Folding Forum

Hello everyone!

I recently got into folding and I'm loving it.
The issue is: Version 7.4.4 will not work rather the Client never loads.
If I run the F@H shortcut made by the installer, nothing happens...

(If that picture fails to load, here is the direct link: https://googledrive.com/host/0B7OL6MIZs ... Xc/FAH.png )

refer to my original thread here: http://www.overclockers.com/forums/show ... p?t=745641

See? FAHclient.exe is running, but no tray icon and no control over the client.

However, Version 7.4.0 is running & folding right now flawlessly.
This is very puzzling.

I've tried disabling firewalls, anti-virus, running as Admin... everything.....

System specs:

Gigabyte Z77-HD4 + I5-2300 @ 3.4 Ghz
Samsung & Unifosa (Elpida based) DDR3 @ 825Mhz Dual @ 9-10-10-30 1T
2x WD Green Sata 3&6, Samsung 155UI as Backup disk
Coolermaster i600 80+ Bronze PSU
MSI R6850 + Sapphire Dual-x BF4 OC 270x
Windows 7 x64 Ultimate

Thanks everyone!
(Mods, plz move this thread if it's in the wrong sub-forum section )

Mod Edit: Removed [dot] For URL To Function - PantherX
EDIT: Inserted more informative picture & updated link to original thread at Overclockers.com

Welcome to the F@H Forum Silver_Pharaoh,

(Read the entire thread http://www.overclockers.com/forums/show ... p?t=745641 so have formulated my response to include those details too).

Please note that having multiples of 2 makes it easy for the FahCore to decompose (split) the WU across the CPUs. However, 3 is such a small number that I haven't come across any Projects that won't fold on it. Some small Projects may fail to work with 5 or 7 CPUs so if the Project Owner is aware of this, the Server is configured such that it will not assign those Projects to those CPUs.

The reason you could have faced a slow-down when going from 3 CPUs to 4 CPUs is that CPU folding is highly synchronous so if any other applications are indeed using the CPU, folding has to wait which is why you see a slow-down. Also, the slow-down isn't proportional to the "stolen CPU cycles from folding" and thus, the drop in PPD is not linear.

Do note that is is generally advised to only have a single CPU Slot and allocate as much CPUs as you want. The suggestion of running SMP:2 and UNI is no longer valid in V7.3.X+ (the SMP and UNI Slots are merged into CPU one and it automatically decides how many CPUs to fold on once configured). Do note that folding is FPU (Floating Point Unit) intensive so if you have another FPU intensive application running, folding may be negatively effected by it as opposed to an application that isn't FPU intensive. Moreover, you can use Process Lasso (free version is sufficient for this purpose) to ensure that particular processes are locked to specific CPU Cores. If set-up correctly, it may increase your folding performance (in my case, I saw a slight bump in the PPD).

Assuming that you have a fresh installation, open the Folding@Home shortcut from the Start menu the first time. Once the icon appears in the notification tray, right-click it and select Advanced Control. Once it opens, it will prompt you to enter your details. Once saved, folding will start. My guess is that FAHClient is waiting for a configuration to be entered (username, passkey, team number) which is prompted by either Web Control or Advanced Control. If nothing is entered, it will automatically start folding as Anonymous after 5 minutes.

Do note that providing the log files (viewtopic.php?p=261081&f=24#p261081) would be very helpful if your issue isn't solved. You can read the change-log here (viewtopic.php?f=96&t=26025).

Double clicking the fahclient.exe is not how to run the V7 client. Please see the FAH Windows Install Guide.

PantherX wrote:Welcome to the F@H Forum Silver_Pharaoh,

(Read the entire thread http://www.overclockers.com/forums/show ... p?t=745641 so have formulated my response to include those details too).

Please note that having multiples of 2 makes it easy for the FahCore to decompose (split) the WU across the CPUs. However, 3 is such a small number that I haven't come across any Projects that won't fold on it. Some small Projects may fail to work with 5 or 7 CPUs so if the Project Owner is aware of this, the Server is configured such that it will not assign those Projects to those CPUs.

The reason you could have faced a slow-down when going from 3 CPUs to 4 CPUs is that CPU folding is highly synchronous so if any other applications are indeed using the CPU, folding has to wait which is why you see a slow-down. Also, the slow-down isn't proportional to the "stolen CPU cycles from folding" and thus, the drop in PPD is not linear.

Do note that is is generally advised to only have a single CPU Slot and allocate as much CPUs as you want. The suggestion of running SMP:2 and UNI is no longer valid in V7.3.X+ (the SMP and UNI Slots are merged into CPU one and it automatically decides how many CPUs to fold on once configured). Do note that folding is FPU (Floating Point Unit) intensive so if you have another FPU intensive application running, folding may be negatively effected by it as opposed to an application that isn't FPU intensive. Moreover, you can use Process Lasso (free version is sufficient for this purpose) to ensure that particular processes are locked to specific CPU Cores. If set-up correctly, it may increase your folding performance (in my case, I saw a slight bump in the PPD).

Assuming that you have a fresh installation, open the Folding@Home shortcut from the Start menu the first time. Once the icon appears in the notification tray, right-click it and select Advanced Control. Once it opens, it will prompt you to enter your details. Once saved, folding will start. My guess is that FAHClient is waiting for a configuration to be entered (username, passkey, team number) which is prompted by either Web Control or Advanced Control. If nothing is entered, it will automatically start folding as Anonymous after 5 minutes.

Do note that providing the log files (viewtopic.php?p=261081&f=24#p261081) would be very helpful if your issue isn't solved. You can read the change-log here (viewtopic.php?f=96&t=26025).

Thanks for the welcome!

Yes in the end, I decided to run SMP on 2 cores. I see virtually no performance hit in my mining operations now.
Now, that is the issue. I click on the F@H icon in the start menu, and nothing happens. No try icon....
I have no idea why that happens, but that's the issue.

As for some logs, all I find (in both the %APPDATA%/FAHClient folder and in the logs folder there) are logs from version 7.4.0 when it was folding. Nothing from the new 7.4.4 installation, and no logs about the client either.
It just fails to start.....

7im wrote:Double clicking the fahclient.exe is not how to run the V7 client. Please see the FAH Windows Install Guide.

I know but how else was I to see if the client is actually running?

To see what is running use the task manager to look for processes starting with FAH such as FAHClient, FAHCoreWrapper, FAHCore_XX

Look for shortcuts in the AllPrograms folder. Start FAH using the FAHCLient shortcut (if it's not already running). You can use either FAHControl or WebControl to monitor the status. They can be started from the systray icon or from the shortcuts in all programs.

Double clicking on FAHClient will attempt to write the logs and other files in the wrong place and you may not have permission to create files there. That's why the shortcuts were provided.

P5-133XL wrote:To see what is running use the task manager to look for processes starting with FAH such as FAHClient, FAHCoreWrapper, FAHCore_XX

Yes, if I run the Folding@Home shortcut (that starts the client with the -open-web-control flag) FAHclient.exe does start, I see it in task manager, but that's it. Nothing else happens. No tray icon, no interface nothing.

Web interface times out it can't connect, and the advanced control just says "connecting".......

bruce wrote:Look for shortcuts in the AllPrograms folder. Start FAH using the FAHCLient shortcut (if it's not already running). You can use either FAHControl or WebControl to monitor the status. They can be started from the systray icon or from the shortcuts in all programs.

Double clicking on FAHClient will attempt to write the logs and other files in the wrong place and you may not have permission to create files there. That's why the shortcuts were provided.

Hmm. Didn't know about the log file in the wrong place thing....


Still, I have a feeling that 7.4.3 has a new feature or something that prevents it from running.
I will try Version 7.4.1 and if it works, we can see what has changed in Version 7.4.3 (becasue 7.4.3 also does not work). Perhaps the change log will point to some changed feature (perhaps the "Resolve all AS IP addresses and try each one" update to 7.4.3 is causing the issue.)

Temporarily disconnect from the internet. Disable your firewall (and AntiVirus program, since many of them contain a firewall). Does the *Control program connect to the client now? If so, your firewall is blocking FAHControl (or WEBControl) from connecting to FAHClient. Provide the necessary firewall exception to allow them to communicate locally.

Have you modified any of the settings associated with remote clients such as IP restrictions or passwords? They can also block the local connection.

bruce wrote:Temporarily disconnect from the internet. Disable your firewall (and AntiVirus program, since many of them contain a firewall). Does the *Control program connect to the client now? If so, your firewall is blocking FAHControl (or WEBControl) from connecting to FAHClient. Provide the necessary firewall exception to allow them to communicate locally.

Have you modified any of the settings associated with remote clients such as IP restrictions or passwords? They can also block the local connection.

I have not touched any IP settings in F@H..


I'll try what you asked on Sunday, I have to leave (like now ) and I'll be gone until Sunday.

However, I installed Version 7.4.1, and it too does not work. So something in the 7.4.1 release broke F@H for me.

BTW, how exactly did you install V7 in the first place; did you select all users or only your account, did you modify any of the default settings or not? Do note that if you choose to install for all users, you may face a shortcut bug (https://fah.stanford.edu/projects/FAHClient/ticket/420).

Since you have been installing various versions of V7 (you have stated that you have log files from the previous versions still available), maybe something got corrupted. In that case, uninstall F@H including the data folder and then perform a fresh installation of V7.4.4 using default settings and see if it works for you or not.

Hi!
Back early

PantherX wrote:BTW, how exactly did you install V7 in the first place; did you select all users or only your account, did you modify any of the default settings or not? Do note that if you choose to install for all users, you may face a shortcut bug (https://fah.stanford.edu/projects/FAHClient/ticket/420).

Since you have been installing various versions of V7 (you have stated that you have log files from the previous versions still available), maybe something got corrupted. In that case, uninstall F@H including the data folder and then perform a fresh installation of V7.4.4 using default settings and see if it works for you or not.

Both ways I have tried, install only for me, and install for everyone.

Now, IIRC deleting the data folder removes the WU data right?
Which is bad becasue it holds up other WU's right?

So i'll set F@H to use all my cores to finish up this WU first, then do a clean uninstall&install to be safe

Silver_Pharaoh wrote:...Now, IIRC deleting the data folder removes the WU data right?
Which is bad becasue it holds up other WU's right?

So i'll set F@H to use all my cores to finish up this WU first, then do a clean uninstall&install to be safe

Yes, it removes the WU folder and other folders too.
Correct, you shouldn't be doing it while you are still folding.

Right, that's the optimum way to do it. Hopefully, this should solve any issues. Also, if you are a single user, try the default options of single user and see if it works or not.

PantherX wrote: Right, that's the optimum way to do it. Hopefully, this should solve any issues. Also, if you are a single user, try the default options of single user and see if it works or not.

Default options of single user?

Is that some option I missed in the install wizards?

Some success!!

I got 7.4.4 installed, and after renaming "sample-config.xml" to "config.xml" it ran!!

It even downloaded a WU!
Then it goes south
It connects to download a core, and that's the end. No further actions, no folding.... just gets stuck there..... OR SO I THOUGHT!

Firewalls off, still nothing happens, so I think "wait, lets just copy the old cores folder from my old /roaming/FAHclient folder?"
And it worked!!!

I'm running F@H version 7.4.4 without issue....
STILL, why did it cough out like that?


Also, am I missing out by using "old" cores?
I do not want to do a clean install, as I already deleted a WU with a clean uninstall

The default options of the single user are best in this case to test the issue out.

Strange that V7.4.4 didn't not automatically create a config.xml file (not sure why that is since it should as long as it has the correct permissions and directory).

Can you please post the log file showing the download of the WU and the attempted download of a FahCore? Do note that the previous 16 logs are saved in the logs Folder by default so you can still get them.

If the "old" folder is roaming/FAHClient then where is the "new" folder? It sounds like a path issue which could be why your installations didn't work.

Do note that the WU defines what FahCore and version to use so you aren't missing out by the "old" FahCore. It will update it in future if necessary. However, I would strongly suggest that you set the client to Finish and then uninstall everything F@H related and proceed with a fresh installation of a single user with default settings and see what happens.