Folding Forum

Is there any way to configure or modify Folding@home so that it runs as a hidden service in the background and cannot be accessed in the system tray? Is there a way to do that or is there some third party program that hides it? Just wondering.

Services cannot be hidden, but you can run the client w/ nothing in the tray. Unfortunately, most peopple that ask this questios have nefarious intentions. No offense intended.

None taken! How do you run the client without the tray icon?

You need a console client. In configuration, answer yes to the option " Launch automatically, install as a service in this directory (yes/no) [no]?". You might have to answer yes to "Change advanced options (yes/no) [no]?" to get access to the option.

Also, keep in mind that GPU client won't run when installed as service.

toTOW wrote:You need a console client. In configuration, answer yes to the option " Launch automatically, install as a service in this directory (yes/no) [no]?". You might have to answer yes to "Change advanced options (yes/no) [no]?" to get access to the option.

Also, keep in mind that GPU client won't run when installed as service.

GPU client will run as a service on Windows XP, but not on later versions of Windows (Vista, Windows7)

derrickmcc wrote:

toTOW wrote:You need a console client. In configuration, answer yes to the option " Launch automatically, install as a service in this directory (yes/no) [no]?". You might have to answer yes to "Change advanced options (yes/no) [no]?" to get access to the option.

Also, keep in mind that GPU client won't run when installed as service.

GPU client will run as a service on Windows XP, but not on later versions of Windows (Vista, Windows7)

Adding to that, V7 can also run as service if only smp or uniprocessor slots are configured ( xp would enable gpu's as well ).

derrickmcc wrote:GPU client will run as a service on Windows XP, but not on later versions of Windows (Vista, Windows7)

Why did they drop that feature?

Not a Stanford design issue, windows xp was the latest which allowed a service direct hardware access. All later versions don't allow it to minimize the possibilities of a security exploit, so if you want to complain do it to Microsoft for trying to make their software less vulnerable to hackers and malware

Is there a way to re-enable it on Windows 7? I'm not worried about hackers, and as for malware I could probably find a way to only allow a specific service/program hardware access. Also, by direct hardware access do you mean low-level hardware access in particular or access to hardware in general?

Nope, it's just no accessible anymore.

http://folding.stanford.edu/English/FAQ-NVIDIA#ntoc14

I've found out how to run it as a hidden service. I use the program cmdow (it works great!) with the command-line client.

Stonecold wrote:I've found out how to run it as a hidden service. I use the program cmdow (it works great!) with the command-line client.

Just to be clear as to prevent people from thinking otherwise, it's not a service as you can't run gpu clients under a service. You're probably running some tool which hides the cmd window so you don't see it, but it's not the same as running on as a service. I am happy you found something which does what you wanted to do.

MtM wrote:

Stonecold wrote:I've found out how to run it as a hidden service. I use the program cmdow (it works great!) with the command-line client.

Just to be clear as to prevent people from thinking otherwise, it's not a service as you can't run gpu clients under a service. You're probably running some tool which hides the cmd window so you don't see it, but it's not the same as running on as a service. I am happy you found something which does what you wanted to do.

I'm not thinking of the GPU client, only SMP (or uniprocessor).

Stonecold wrote:

MtM wrote:

Stonecold wrote:I've found out how to run it as a hidden service. I use the program cmdow (it works great!) with the command-line client.

Just to be clear as to prevent people from thinking otherwise, it's not a service as you can't run gpu clients under a service. You're probably running some tool which hides the cmd window so you don't see it, but it's not the same as running on as a service. I am happy you found something which does what you wanted to do.

I'm not thinking of the GPU client, only SMP (or uniprocessor).

Then why didn't you use the service provided by FAH? There's no need for an add-on program (though there's really no harm in using it if you choose to). Microsoft's security prohibition against running the GPU in a service is a distinct problem. There are other possible advantages of a Windows service which may or may not apply to you. A Windows service can start before you log on and can remain running if you log out but don't shut down (e.g.- if there are multiple Windows user accounts). It's also one of the possible solutions on systems where Windows Update decides to reboot.

bruce wrote:Then why didn't you use the service provided by FAH? There's no need for an add-on program (though there's really no harm in using it if you choose to).

I don't want it to be detected AS a service, but I want it to imitate one (sort of) while still being able to run in the background.