v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

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DougTheSlug
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Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2024 6:06 pm

v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by DougTheSlug »

I am setting up my first win11 machine, and with that my first 8.x client. All my other current clients are win10 + v7 client.

Specs - Win11, Ryzen 9900x + 4080 super
- Logging in as domain user which has admin permissions in the OS

I am unsure where the failure is happening but here are my repro steps:
1. Download 8.3.18 amd64 exe
2. Run and go through steps, leaving all defaults (including the checked start at launch)
3. Install completes
4. Firefox opens and shows unconfigured UI
5. Hit Gear, punch in username, team, passkey and click GPU checkbox
6. CPU and GPU begin folding
7. Restart Win11
8. Upon re-logging into windows, FAH does not start up
9. Go to https://v8-3.foldingathome.org/machines which states

Code: Select all

No folding machines found.  Login or install...
At this point, FAH doesn't start up even if I manually try launching it.
-> Start Menu -> type folding -> installed app shows up -> click -> nothing happens
-> Desktop shortcut -> double click -> nothing happens
-> Desktop shortcut -> right click -> Open -> nothing happens

Verifications
Is it installed?
- Go to settings -> apps -> Installed apps -> "FAHClient" exists, v8.3.18
Is it configured to launch at Startup?
- Go to settings -> apps -> Startup -> "HideConsole.exe" exists and is "On"
- Go to Task Manager -> Startup apps-> "HideConsole.exe (4)" exists with status "Enabled" -> expand and it shows "Conhost", "FAHClient.exe", "HideConsole.exe" and "WerFault.exe"

At this time, the only way I can get FAHClient to start following a reboot is to reinstall the entire client.
calxalot
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Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by calxalot »

Please try logout before restart.
And manually quitting fah from sys tray before restart.

I’m wondering if windows abruptly kills the client on restart, leaving something locked.
DougTheSlug
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2024 6:06 pm

Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by DougTheSlug »

No change after stopping FAH manually
- click "^" in taskbar -> right click FAH icon -> Quit
- reboot -> login -> FAH not launched

So I tried
-> start menu -> type folding -> right click -> pin to taskbar
Then I opened up Task Manager and spam clicked the FAH taskbar icon (Since Task Manager refreshes on a cycle and isn't a live view)
- I am able to spot FAHClient.exe show up in the Task Manager for one cycle before it just disappears

This tells me it's trying to launch but maybe crashing immediately? Why would the client run OK on first install, but then crash on any subsequent launch? Where are the app logs on the filesystem so we can see any error messages?
calxalot
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Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by calxalot »

Maybe you can see errors if you remove HideConsole.exe from the link?
DougTheSlug
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Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2024 6:06 pm

Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by DougTheSlug »

Maybe you can see errors if you remove HideConsole.exe from the link?
That actually allowed it to Launch. Not too sure what exactly HideConsole is (other than what it's name implies), but that seems to be part of the issue.

You know, I just had a quick thought, this is a fresh install of Win11 with afaik default security settings across the board.
Upon launching the shortcut without HideConsole, I was presented with a fullscreen UAC prompt.

Code: Select all

Do you want to allow this app from an unknown publisher to make changes to your device
So how do I tell what HideConsole is doing? How do I get logs for hideconsole.exe? And assuming my thought above is correct, how do we get hideconsole/fahclient to not trigger UAC (without turning UAC off)
calxalot
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Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by calxalot »

My understanding is that hideconsole is a simple wrapper that allows launching the client without opening a terminal window.

I don’t think it has a log.

https://github.com/FoldingAtHome/fah-cl ... onsole.cpp
Gwalch
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Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2022 9:32 pm

Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by Gwalch »

I'm getting the same thing but on Windows 10.. mine is also a clean new install of Windows.
Was working fine before I did that!!!

viewtopic.php?t=41905

As soon as I reboot the PC.. the only way I can get FaH to work again is to reinstall it.
calxalot
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Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by calxalot »

Seems like a sledgehammer, but maybe try
right-click shortcut > Properties > Advanced > Run as administrator
Gwalch
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Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2022 9:32 pm

Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by Gwalch »

Ok.. I just uninstalled v8.3.xx and put v7.6.21 back on.. rebooted the PC and it worked perfectly.
Started up.. downloaded core.. and started folding away.

Sooo... I just reinstalled v8.3.18 over the top of v7.6.21 (no uninstall) and then rebooted the PC.. and the darn thing works.

I have just rebooted the PC 3 times... each time letting FaH chug away for a few minutes.. and it's still working!!!

I dunno.. this is above my pay grade but hopefully it works for others.
FloGer
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Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2024 7:49 pm

Re: v8.3.xx not starting on reboot (Win11)

Post by FloGer »

Hi,

Just reviving this topic, I just installed V8.3.18, and have gotten the same bug. I managed to solve it when I force to open FAHclient.exe as administrator. The issue is that the log file written by the previous instance was not accessible by the new FAHclient.

This seems to be a simple bug to solve, could someone from FaH have a look at it?

Thanks,
Florian
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