.png
2/17/2008 10:54:25 PM|SETI@home|Started download of sah_ss_290.png
2/17/2008 10:54:31 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:54:36 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:54:36 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:54:39 PM|SETI@home|Finished download of sah_banner_290.png
2/17/2008 10:54:45 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:54:52 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:54:52 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:54:54 PM|SETI@home|Temporarily failed download of sah_ss_290.png: http error
2/17/2008 10:54:54 PM|SETI@home|Backing off 1 min 0 sec on download of sah_ss_290.png
2/17/2008 10:55:00 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:55:06 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:55:06 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:55:11 PM|SETI@home|Started download of sah_40.png
2/17/2008 10:55:18 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:55:23 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:55:23 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:55:28 PM|SETI@home|Temporarily failed download of sah_40.png: http error
2/17/2008 10:55:28 PM|SETI@home|Backing off 1 min 0 sec on download of sah_40.png
2/17/2008 10:55:34 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:55:39 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:55:39 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:55:52 PM|SETI@home|Resetting project
2/17/2008 10:55:58 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:56:03 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:56:03 PM|SETI@home|Detaching from project
2/17/2008 10:56:03 PM|SETI@home|[error] Can't delete project directory: Error 145
2/17/2008 10:56:10 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:56:15 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:56:22 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:56:28 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/17/2008 10:56:28 PM||[error] Couldn't write state file: system rename
2/17/2008 10:57:20 PM||[error] CPU benchmarks timed out, using default values
2/17/2008 10:57:20 PM||[error] Benchmark: FP unexpectedly zero; ignoring
2/17/2008 10:57:20 PM||[error] Benchmark: int unexpectedly zero; ignoring
2/17/2008 10:57:20 PM||Benchmark results:
2/17/2008 10:57:20 PM|| Number of CPUs: 2
2/17/2008 10:57:20 PM|| 1000 floating point MIPS (Whetstone) per CPU
2/17/2008 10:57:20 PM|| 1000 integer MIPS (Dhrystone) per CPU

I shall now uninstall BOINC.
*uninstalls BOINC*
OK, I deleted the specified files.
Reinstalling BOINC now...
Great. Now it is sporadically crashing. There is no messages. It can't connect to localhost.

Yeah. System Restore time.

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I have had the same problem pop up recently on several computers.

Common element: Each runs Windows XP SP 2, and the problem started each time following a reboot that was required by a Windows Update download.

Uninstalling and reinstalling the current BOINC client did nothing to fix the problem. However, I installed an earlier version (5.8.16) of the client from the archive page at http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php and the earlier version works. That is my current workaround.

This 'problem' has been affecting me more in the past 6 months or so than before. (But not everytime.)
MY work around is to use the Select computer option in the menu, and click OK without putting anything in the 2 entries. 3 clicks - a lot faster than reinstalling BOINC.

However, I installed an earlier version (5.8.16) of the client from the archive page at http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php

Already tried that previously from looking at another thread here before I made this one. Didn't work.

click OK without putting anything in the 2 entries. 3 clicks

Eh? What are these 2 entries? The host name and password fields? You have to fill those in, and I don't see how clicking OK without putting in anything would help. I don't know what these three clicks are, either.

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Thatbum

The Select computer option is for people who have several computers, all monitored from one of the computers.
The "2 fields" are for the host name and password of one of the Remote host computers.
To connect to the Local host computer, (the one that you're using), the 2 fields DON'T need an entry.

When there is a message to the effect that BOINC can't connect to a local host:
Click on Advanced in the menu (1st click)
Then click on Select computer (2nd click)
Finally, click on OK (3rd click)
(There is an alternative way to fix the "Can't connect to a local host", which is to re-boot again, and hope that BOINC gets hold of port 31416 before one of Window's programs does.)

My post was in reply to fizzbowen who posted immediately before my previous post:

...
Uninstalling and reinstalling the current BOINC client did nothing to fix the problem. However, I installed an earlier version (5.8.16) of the client
...

I don't know the cause of your problem, but it's totally different.
One thing about backups:
In the context of BOINC and it's projects, it usually refers to just BOINC and it's sub-folders, not all of a partition.
And it must be made while BOINC is not running. Although apparently this latter requirement won't be necessary in a future version.

Although apparently this latter requirement won't be necessary in a future version.

Only if you want to backup your BOINC directory.... not if you also want to backup your BOINC Data directory. At all times it is best to exit BOINC.

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Eh? What are these 2 entries? The host name and password fields? You have to fill those in, and I don't see how clicking OK without putting in anything would help. I don't know what these three clicks are, either.

If host name is empty, it defaults to localhost. If password is empty, and host name is localhost (or empty), the manager will read the password from gui_rpc_auth.cfg directly. So yes, it works.

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Alright, I tried that. I am connected to localhost now, but workunits won't start. Then after a while it drops out, saying "connecting to localhost." Then a while after that it says it can't connect. So I do this here trick again and repeat.

So yeah.

Log:

2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||Starting BOINC client version 5.10.30 for windows_intelx86
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||Libraries: libcurl/7.17.1 OpenSSL/0.9.8e zlib/1.2.3
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||Data directory: C:Program FilesBOINC
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||Processor: 2 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz [x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 4]
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||Processor features: fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 mmx
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.01.2600.00)
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 3.35 GB virtual
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||Disk: 140.60 GB total, 112.74 GB free
2/23/2008 5:46:49 PM||Local time is UTC -8 hours
2/23/2008 5:46:56 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Couldn't write state file
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Make sure directory permissions are set correctly
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM|SETI@home|URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID: not assigned yet; location: (none); project prefs: default
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||General prefs: from http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/ (last modified 08-Aug-2006 19:44:35)
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Host location: none
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||General prefs: using your defaults
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when active to 1023.19MB
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Preferences limit memory usage when idle to 1841.75MB
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Preferences limit disk usage to 70.30GB

Sorry if I annoy you BOINC gods with my incessant no00bish-ness, but I really do like computing for the greater good (in my spare time!). I just think it's a cool concept and all, and similar software doesn't seem anywhere near as developed as BOINC is, or has such a wide variety of projects. I mean, it just started acting up about a month ago for no apparent reason. That just gets my goat...'cause I usually can fix most tech support-y problems myself...

But I digress. Seems other people have this problem. Hope we all get it fixed soon.

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2/23/2008 5:46:56 PM||Can't rename current state file to previous state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Can't rename state file; Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Couldn't write state file
2/23/2008 5:47:01 PM||Make sure directory permissions are set correctly

Have you checked your permissions on all files and directories? Nothing set to read-only?

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