Boinc takes 1000 years to let go of Windows 7 after it has been running for a while. And when it finally does, Windows 7 complains that I am desperately short of system resources and it is switching the screen mode to basic.

This is very annoying. I can think of two possible reasons:

1. Possibly Boinc is systematically using far too much of video memory. Can it be made to not use the GPU at all?

2. Possibly Boinc has a serious memory leak. The problem, after all, does not appear when Boinc has been active for only a short time.

Are there any ideas/workarounds for this issue?

Please could you give more information about just about everything as shown in this thread?

1. Possibly Boinc is systematically using far too much of video memory. Can it be made to not use the GPU at all?

Not using the GPU as in not using it to do calculations? Yes, it can. Please see this FAQ, more precisely the chapter Can't I turn the damn thing off?

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Version 6.10.18

First set of messages:

8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Starting BOINC client version 6.10.18 for windows_x86_64
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Libraries: libcurl/7.19.4 OpenSSL/0.9.8l zlib/1.2.3
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Data directory: C:\ProgramData\BOINC
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Running under account pjcamp
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Processor: 4 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz [Intel64 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 11]
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Processor: 4.00 MB cache
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Processor features: fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 pni mmx
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM OS: Microsoft Windows 7: x64 Edition, (06.01.7600.00)
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Memory: 4.00 GB physical, 11.19 GB virtual
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Disk: 178.04 GB total, 83.58 GB free
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Local time is UTC -4 hours
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM NVIDIA GPU 0: GeForce 8600 GTS (driver version 19745, CUDA version 3000, compute capability 1.1, 240MB, 93 GFLOPS peak)
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Not using a proxy
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Einstein@Home URL http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/; Computer ID 2595; resource share 600
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Milkyway@home URL http://milkyway.cs.rpi.edu/milkyway/; Computer ID 199149; resource share 100
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM orbit@home URL http://orbit.psi.edu/oah/; Computer ID 35984; resource share 100
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM SETI@home URL http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID 398768; resource share 100
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Cosmology@Home URL http://www.cosmologyathome.org/; Computer ID 100128; resource share 100
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM General prefs: from http://bam.boincstats.com/ (last modified 03-Aug-2010 23:50:42)
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Host location: none
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM General prefs: using your defaults
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Reading preferences override file
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Preferences limit memory usage when active to 409.45MB
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Preferences limit memory usage when idle to 2047.25MB
8/15/2010 1:21:35 AM Preferences limit disk usage to 83.17GB
8/15/2010 1:21:36 AM Suspending computation - user is active

global_prefs.xml:

<global_preferences>
<source_project>http://bam.boincstats.com/</source_project>
<mod_time>1280893842</mod_time>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<idle_time_to_run>3</idle_time_to_run>
<suspend_if_no_recent_input>0</suspend_if_no_recent_input>
<work_buf_min_days>0.1000000</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.0000000</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_cpus>1</max_cpus>
<max_ncpus_pct>100</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_usage_limit>100</cpu_usage_limit>
<suspend_cpu_usage>0</suspend_cpu_usage>
<disk_interval>60</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100.0</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>1.5</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>75</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>0</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>0</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_down>100000</max_bytes_sec_down>
<max_bytes_sec_up>100000</max_bytes_sec_up>
<start_hour>0</start_hour>
<end_hour>0</end_hour>
<net_start_hour>0</net_start_hour>
<net_end_hour>0</net_end_hour>
<run_if_user_active>1</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active/>
<hangup_if_dialed/>
</global_preferences>

global_prefs_override.xml

<global_preferences>
<run_on_batteries>0</run_on_batteries>
<run_if_user_active>0</run_if_user_active>
<run_gpu_if_user_active>0</run_gpu_if_user_active>
<idle_time_to_run>3.000000</idle_time_to_run>
<start_hour>0.000000</start_hour>
<end_hour>0.000000</end_hour>
<net_start_hour>0.000000</net_start_hour>
<net_end_hour>0.000000</net_end_hour>
<leave_apps_in_memory>0</leave_apps_in_memory>
<confirm_before_connecting>0</confirm_before_connecting>
<hangup_if_dialed>1</hangup_if_dialed>
<dont_verify_images>0</dont_verify_images>
<work_buf_min_days>0.100000</work_buf_min_days>
<work_buf_additional_days>0.000000</work_buf_additional_days>
<max_ncpus_pct>100.000000</max_ncpus_pct>
<cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>60.000000</cpu_scheduling_period_minutes>
<disk_interval>60.000000</disk_interval>
<disk_max_used_gb>100.000000</disk_max_used_gb>
<disk_max_used_pct>50.000000</disk_max_used_pct>
<disk_min_free_gb>1.500000</disk_min_free_gb>
<vm_max_used_pct>75.000000</vm_max_used_pct>
<ram_max_used_busy_pct>10.000000</ram_max_used_busy_pct>
<ram_max_used_idle_pct>50.000000</ram_max_used_idle_pct>
<max_bytes_sec_up>100003.840000</max_bytes_sec_up>
<max_bytes_sec_down>100003.840000</max_bytes_sec_down>
<cpu_usage_limit>100.000000</cpu_usage_limit>
</global_preferences>

I run Einstein@home, and SETI@home. In the past week, I started running Milkyway@home, orbit@home and Cosmology@home but the problems predate those. I used to run Climate as well but it is seriously unstable.

My display adapter is a Gigabyte Nvidia Geforce 8600GTS version 8.17.11.9745. drivers. Directx version 11.

Try updating to Boinc 6.10.58, the latest Release Build,

Claggy

Updating didn't help.

I tried setting my BOINCstats preferences to "never use GPU." We'll see if that helps.

No such luck.

GPU usage is turned off generally, and again specifically on each individual project that uses it. No effect.

I ran the same projects on the same hardware under Windows XP with no issues. This didn't crop up until I upgraded to Windows 7.

You could of course exit BOINC before you exit Windows.
Else see if this FAQ will do the job.

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Doesn't work.

The problem isn't with exiting Windows anyway. It is with returning the computer from a locked state, and it seems to be a basic incompatibility between the BOINC screensaver and Windows 7. I tried leaving BOINC running and using a different screensaver and it woke up just fine, within a second or two as opposed to the minute or two (or sometimes forever) that it requires with BOINC.

Doesn't work.

The problem isn't with exiting Windows anyway. It is with returning the computer from a locked state, and it seems to be a basic incompatibility between the BOINC screensaver and Windows 7.

You never said anything about that in this whole thread until now. Which is why the thread I initially pointed you to says: "Please do know that we cannot look over your shoulder to see what you see or do. You will have to give as much information as you possibly can. You are the one with the problem, so you will have to be as informative as possible to give us a clue as to what you are on about."

I tried leaving BOINC running and using a different screensaver and it woke up just fine, within a second or two as opposed to the minute or two (or sometimes forever) that it requires with BOINC.

- Which projects do you have work from?
- How many of them are running at the same time on your 4 core CPU?
- Does it matter which (project) screen saver is running?
- Are you only running BOINC when the system is otherwise idle?
- Is boinctray.exe running at all times? (See Windows Task manager->Processes)
- The BOINC screen saver is a separate program; it runs through boincscr.exe and boinc.scr, which both need to be allowed through the Windows firewall to work correctly. Are they allowed to pass through the firewall on TCP port 31416?
- Which Windows 7 64bit are you running?

---

Doesn't work.

The problem isn't with exiting Windows anyway. It is with returning the computer from a locked state, and it seems to be a basic incompatibility between the BOINC screensaver and Windows 7.

You never said anything about that in this whole thread until now. Which is why the thread I initially pointed you to says: "Please do know that we cannot look over your shoulder to see what you see or do. You will have to give as much information as you possibly can. You are the one with the problem, so you will have to be as informative as possible to give us a clue as to what you are on about."

I tried leaving BOINC running and using a different screensaver and it woke up just fine, within a second or two as opposed to the minute or two (or sometimes forever) that it requires with BOINC.

- Which projects do you have work from?

Einstein@home
Milkyway@home
Orbit@home
Cosmology@home
SETI@home
as you can see from my second post above in two different places so thanks for requiring a lot of info and then not reading it, and formerly Climate Prediction but it was too unstable so I removed it.

- How many of them are running at the same time on your 4 core CPU?

Define "at the same time." I can't read your intent. Only one is executing at any given moment but they swap from time to time.

- Does it matter which (project) screen saver is running?

No

- Are you only running BOINC when the system is otherwise idle?

Yes

- Is boinctray.exe running at all times? (See Windows Task manager->Processes)

No. boinc.exe and boincmgr.exe.

- The BOINC screen saver is a separate program; it runs through boincscr.exe and boinc.scr, which both need to be allowed through the Windows firewall to work correctly. Are they allowed to pass through the firewall on TCP port 31416?

Yes.

- Which Windows 7 64bit are you running?

Professional.

Thanks for being kind of a jerk about it too. I didn't get quite enough of that today. I may be the one with a problem but it is a problem with YOUR software that I am using MY RESOURCES to run for you as a favor for free. That demands a minimum level of civility. I let that pass the first time, but you seem addicted to being gratuitously offensive.

So stop it.

If you don't want to help people with problems, pass the job off to someone who does.

Boinc runs when my system is idle only. That necessarily means that both boinc and the boinc screensaver are running each time. It occurred to me yesterday that I didn't actually know which was the troublesome process without doing an experiment. So I did one and reported the results.

You knew as soon as I knew. Sorry I couldn't see the future for you.

"idle" means that YOU aren't using the computer keyboard or mouse. But other programs may be running in the background.

You keep saying that it's BOINC doing this, so let's see if that can be proven.

1) In the Projects tab, set ALL projects to No new work
2) In the menu, set the network to Network activity suspended
3) In the Tasks tab, Suspend each task individually, so that none of them are running.

Now only BOINC will be running, with none of the project applications running.

Is the computer still having problems?

If it is, set the screensaver to None
Is the problem still there?

Good, complain about me, quote my whole post (no need, I know what I wrote) and totally omit any information I asked for. That's professional behaviour.

I'll be handing you off to others around here now. Please be so kind as to never ask for help from me again. For the record, it's not MY software, I am a volunteer just as you are, but heck if I am going to spend any time on this if your attitude is like that. Bye now.

---

and with attitude like that, you won't get help from others eithier,

Claggy

I gave you ALL the information you asked for. My answers follow each of the questions you asked. For the second time, you didn't bother to read it.

You're one to talk about attitude. Your responses have been belligerent since the very first one. I see in the rules "No messages that are deliberately hostile or insulting" but that's all you've done right from the beginning. I guess civility is supposed to be only a one way street around here.

You know what? I don't need this. And in the long run, others won't either. Projects don't need "volunteers" whose main intent seems to be to drive people away from the project.

Well, success! I've been doing computational physics since before you were born and have plenty of things to occupy my time with other than this.

Now then, since I couldn't sleep anyway I checked this thread again. I see the OP answered within the quoted text. I still stand by what I said earlier, so the following isn't in reply to anyone, it's for general use.

- Is boinctray.exe running at all times? (See Windows Task manager->Processes)

No. boinc.exe and boincmgr.exe.

Boinctray.exe is the idle detection program.

For Windows Vista and Windows 7, boinctray.exe needs to be running at all times if you want BOINC to correctly see when the computer is idle and when it is not. While its name makes people think that it is running the icon in the system tray, this isn't true; the icon of BOINC Manager is shown by BOINC Manager.

When you run BOINC only when idle without boinctray.exe, you're depending on Boinc.exe and Boincmgr.exe to recognize that you're using the computer again. Due to the differences in how Windows Vista and 7 detect things (e.g. both memory and procedure calls), as compared to how Windows XP or before do these things, it is very unreliable to let the Client and the Manager do this idle detection. Plus it will no longer do anything when you exit BOINC Manager, but let the client and science applications continue to run.

Therefore the developers came up with boinctray.exe as it will tell BOINC to quit doing what it's doing, unconditionally, as soon as it detects that you're active again.

Windows Vista/Windows 7
With BOINC installed as a service (protected application execution), you need to have running:
- either boinctray.exe and boinc.exe;
- or boinctray.exe, boinc.exe and boincmgr.exe

With BOINC installed as single user/multi-user option, but not a service, you need to have running:
- either boinc.exe and boinctray.exe
- or boinctray.exe, boinc.exe and boincmgr.exe

As soon as you stop running boinctray.exe and boincmgr.exe in either of these situations under Windows Vista and Windows 7, your idle detection will stop working.

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I had similar problems with WIN 7.
This has nothing to do with BOINC.

Update your drivers, these problems have only been recently solved by NVIDIA at last. And hopefully for cards in your series.

Version 258.96 is the last stable driver.

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