I\'ve read threads dealing with this problem, but did not found a solution for it:

The problem occurs when launching boinc_gui.exe.

Here are the points that might be important to diagnose the pb:
- it occurs since I upgraded to XP SP2
- the BOINC service is running (start up info is D:\\[...]\\boinc\\boinc_cli.exe -win_service)
- the CPU is flat
- when setting my screensaver to BOINC, I get a BOINC \"mock-up\" screensaver that tells: \"secure windows desktop detected. You must uncheck the password checkbox to display the screensaver. This will be fixed in an upcoming release\"

any hint?

I also need to precise that I have nothing related to BOINC in any of the startup folders of any users of my PC.

On your first question:
There was a message from Thyme Lawn <a href="http://climateapps2.oucs.ox.ac.uk/cpdnboinc/forum_thread.php?id=996">here</a>.
The message comes from trying to run the GUI at the same time as the client.
I've never tried the screensaver myself, so I can't anwer your second one.
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You could try "net stop boinc" before you activate the screensaver, just to see if it's the service that does that.

I tried what you told. The result is that I get the same kind of BOINC "mock-up" screensaver, with a new message telling that BOINC is not running.

Any further suggestions? (I can't run BOINC since 2 weeks now)


&gt; You could try "net stop boinc" before you activate the screensaver, just to
&gt; see if it's the service that does that.
&gt;
&gt;

Don't take the message into account !!

Everything works properly now ,although I don't know why (rebooted again the PC, stopped/started again the service). I admit I've not been clear this time :)


&gt; I tried what you told. The result is that I get the same kind of BOINC
&gt; "mock-up" screensaver, with a new message telling that BOINC is not running.
&gt;
&gt; Any further suggestions? (I can't run BOINC since 2 weeks now)
&gt;
&gt;
&gt; &gt; You could try "net stop boinc" before you activate the screensaver, just
&gt; to
&gt; &gt; see if it's the service that does that.
&gt; &gt;
&gt; &gt;
&gt;
&gt;

I also get this error on occasion, sometimes after a less-than-graceful shutdown, sometimes out of the blue. I start up the computer, and BOINC fails to appear in the systray. So... I start BOINC from the Start menu, get the "failed to clean the Windows socket interface" error box, click OK (there's no other option...), and--BOINC just starts. As far as I can tell, nothing else is wrong, except that I have to start BOINC manually. I'm baffled as to why this happens, though.

Edited to add: I just figured out that I was reading the thread backwards, from top to bottom. No wonder I couldn't make sense out of it. I've checked the thread linked to by mavau, which explains why I get the error box--but that still doesn't explain why occasionally BOINC doesn't show up as active...