Switching type of workunit
19 Jul 2006 23:55:17 UTC
Topic 191592
(moderation:
For some reason, BOINC tends to crash as it segues into my screensaver every so often. This has become a frustration for me, and it's happened in SETI and Einstein, but I'm not sure what can be done about it. However, exasperating the problem is that my computer currently keeps downloading the really long WUs for Einstein, so I'll get a good fraction done, and then it crashes, and I lose all credit. Is there a way to switch so that I get the short WUs, and there's a much better chance that they will finish before BOINC crashes?
Switching type of workunit
)
I don't think BOINC will let you pick and choose WU types. It's all "luck of the draw". With regard to screensaver problems, the "standard advice" is to make sure your graphics card driver is current (see this thread). Also your version of DirectX (read this). However, since you are running Win XP Svc Pk 2 you are probably pretty well up to date already.
RE: I don't think BOINC
)
I figured as much, however I remember reading somewhere that BOINC would keep giving me WUs of the same type, as long as it can, and that there would be a file of some sort on my computer telling it what type. If I can remove that file, I would have a chance of getting otehr types of WUs.
Or possibly I am completely confused.
RE: RE: I don't think
)
You should have at least one master data file in your Einstein folder. It will be quite large and have a name formatted something like "h1_1272.5_S5R1" (that one is mine). WU's (sliced from the MDF) will have longer names that start with the MDF name (and, of course, they will be much smaller). I have no idea what problems you could run into if you delete the MDF but I would caution you to back up your BOINC folder before trying it. It would also be a good idea to finish out any WU's in cache first. (And, just for the record, I am not recommending that you do it.)
Also, you should read this message from Bruce which talks about the scheduler sending shorter WU's to slow computers.
RE: I have no idea what
)
I tried that once. Something (I assume the client), decided that it was wanted but missing, and simply downloaded the same MDF again. Not recommended.
RE: I tried that once.
)
You need to remove all record of the MDF in your clients_state.xml file. Once again not recommended.
There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers. - Richard Feynman
Patient : Hey doctor, when i
)
Patient : Hey doctor, when i move my arm like this it hurts
Doctor : Well then don't move it like that.
In other words, if your computer is having problems with the screensaver and you can't find why, then stop using the screensaver and just have it blank screen. Better that then having it crash. Besides, the screensaver uses cpu cycles that could be used to crunch the WU.
:)
98SE XP2500+ @ 2.1 GHz Boinc v5.8.8
