I'm running 6.6.36. Win XP Pro SP3

Most of the times when starting it would not connect.

Sometimes it would connect fine and download new work, then after 1/2 hour or so it would disconnect.

I tried suggestions from other threads:

Disconnect/Reconnect manager.
Reboot computer.
In windows firewall I allowed Boinc & opened the ports.

I'm at work going through a server, but there are no limitation on where I can surf. I used to run this on my old work computer for weeks without any issues.

Any other suggestion on what I can try?

Here is what's in the MESSAGES tab:

6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Starting BOINC client version 6.6.36 for windows_intelx86
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Libraries: libcurl/7.19.4 OpenSSL/0.9.8j zlib/1.2.3
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Data directory: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\BOINC
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Running under account Guido (deleted)
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Processor: 1 AuthenticAMD AMD Athlon(tm) XP [x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0]
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Processor features: fpu tsc sse 3dnow mmx
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional x86 Edition, Service Pack 3, (05.01.2600.00)
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 2.60 GB virtual
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Disk: 117.19 GB total, 98.81 GB free
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Local time is UTC -4 hours
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM No CUDA devices found
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM No coprocessors
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Not using a proxy
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM rosetta@home URL: http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/; Computer ID: 67453; location: home; project prefs: default
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Einstein@Home URL: http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/; Computer ID: 441680; location: (none); project prefs: default
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM lhcathome URL: http://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/; Computer ID: 75318; location: (none); project prefs: default
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM orbit@home URL: http://orbit.psi.edu/oah/; Computer ID: 14797; location: (none); project prefs: default
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM SETI@home URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID: 1744373; location: home; project prefs: default
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM World Community Grid URL: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/; Computer ID: 774872; location: (none); project prefs: default
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Einstein@Home General prefs: from Einstein@Home (last modified 28-Nov-2005 18:26:58)
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Einstein@Home Host location: none
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Einstein@Home General prefs: using your defaults
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Reading preferences override file
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Preferences limit memory usage when active to 1023.74MB
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Preferences limit memory usage when idle to 1842.74MB
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Preferences limit disk usage to 50.00GB
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Einstein@Home [error] File einstein_4.79_windows_intelx86.exe has wrong size: expected 1712128, got 0
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Einstein@Home Started download of einstein_4.79_windows_intelx86.exe
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Einstein@Home [error] File albert_4.37_windows_intelx86.exe has wrong size: expected 1044480, got 0
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Einstein@Home Started download of albert_4.37_windows_intelx86.exe
6/30/2009 2:15:25 PM rosetta@home Restarting task lr8_score12_dun08_run01_rlbd_1fkb_IGNORE_THE_REST_DECOY_12998_548_0 using minirosetta version 180

Here is what's in the MESSAGES tab:

6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Starting BOINC client version 6.6.36 for windows_intelx86
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Libraries: libcurl/7.19.4 OpenSSL/0.9.8j zlib/1.2.3
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Data directory: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\BOINC
6/30/2009 2:15:24 PM Running under account Guido (deleted)
...

I don't know if it's the reason for your problem, but what struck me was the "deleted" after your account.

Gruß,
Gundolf

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Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)

That sounds a bit like this thread.
The English is a bit hard to read, but I think the poster is saying that the company has an automated setup that only allows one user name.

I typed in "deleted" to hide my name.

My old computer ran fine for many months without receiving this error. When I replaced computer & reinstalled BOINC I started having these problems. This is why I don't think it has anything to do with the company server. And also sometimes it would work fine for an hour or so, and then looses connection.

Anyway, if there's nothing else for me to check on my PC, what questions do I need to ask our IT guy to make sure it's not the server? But if possible I'd rather bother him as last case scenario - when everything else I can do myself has been tried.

Thanks. I can't wait to get this up and running 24/7.

Does boinc.exe (and the project application(s)) continue to run if the manager (boincmgr.exe) disconnects? [edit] You can check this with Windows Task-Manager.[/edit]

If so, the disconnecting might be annoying but won't prevent BOINC from crunching.

What happens if you install in Protected Application Execution mode (aka service mode)?

Gruß,
Gundolf

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Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)

Task manager only shows boincmgr.exe and boinctray.exe

How do I install in service mode? (I have full admin rights on this PC).

This is what I just did:

I exited boincmgr. It disappeared from task manager.
I "end process" boinctray.
I restarted boincmgr. task manager showed both boincmgr and boinc.exe. I saw my tasks in the GUI. After 30 seconds boinc.exe disappeared from task manager (along with my tasks in GUI). About a minute later boinc.exe returned.

Boinc.exe is cycling on and off (from task manager) every 30 seconds or so.

boinctray never reappeared in task manager.

Still cycling...

And now it's off for good, with only boincmgr showing in task manager.

Are there any error messages in the Messages tab of BOINC manager (or stdoutdae.txt) when that happens?

A couple errors for wrong file size.
Below is the entire Messages txt.

I tried running boinc.exe from the comd prompt with no luck. It tried to connect, then said access violation to some address, then did a debug and scrolled a lot of gibberish.

I have a feeling the solution is simple, just don't know where else to look.


7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Starting BOINC client version 6.6.36 for windows_intelx86
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM log flags: task, file_xfer, sched_ops
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Libraries: libcurl/7.19.4 OpenSSL/0.9.8j zlib/1.2.3
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Data directory: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\BOINC
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Running under account Guido **
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Processor: 1 AuthenticAMD AMD Athlon(tm) XP [x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0]
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Processor features: fpu tsc sse 3dnow mmx
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM OS: Microsoft Windows XP: Professional x86 Edition, Service Pack 3, (05.01.2600.00)
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Memory: 2.00 GB physical, 2.60 GB virtual
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Disk: 117.19 GB total, 98.58 GB free
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Local time is UTC -4 hours
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM No CUDA devices found
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM No coprocessors
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Not using a proxy
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM rosetta@home URL: http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/; Computer ID: 67453; location: home; project prefs: default
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Einstein@Home URL: http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/; Computer ID: 441680; location: (none); project prefs: default
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM lhcathome URL: http://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/; Computer ID: 75318; location: (none); project prefs: default
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM orbit@home URL: http://orbit.psi.edu/oah/; Computer ID: 14797; location: (none); project prefs: default
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM SETI@home URL: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/; Computer ID: 1744373; location: home; project prefs: default
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM World Community Grid URL: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/; Computer ID: 774872; location: (none); project prefs: default
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Einstein@Home General prefs: from Einstein@Home (last modified 28-Nov-2005 18:26:58)
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Einstein@Home Host location: none
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Einstein@Home General prefs: using your defaults
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Reading preferences override file
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Preferences limit memory usage when active to 1023.74MB
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Preferences limit memory usage when idle to 1842.74MB
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Preferences limit disk usage to 50.00GB
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Einstein@Home [error] File einstein_4.79_windows_intelx86.exe has wrong size: expected 1712128, got 0
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Einstein@Home Started download of einstein_4.79_windows_intelx86.exe
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Einstein@Home [error] File albert_4.37_windows_intelx86.exe has wrong size: expected 1044480, got 0
7/1/2009 2:09:19 PM Einstein@Home Started download of albert_4.37_windows_intelx86.exe
7/1/2009 2:09:20 PM rosetta@home Restarting task lr8_score12_dun08_run01_rlbd_1fkb_IGNORE_THE_REST_DECOY_12998_548_0 using minirosetta version 180

I go to Advanced then Shut down connected client.

The "select computer: screen is blank.

I type "localhost" and the password field populates with dots.

I press OK.

Everything comes back as normal - the bottom of the window says connected to localhost (6.6.36). All is good.

About 20 seconds later it disconnects, then gets stuck on "connecting to localhost"

Sometimes it does, but then it disconnects again. After about 4 times of this happening it permanently disconnects until I do something to get it going again.

Does this help anyone to troubleshoot?

I disabled windows firewall.
I set all boinc preferences to default.
Settings are "Run Always" & "Network always available"
Under Tools I select "sync with Grid Republic" and it connects for about 20 seconds.

Still no go.

Is there an old "proven" version that I can try installing? I don't care for any fancy features, I usually let it run for weeks without even looking at it.

Several people on cpdn are running 6.2.18 & 6.2.19 without problems.

I type "localhost" and the password field populates with dots.

You don't need to enter anything, just pressing OK is enough.

Does this help anyone to troubleshoot?

Not really, as your log entries only show errors concerning connections from the BOINC client (boinc.exe) to the project servers. Your problem exists though between the client and the manager (boincmgr.exe).

If you want to investigate some more, look at the other std*.txt files in the BOINC data directory. Then you could select "Suspend" from the Activities menu when the connection is established. If that stabilizes things, try suspending all projects but one. Perhaps it depends on a certain project.

Otherwise try downgrading. I myself am very happy with BOINC version 5. But since you are connected to Einstein, don't go beyond 5.10.20. I lost some WUs because of an error with my 5.10.45 client (introduced with 5.10.21) when their servers went down.

Gruß,
Gundolf

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Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)

I looked at the other txt file - some ar elong and not really sure what I'm looking for.

When I suspend network activity it doesn't diconnect. As soon as I "unsuspend" it will disconnect, regardless if I suspended the individual projects.

I'll try downloading an older version. Is there anything I need to do to ensure a fresh installation? Besides data I don't want any current files tainting the new install.

Thanks to everyone for their help - I know it's not easy diagnosing these problems from thousands of miles away!

When I suspend network activity it doesn't diconnect. As soon as I "unsuspend" it will disconnect, regardless if I suspended the individual projects.

That sounds like a problem with Internet connections; the client is obviously so busy with those that it can't keep the connection to the manager. Sadly, I'm no expert on that field.

I'll try downloading an older version. Is there anything I need to do to ensure a fresh installation? Besides data I don't want any current files tainting the new install.

You should set all projects to "No new tasks" and wait until all jobs are finished (or you could abort them, especially pending downloads). Don't forget to report them afterwards! (Your Tasks and Transfers tabs should be empty.)

After uninstalling the old (new:-) version, you should save the account*.xml files from the BOINC data directory. Then you can delete the directories.

After installing the new (older) version and before starting BOINC for the first time, restore the account*.xml files to the data directory. In doing so, you don't need to reattach to your projects.

Gruß,
Gundolf
[edit]Richard Haselgrove's explanation is better than mine :-)[/edit]

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Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)

When I suspend network activity it doesn't diconnect. As soon as I "unsuspend" it will disconnect, regardless if I suspended the individual projects.

That sounds like a clue. We need the networking gurus, but I've heard phrases like "blocking dns" in this context.

Basically, the BOINC Manager talks to the BOINC daemon by TCP/IP, on localhost (127.0.0.1). The BOINC daemon talks to the projects by TCP/IP, and finds them by DNS. So if DNS takes ages to resolve the project names, TCP/IP stalls, and you lose the connection to the manager in the traffic-jam.

That could be the problem. Unfortunately, I can't guide you to the solution, but I'm sure someone here can.

Gweedz,
From the looks of your error, it may be/have been (if you are still experiencing it) bad WUs from Einstein@Home. I encountered a similar error with Lattice Project WUs this morning, and after manually deleting the WUs, BOINC Manager connected to the clinet (localhost) no problem. After that I just reset the project to make sure that there was no straggler data from it that might cause the problem to resurface.

Walt