Installation problem - Boinc 5.1.x
7 Oct 2005 13:39:30 UTC
Topic 189978
(moderation:
Anyone,
I've been running Boinc 4.37 under WinXP, Einstein only project. I tried installing 5.1.8, no success. I followed this procedure for the muck-up - No New Work; exhausted all in-progress and pending work; exited Boinc; backup Boinc folder; deleted all files except "locale", "projects", "slots" folders; ran boinc_5.1.8_windows_intel86x.exe: accepted agreement; changed default path to E drive, where Boinc has resided; selected "Single User Installation"; unchecked Boinc as default screensaver and Launch at logon. Installer created a file in C/Windows/downloaded installations, which contained the .msi installer file, but gave a message that "The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable".
Ive later tried installing to C drive instead (though I'm loathe to install anything on my system drive, especially betas, tried deleting the Boinc folder entirely, and tried uninstalling Boinc from "Add and remove programs", which just pointed me back to the unusable Downloaded installations folder. I thought I had a more-than-casual understanding of Windows XP, but this one has me stumped. I tried posting to Boinc board, but have no login there. Perhaps my coping skills are at low ebb.
Anyone here had the same problem? Better yet, can someone suggest a solution?
Uncrunchable
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
Installation problem - Boinc 5.1.x
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Why didn't you uninstall Boinc the first time around through Add/Remove programs? Do you usually just delete selected files and directories of programs you want to get rid of, or do you usually use Add/Remove and found it too big a way around this time?
What did you have the former Boinc installed as? Is there a chance you had it installed as a service? It's registered to the Registry no matter what.
For installing on a separate drive/partition, you have to doubleclick the Change button, then make sure eventually it is pointing to the E: drive and a subfolder there. It will not make its own Program Files\\BOINC folder on another harddrive/partition. You have to point and click for that.
You did notice the big red letters behind Boinc 5.1.8 exclaiming (MAY BE UNSTABLE - USE ONLY FOR TESTING)? It's true, you know? But okay, to test if it is doing it that way, I'd have to much up my complete Boinc folder the way you did, something I don't want to do. I hope the more than casual Windows user goes to Add/Remove programs first time around, not think he knows better than Windows.
By having left the locale, projects and slots folders, you would be in the same place you're now in: Your Boinc won't know you have work units, once you manage to reinstall it, you will start from scratch anyway without all the XML files.
So, put your backup back. You made the backup of the Boinc folder not for nothing, did you? Then reboot, then try to uninstall first the proper way, the way Mr. Gates taught you.
The Boinc boards have their own login, you have to register there the same way you do for all these boards.
RE: Why didn't you
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Thanks, Jord
I tried out the 0.18 Einstein beta 2 weeks ago, no problems (but then Einstein was kind enough to offer explicit instructions on their beta site, while Boinc offers nothing of the sort). I didn't want to have to re-do my project attachment, preferences, etc, which is why I left the folders, and I pointed the 5.1.8 installer to the Boinc folder on drive E, which I have been using throughout my 7 months of Boincing. BTW, I couldn't find any registry entries for "Boinc" in Current_User/Software or Local_Machine/Software - where might they reside?
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
Michael, YIKES!! If you
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Michael,
YIKES!!
If you still have a valid backup of the 4.37 installation as it was before you touched anything, I would restore it completely in place of whatever "problem" folder is currently there. Then try to uninstall 4.37 without first deleting anything. If that is successful just do a normal installation of 5.1.x and all your previous settings stored in various .xml files should ensure that you have a painless installation.
I've only read your description quickly but deleting any stuff at all was the mistake you made. There was actually no need to even finish the work in progress. To change versions, the process should be:-
1. Stop BOINC completely (check with taskmanager if you like)
2. Uninstall the old BOINC
3. Reinstall the new BOINC
4. Restart your crunching from where you left off.
You only really need to do step 2 if you are going from a pre 4.2x version (ie 4.19) to a recent 4.xx version. I've seen people say that you can install over the top. However I'm not sure with 5.1.x versions so I would always do the 4 steps as listed for safety.
Hope this helps!!
EDIT: Sorry didn't see Jord's response (or yours) before I sent my reply
Cheers,
Gary.
RE: Michael, YIKES!! If
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Gary :)
I deleted them, but not before backing up the folder. When I delete things, they are still recoverable from the Recycle Bin. Later in the day, I have a critical look-see there before I run Window Washer and overwrite everything. I NEVER simply empty the Recycle Bin.
So, the Boinc folder on E/Program Files is back to it's original glory, AFAIK, but I have not attempted to resume crunching Einstein, still hopeful of a successful transition to the bata core.
I've just returned from 2 days of rare stress-free time (See Ariane's 100 hour thread) and the layoff must have FUBARed my coping senses. "I just don't know what came over me!!!" LOL
PS: might be just an oversight, but the 5.1.8 file I downloaded had no "beta" in the name, whereas the 5.1.6 I downloaded just prior to my shore trip did.
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
If 4.37 is back in its
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If 4.37 is back in its original state, why don't you just start BOINC and see if you can download a work unit or two. If crunching starts normally and everything is behaving as expected (everything does look OK on the website at the moment - no client errors!!) you could try again, or perhaps just leave everything as it is and wait for 5.2 release.
EDIT: Now seeing your PS, I must admit that when versions are changing rapidly (the last I saw was 5.1.6) it should be regarded as fixing multiple bugs rapidly - ie a time to stay away!!
Cheers,
Gary.
RE: PS: might be just an
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Then learn this!
All new numbering of BOINC is as follows:
Major.odd.number means it is a development version, so 5.1.6 and 5.1.8 are development versions!
Major.even.number means it is a stable version, so 5.2.0 will be the next new Release Client. Any changes in the client will come out as 5.2.1
So remember: If the middle number is an odd number, you have a complete development client. Alpha, Beta, it doesn't matter, it's a TEST version.
If the middle number is even, you have a stable release client, a recommended client.
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Did I now read this correctly, was all you tried to do get rid of the Einstein 0.18 beta science application? If it was, then do know for a next time that you do not need to uninstall Boinc. All you do is this: Exit Boinc, go to your BOINC\\projects\\einstein.phys.uwm.edu folder; locate and select the app_info.xml file and delete it; locate and select the einstein_018_windows_intelx86.exe file and delete it; if you had any work units left, locate and delete them. Restart Boinc.
It's way easier this way. ;)
RE: If 4.37 is back in its
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OK, restarted 4.37 core, opened the door to more work, promptly D/Led 2 WUs, and unleashed the power of Boinc upon the first unsuspecting unit. All conditions nominal/normal :)
I should add that this unfortunate episode began when I awoke shortly after 0400 local time and right off, I heard the pitch of the cooling fan on my rig go up a half-tone, signalling completion of the last remaining WU. So eager was I to start my delayed 5.1.x testing and get back to crunching :) that I tried to pull off the transition immediately, my mind in less-than-optimum condition. Bad move!
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
RE: RE: PS: might be
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No, this was simply a move to the dev core client. I curtailed my beta test of the 0.18 science app and reverted successfully to 4.79 on Sept 22, unwilling to pay the price of 10% longer crunchtimes I'd seen with the 0.18. So much for my commitment to thorough testing. I submitted my report in the New: Windows Test App... thread in Cafe Einstein.
Jord, Thanks for the info on version nomenclature.
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
RE: Jord, Thanks for the
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You're welcome. I wonder how many people will remember this when 5.2.0 is out alongside 5.3.1 ;)
Michael, It's a big relief
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Michael,
It's a big relief to see aome healthy green at the top of your results list and everything else apparently intact. Nice recovery and thanks to Jord for his assistance and for the lesson on version numbers. Quite a few people will have read of your "difficulties" and will have filed away the information so there is always a silver lining.
Cheers,
Gary.