Screensaver spawning graphics windows

[Sou'westerly]

I have been looking at a problem with BOINC in Windows XP spawning graphics windows on Einstein. I have now been able to reproduce this using the BOINC Alpha project on an AMD X2 and an Intel core 2 duo. It affects both BOINC 5.10.30 and 5.10.45. After initial start up the screensaver starts and stops normally If however the graphics are opened and closed for a task using the “show graphics” button then, when the screensaver next closes, it restarts the graphics app and opens a new graphics window for the task. On a dual core you can get two new graphics windows to open this way. The difference appears to be that the application mode is saved as 2 in the second case

{06/03/2008 15:05:59

[scrsave_debug] ACTIVE_TASK_SET::save_app_modes(): saved mode 2}

instead of 1 as previously

{06/03/2008 15:03:41

[scrsave_debug] ACTIVE_TASK_SET::save_app_modes(): saved mode 1}

Reports on Einstein indicate that it probably occurs on 5.10.20 as well and that up to 20 graphics windows can be spawned.

A typical log for Einstein attached. It shows first the normal case then the error situation.

Methodology: Set Screensaver to start after 1 minute. Suspend all active projects. Allow BOINC Alpha to download a work unit. When the work unit starts computing, open the “show graphics” window and close it. Suspend the work unit so that it doesn’t complete before the screensaver can kick in. Allow the screensaver to load and show the suspended work unit. 2 mouse movements or keystrokes to stop the screensaver (why does it take two?) And bingo, a new graphics window (sometimes appears iconized on the toolbar)

Dave.

[Sou'westerly]

Log

[Nicolas]

Marking component - although technically, the problem is probably in the core client or the API.

[Ageless]

There's a thread on the ​Einstein forums about this as well. I wonder if it hasn't got anything to do with the BOINC 6 compliant graphics that are used. Does BOINC Alpha already use a separate graphics application?

[Sou'westerly]

BOINC Alpha does use a separate graphics app. It is uppercase_graphics_6.7_windows_intelx86.exe Dave.

[Ageless]

BOINC 6.1.14 to .16 and 6.2.1 does this as well.

Graphics windows still pop back up after using the screensaver or screensaver preview. Only happens when BOINC Manager is open, though.

And the only way I can get rid of it is to either set the screensaver to another (Windows) screensaver, or set it to None.

[romw]

This should be fixed now with the latest 6.2.x clients.