LHC@home

When the screensaver comes on all i get is the BOINC icon and the message app can't display graphic then it starts to switch screens and it continues to do this until i get out of the screensaver. Then i have to manually close sixtrack. But if i go to the work tab and click show graphic it shows up just fine.

i am running a geforce 4 mx440 graphics card
p3 450mhz winxp pro
Directx 9.0C

I am having a similar problem. I get the measureing performace screen and the app can't display graphics screens. It is very hard to get control of the computer back. It was displaying normally but very slowly when using show graphics.

500mhz p3
640mb ram
voodoo 3 graphics card.

John Keck -- BOINCing since 2002/12/08

> I am having a similar problem. I get the measureing performace screen and the
> app can't display graphics screens. It is very hard to get control of the
> computer back. It was displaying normally but very slowly when using show
> graphics.
>
> 500mhz p3
> 640mb ram
> voodoo 3 graphics card.
>
John Keck -- BOINCing since 2002/12/08
>

First, I had already reported this problem. (I do wish that people would follow LHC instructions.)

[QUOTE from News Update on 20.09.2004 15:30 UTC]
Please report any problems you encounter, but check if other users have already reported it before starting a new thread. In this case let us know you are also seeing this problem, since we don't have the manpower to check out all bugreports, which means the most frequent bugs will be looked into first.
[/QUOTE]

You will find this problem here:

http://lhcathome.cern.ch/forum_thread.php?id=357

> > I am having a similar problem. I get the measureing performace screen and
> the
> > app can't display graphics screens. It is very hard to get control of
> the
> > computer back. It was displaying normally but very slowly when using
> show
> > graphics.
> >
> > 500mhz p3
> > 640mb ram
> > voodoo 3 graphics card.
> >
John Keck -- BOINCing since 2002/12/08
> >
>
> First, I had already reported this problem. (I do wish that people would
> follow LHC instructions.)
>
> [QUOTE from News Update on 20.09.2004 15:30 UTC]
> Please report any problems you encounter, but check if other users have
> already reported it before starting a new thread. In this case let us know you
> are also seeing this problem, since we don't have the manpower to check out
> all bugreports, which means the most frequent bugs will be looked into first.
> [/QUOTE]
>
> You will find this problem here:
>
> http://lhcathome.cern.ch/forum_thread.php?id=357
>
>

And this problem is still present in sixtrack v4.46.

Using Win XP Pro SP1, NVidia Geforce 4MX440 driver 6.1.7.7, P4 2.4@2.88GHz 512MB RAM.

The screensaver starts with a blank screen for 1 or 2 seconds. After that it shows a B icon slowly going down, a text appears at the left of the screen showing "graphics" or "display graphics" for some 1 second and after that the final graphics appears.

This was already the same with the earlier version of sixtrack.


Greetings from Belgium

>
> And this problem is still present in sixtrack v4.46.

Confirmed.

http://members.shaw.ca/joevoxxer/LHCScreensaverModeStartup.jpg

2.2 ghz celeron. 500 or so megs of ram. IntelExtreme video, which is the generic onboard video.

______________________________________________________________
Did your tech wear a static strap? No? Well, there ya go! :p

>
> >
> > And this problem is still present in sixtrack v4.46.
>
> Confirmed.
>
> http://members.shaw.ca/joevoxxer/LHCScreensaverModeStartup.jpg
>
> 2.2 ghz celeron. 500 or so megs of ram. IntelExtreme video, which is the
> generic onboard video.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Did your tech wear a static strap? No? Well, there ya go! :p
>

Question for those having this problem. What graphics card are you using, on the machine that is producing this problem? And what driver and DirectX versions are you using?

As I have a nVidia Ti4600. And I had just recently, as in the last 2 weeks, upgraded to DirectX 9.0c and nVidia Drivers v61.77.

> >
> > >
> > > And this problem is still present in sixtrack v4.46.
> >
> > Confirmed.
> >
> > http://members.shaw.ca/joevoxxer/LHCScreensaverModeStartup.jpg
> >
> > 2.2 ghz celeron. 500 or so megs of ram. IntelExtreme video, which is
> the
> > generic onboard video.
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Did your tech wear a static strap? No? Well, there ya go! :p
> >
>
> Question for those having this problem. What graphics card are you using, on
> the machine that is producing this problem? And what driver and DirectX
> versions are you using?
>
> As I have a nVidia Ti4600. And I had just recently, as in the last 2 weeks,
> upgraded to DirectX 9.0c and nVidia Drivers v61.77.
>

Similar type problem here also, what I have noticed so far:
- When LHC screensaver activates, it tries to run the performance test several
times. After a while the performance test is passed and the screensaver
starts. Exiting screensaver is usually normal.
- Today a WU was finished while LHC screensaver was active (screensaver showed
100000/100000 calculations but animation was stopped). Using BoincView from
another computer, I could see that WU was 100% finished but WU result did not
upload, also sixtrack didn't start working on another WU. I had to reset the
whole computer because I was unable to return to normal desktop (no response
from computer anymore). After restarting the computer, Boinc showed that the
WU was about 99.6% finished, when calculation started again and the WU
finished normally and the result also uploaded normally.
- I've had no problems with SETI screensaver

Here's info of my system:
HP Visualize NT Workstation
CPU Pentium PIII 1GHz
RAM 1024 MB
Windows 2000 Professional, Service Pack 4
Display Adapter ATI Radeon 9800 Pro with 256 MB memory
driver version 6.14.1.6307
DirectX9.0 (4.09.0000.0900)
BOINC 4.09, setiathome 4.03 (66%), sixtrack 4.46 (33%)

I have a similar problem, even with v4.46. However there is no "App can't display graphics" error message at all. When the screensaver loads there is just a white screen and the program sixtrack in the taskbar. My mouse completely disappears and the system more or less freezes. I need to kill the process with Ctrl+Alt+Del and to switch off Boinc in order to avoid that sixtrack starts again and immediately continues slowing down my system to zero. When I then restart Boinc program by hand it works again until the screen saver loads next time.

(Starting the graphics mode by hand with Boinc works perfectly.)

I have a Laptop with Windows 2000 (SP4), S3 Twister Graphics Card, 512 MB RAM. Boinc is version 4.09.

I have found to my dismay that the LHC@Home aspect of the screensaver causes me to loose control of my computing system, as has been described by others in this thread; and the only way I can regain control is to subject my local machine to a cold re-boot, which is not an ideal situation. The ClimatePrediction.Net and SETI@Home aspects of the screensaver work just fine.

What I'd like to know is: When will this be fixed? Who is working on it? How do we get in touch with them? Thank you for your attention.

=^..^=

We are starting to look at this screensaver problem.


*** QUESTION: Are all affected users running Windows 2000 ? ***


(We haven't seen the problem here, but we run mostly XP.
If it's a Win2000 effect this will help us to narrow things down).

Ben Segal / LHC@home Coordinator

> We are starting to look at this screensaver problem.
>
>
> *** QUESTION: Are all affected users running Windows 2000 ? ***
>
>
> (We haven't seen the problem here, but we run mostly XP.
> If it's a Win2000 effect this will help us to narrow things down).
>
> Ben Segal / LHC@home Coordinator
>
>

Ben, I am running the Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition operating system. Thanks for letting us know you're looking into this matter!

=^..^=

I have 2 systems having this problem. Both run windows XP. One I mentioned before has a 500mhz intel procesor and a voodoo 3 video card. The other has an 800mhz via processor with integrated graphics.

John Keck -- BOINCing since 2002/12/08 --

> We are starting to look at this screensaver problem.
>
>
> *** QUESTION: Are all affected users running Windows 2000 ? ***
>
>
> (We haven't seen the problem here, but we run mostly XP.
> If it's a Win2000 effect this will help us to narrow things down).
>
> Ben Segal / LHC@home Coordinator
>
>

Since you guys have already removed my original posts on the screen saver problems here. I'll attempt to reconstruct my experiences with the screen saver here.


1st Problem:

Originally reported with sixtrack v4.43/4. Using DirectX v9.0b and nVidia ForceWare drivers v44.03.

When using the screen saver, sixtrack would crash with a module at "xxxxxxxxx" address unable to read "xxxxxxxxxxxx" address. And this would only happen when using the screen saver. Using the "Show Graphics" option worked just fine.

I do remember someone stating that they would look into it. I have no idea what the outcome was. Nor did I receive any emails for more information.


2nd Problem:

Originally reported with sixtrack v4.45. Using DirectX v9.0c and nVidia ForceWare drivers v61.77

When using the screen saver, the system would show the Boinc Icon roaming the screen. It would also display the following message:

Application unable to
display graphics.

Plus it would attempt to switch to a blank black screen. That displays the count down for the calibrations. And it is always stuck at 4 seconds.

Also, when returning from the screen saver. Control is not returned to Windows, or any other program. The screen saver attempts to come back on every 1-15 seconds. Although you are able to move the mouse. You are not able to get control of the desktop, or any other open window, with it.

The only way I have been able to get out of this. Is by using the ALT-TAB combination, to switch to an already open window that is not sixtrack. Once I have done that, then I bring up the Task Manager. For which I must then use End Task, or End Process, to close sixtrack. I must then turn off Boinc as the screen saver.

If I do not do this, then sixtrack eventually gains control again. And the process starts all over again.




3rd Problem:

Originally reported with the above problem.

When using the "Show Graphics" option from Boinc. Sixtrack takes over 20 minutes to open up, and to display only the LHC icon and the progress bar. Nothing else is displayed. Even if left to display for the remaining time the WU is being crunched.

The display of the animation in the icon is so slow. It is takes over 5 minutes for the partical to go from the left side of the icon, to the right side.

And when the progress bar updates, the completed cycles has increased by 56 - 86 cycles at a time.



All three problems above, only happend on 1 of my two machines. The only difference to that machine, between problem 1 and problems 2 & 3. Is the sixtrack version and the Video Drivers and DirectX versions.

System Specs -
OS: Windows 2000 Advanced Server
CPU: AMD Duron 1Ghz
RAM: 1.5GB
GPU: nVidia Ti4600 128MB ram



About three days ago, my video card's fan stopped working properly. And while I await the arival of a new heatsink & fan for it. I had to put the only other video card I have in. It is a Voodo 4500 PCI.

I am using the AmigaMerlin v3.0 drivers for the card. (They seem to be the only Windows 2000 drivers I can get for it.) I am able to use the "Show Graphics" option without any problems. The graphics load up quick, and run just like it does on my XP system. But, I am still unable to use the screen saver. The screen saver shows up as a completely blank black screen. No message about the calibration, or even any other kind of message/image.

Although I have found, that when returning from the screen saver. I do not have the problem of losing control of the desktop.

Thanks very much to "The WABBIT" for that very helpful re-summary of this nasty problem - and also to John Keck for confirming that it's not only Win2000.

As Chrulle has said already, our graphics guy is back in school after his summer with us at CERN, which doesn't help getting this fixed... but we're trying to find a solution. Please use the workarounds suggested in this thread for now.

Ben Segal / LHC@home

>
> Since you guys have already removed my original posts on the screen saver
> problems here. I'll attempt to reconstruct my experiences with the screen
> saver here...
>

> Thanks very much to "The WABBIT" for that very helpful re-summary of this
> nasty problem - and also to John Keck for confirming that it's not only
> Win2000.
>
> As Chrulle has said already, our graphics guy is back in school after his
> summer with us at CERN, which doesn't help getting this fixed... but we're
> trying to find a solution. Please use the workarounds suggested in this thread
> for now.
>
> Ben Segal / LHC@home
>
> >
> > Since you guys have already removed my original posts on the screen
> saver
> > problems here. I'll attempt to reconstruct my experiences with the
> screen
> > saver here...
> >
>
>
>

Ben, I am currently trying to do some testing to see what might be causing it. By testing, I mean that I have pulled out an empty drive. And I've doing a complete install of everything. At the moment I have only stock Windows 2000 AS with SP4 only (no hot fixes or security updates), all updated drivers (including the nVidia WorkForce v61.44 drivers.) and antivirus program installed.

And so far my testing has shown no problems. With this in mind, I think the problem might be caused by either one, or more, corrupt file(s). Or it might be a conflict with something else installed.

If someone from CERN is willing to contact me by email, you got the email address in my profile. I will keep you guys updated with my testing.

I'm taking this one installed piece of software at a time. Next, I'll be installing DirectX 8.1.

Deleted by User.

> Ben, I am currently trying to do some testing to see what might be causing it.
> By testing, I mean that I have pulled out an empty drive. And I've doing a
> complete install of everything. At the moment I have only stock Windows 2000
> AS with SP4 only (no hot fixes or security updates), all updated drivers
> (including the nVidia WorkForce v61.44 drivers.) and antivirus program
> installed.
>
> And so far my testing has shown no problems. With this in mind, I think the
> problem might be caused by either one, or more, corrupt file(s). Or it might
> be a conflict with something else installed.
>
> If someone from CERN is willing to contact me by email, you got the email
> address in my profile. I will keep you guys updated with my testing.
>
> I'm taking this one installed piece of software at a time. Next, I'll be
> installing DirectX 8.1.
>
>
>

This is a follow-up on my last testing.

With the previously mentioned installation of Windows/drivers and anti-virus software. I have done more testing with the sixtrack. And my results are as follows:

1) Stock installation, plus newest drivers for all devices. And the installation of McAfee VirusScan 2004 only.

The use of "Show Graphics" from Boinc, resulted in the graphics loading up fine. And running of the graphics was at normal speeds. There was no delay, or slowness, in the graphics.

The use of the screensaver was also done without any problems. With the execption of Boinc taking about 30 seconds to 1 minute to start to display the screensaver. There was no issue with the screensaver being used.

2) Installation of DirectX v8.1, nothing else was installed before/during/after DirectX.

The results were the same as #1 above.

3) Installation of DirectX v8.2, nothing else was installed before/during/after DirectX.

Again, the results were the same as #1 above.

4) The installation of DirectX v9.0, nothing else was installed before/during/after DirectX.

After the installation of DirectX v9.0, I stated experiencing all of the previouse problems mentioned.

"Show Graphics" was very slow, after 5 minutes I just gave up.

The screensaver ended up not displaying. Instead of having 2 seperate displays, one for Boinc and another for sixtrack, that was switched back and forth. I had the Boinc display with the sixtrack as the background. The Boinc icon disappeared for about 1 second, as it moved around the screen. But, it continued to display the message "App cannot display graphics". The sixtrack, as being displayed in the background, was frozen at 5 seconds.

And the attempt to return to the desktop, resulted in sixtrack no giving up control. And it attempting to return to the screensaver.



Since I have already experienced this problem with DirectX v9.0b & v9.0c. I have not done any more testing.



This seems to be a problem with DirectX v9.xx. I would suggest that you find out what version of DirectX everyone else has.

In the mean time, it looks like I'll have to do a complete reinstall of my system. Just so that I can remove DirectX v9.xx from it.

> This seems to be a problem with DirectX v9.xx. I would suggest that you find
> out what version of DirectX everyone else has.

I have DirectX 9, latest version, on my system and have no issues with it. Therefore I believe the problem is not related to DirectX.


Greetings from Belgium

> > This seems to be a problem with DirectX v9.xx. I would suggest that you
> find
> > out what version of DirectX everyone else has.
>
> I have DirectX 9, latest version, on my system and have no issues with it.
> Therefore I believe the problem is not related to DirectX.
>
>
I have the latest versions of directX on the 2 computers that have problems as well as the 2 that work properly. I personally think the problem is that the code that measures graphics performace doesn't have an exit point when using a sub-standard video card.

I think this because sometimes if I let it run on the computers with problems it will go ahead and start the screensaver. This only happens occasionaly and is usually in a situation were it tries to run for almost the whole timeslice that LHC has available.

John Keck -- BOINCing since 2002/12/08 --