CONDITIONS:
1. BOINC 5.2.12 set to do work only after computer is idle for 1 minute.
2. Windows XP Home or Pro.
3. Two or more users logged in.

BEHAVIOR:
BOINC does not recognize that the system is busy when the second user is on the computer. It only recognizes that the computer is being used by the first user. This causes the CPU usage to always be 100% when the second user is logged in.

Is this a bug or is something just configured wrong on my sytem? I've noticed this behavior on two systems.

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How was it installed? Service, single user...

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How was it installed? Service, single user...

It was installed as a Shared Installation and set to run when the user logged in.

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Zero experience here with shared install - someone else will have to assist...

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The "Use only when idle" works by detecting keystrokes or mouse movements for the actual input devices connected directly to the box. That is why the second user is not being detected. Unfortunately, what you are seeing is the normal behaviour.

However, please realise that if BOINC projects weren't using your spare cpu cycles then the system idle process would be using them anyway :). BOINC is extremely good at getting out of the way (science apps run at very low priority) when you want to do your own work. Even with older machines, it's hard to detect any significant performance hit for your normal work. I've seen experienced gamers playing intensive games and not really noticing that BOINC was running so for more average use it shouldn't be a problem. I've burnt many CDs with BOINC projects running full bore and never had a problem. BOINC just gets out of the way.

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Cheers,
Gary.

The "Use only when idle" works by detecting keystrokes or mouse movements for the actual input devices connected directly to the box. That is why the second user is not being detected. Unfortunately, what you are seeing is the normal behaviour.

I'm not talking about a network user on the computer. I'm talking about having two users phyically logged in to Windows XP and switching between them. Both myself and my wife use the computer and I created profiles for each of us. When I am logged in BOINC will detect when I am using the computer and suspend. When my wife is logged in BOINC just keeps running.

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The "Use only when idle" works by detecting keystrokes or mouse movements for the actual input devices connected directly to the box. That is why the second user is not being detected. Unfortunately, what you are seeing is the normal behaviour.

I'm not talking about a network user on the computer. I'm talking about having two users phyically logged in to Windows XP and switching between them. Both myself and my wife use the computer and I created profiles for each of us. When I am logged in BOINC will detect when I am using the computer and suspend. When my wife is logged in BOINC just keeps running.

I advise using the service mode install whenever fast user switching is enabled. It seems like the fast switching leaves to much open for BOINC to work properly.

edit: Service mode has it's own possible problem in your situation. You may have to change the creditials to local system and allow interaction with the destop for the idle detection to work properly.

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