how to direct BOINC to use a specific disk drive

Message boards : Questions and problems : how to direct BOINC to use a specific disk drive
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bill

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Message 113889 - Posted: 13 Apr 2024, 15:17:04 UTC
Last modified: 13 Apr 2024, 15:17:52 UTC

I have multiple drives in my system I would like to direct BOINC and all "sub programs" to use that drive exclusively for all work, not drive c:. This should be possible, it is probably trivially easy, but I haven't found out how after much reading.

BOINC Manager Ver 7.24.1 (X64), wxWidgets Ver 3.2.2
Computer OS Windows 11 pro 64
all projects
Problem: How to specify what disk to use, the Disk menu allows specifying how much, I installed a specific disk (drive V in my case) for BOINC and associated programs and projects to use.

thanks
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Profile Dave
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Message 113890 - Posted: 13 Apr 2024, 15:46:09 UTC - in response to Message 113889.  

Problem: How to specify what disk to use, the Disk menu allows specifying how much, I installed a specific disk (drive V in my case) for BOINC and associated programs and projects to use.

From memory, if you check the box for a customised installation as opposed to the default installation you can then choose the drive where you want stuff to go.
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bill

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Message 113891 - Posted: 13 Apr 2024, 15:50:14 UTC - in response to Message 113890.  

thanks, I've had BOINC installed for a very long time (since around the time that SETI started), should I re-install it? or is there a way to adjust that? I suppose I could just move the executable and whatever else I find to the other drive, will that work?
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Profile Dave
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Message 113892 - Posted: 13 Apr 2024, 16:18:17 UTC - in response to Message 113891.  

thanks, I've had BOINC installed for a very long time (since around the time that SETI started), should I re-install it? or is there a way to adjust that? I suppose I could just move the executable and whatever else I find to the other drive, will that work?
I am a bit rusty on that. I would finish any current work, uninstall and then do a fresh install choosing the custom install option. There may be an easier or quicker way to do it but having defenestrated over 20 years ago and been with Linux ever since, I haven't done a custom install recently enough to be sure.
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Richard Haselgrove
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Message 113893 - Posted: 13 Apr 2024, 16:23:08 UTC - in response to Message 113891.  

All that follows assumes you are using Windows. If not, stop reading here.

BOINC uses two separate directories: a program directory (for its own programs), and a data directory (for everything else, including project science applications). Before you start, make a note of what the current location of each of these is - you can find them near the beginning of the Event Log each time BOINC starts).

There's probably no need to change the program directory. Leave that alone unless you feel an unstoppable urge to move it.

Stop the current version of BOINC completely, including any running projects.

Find the current location of the data directory. Move it to your new chosen drive - again, completely. You can't pick and move subdirectories individually. Also a good idea to take a backup while you're at it.

If you're already using the current version of BOINC - v7.24.1, if you're using a 64-bit version of Windows - you'll need to uninstall it from the Windows control panel. If there's a newer version available (see the 'download all' page), you can install it directly - otherwise, you can re-use the copy you downloaded last time.

Step through the installer stages carefully. You'll reach a page which shows the directory locations you used last time - probably the defaults. That page has an 'Advanced' button in the lower right hand corner. Click it.

You can then change either or both of the directory locations. Again, I'd suggest you leave the program directory untouched, but change the data directory to match the location you moved it to earlier. Double-check that the match is exact.

And that's it. Finish the installer normally, and start BOINC running. It should pick up and continue where it left off.
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bill

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Message 113894 - Posted: 13 Apr 2024, 18:19:41 UTC - in response to Message 113893.  
Last modified: 13 Apr 2024, 19:00:29 UTC

thank you.
BOINC program was in C:\Program Files\BOINC
BOINC data files were in Y:\programData\BOINC, so I copied it to V: where I wanted it.
I looked in the registry and I found: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folders which pointed to directories in Y:
Y:\ProgramData\BOINC\=1
Y:\ProgramData\BOINC\projects\ = null z(no value)
Y:\ProgramData\BOINC\slots\ = null

I renamed the keys to point to V instead of Y
I also found keys in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\828397E4864A663498F2CFF263CE999D and in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\834027C98E5377341A50FA6357660449 and in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\C61F1F0B9424F8046974099943BAEF87 and Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\E6A7EF9C0742666449B9D42BBB39E6F5
these pointed to Y:\programdata\BOINC, so I changed the data to point to V:
and Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Space Sciences Laboratory, U.C. Berkeley\BOINC Setup has a DATADIR key that I edited and the same thing here Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Space Sciences Laboratory, U.C. Berkeley\BOINC Setup
- I'm going to reboot and restart BOINC and see what happens, I will edit this post after I do that to say if that was a good idea or a not so good idea

UPDATE that seems to have moved all the traffic to V so it worked....this probably took longer than the uninstall/reinstall but I learned a little by doing it[/b]
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Message boards : Questions and problems : how to direct BOINC to use a specific disk drive

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