FireDaemon (or P95 service) question.

Deamiter · 2002-11-10, 20:02

In the lab where I work, I had P95 going, but some very stubborn people (as in they object on principle, not due to any legitimate complaint) made a huge fuss about having a program that they could not stop when they wanted too. The major complaint is that when the program is shut down, FireDaemon automatically restarts it. Since we need to log in individually, simply running the program without FD is not an option.

Does anybody know how I can run P95 ONLY when NOBODY is logged on.

Alternately, if there is a way to totally shut down the P95 program (and still have it come back up after the user logs off) we could reach a compromise. This seems more difficult to me, but it'd be favorable because the program would run more often. Again, it seems as if the main problem is that P95 pops back up after it is shut down in the task manager.

Prime95 · 2002-11-10, 21:31

Run version 22 so that you do not need firedaemon.

Use the Options/No Icon menu choice so that other users do not see the prime95 icon.

Look into the PauseWhileRunning option in undoc.txt. If you can find a program that only runs when a user is logged on (explorer.exe maybe?) then you are in business.

Deamiter · 2002-11-11, 03:32

I'm sorry. It was my understanding that even V22 needed Firedaemon to run while there were no users logged on. I guess that's why you took it off the downloads page. If anyone else out there knows a couple programs that run only when logged on on a windows 2k or XP box, I'd appreciate it if you'd throw a message this way. Otherwise, I'm off to go play with the pause function.

Oh, and if the prime program DOES get killed (as it will when some of these anal individuals go in and want it off the computer alltogether) can any of you gurus write me a script to make it restart on log-off? I know it doesn't affect anything when the program is stopped, but Eric in particular is VERY stubborn about such things. These computers rarely get rebooted, so it'd waste a lot of processing every time Eric wants to play Jedi Knight.

Thanks a lot!

fuzzfuzz · 2002-11-11, 10:05

With Prime95, when the "Start at Bootup" option is selected, the client installs itself as an "Automatic" service - perhaps you could try that and then alter the option in the Service Control Window to disallow the client to interact with the desktop, thus running the client in "hidden" mode. This will also have the bonus of the client not being able to be terminated by a non-Admin (or it might be Power-User) user. I employ this setup on my work farm and to all intents, the client is invisible. And being a service, the PC does not have to be logged on for the client to run.
The downside is that you cant directly check on the progress of the client unless you stop the client service and then run it manually, but you can always check the logfile...

Hope this helps.

Deamiter · 2002-11-11, 14:08

That's perfect. Except that even when it's set to not interact with the desktop, and I turn off the tray icon, the program still pops up as a program on the task bar. is there a way to kill that as well?

[edit] Ok... duh, there's a 'no icon' setting in p95. Thanks for all your help. I'll go play with the services some more and drop by again if I need more help! [/edit]

Deamiter · 2002-11-11, 21:53

Ok. Now when I try to cancel the program from the task manager, it says that I don't have permission. and I DO have admin access to this computer... It works fine from my XP computer, but windows 2k won't let me fool with it in the task manager. I CAN shut down the service, but that's too complicated for a general user. Actually, as of now, I'll just instruct people to exit the program from the task bar, but they WILL be looking in the task manager, so I've got to be prepared.

Anyway, I've got a trial computer up and running, and I'll see how it goes when I get some time to fool around with it.

One last question... can I change the name that is displayed in the task manager? If I change it to "system idle" or something similar, it might go unnoticed by anyone who cares. This renaming wouldn't cause me problems, as the other admins and our supervisor are fine with the program as long as they don't get complaints from other users.

garo · 2002-11-11, 23:05

Actually a much simpler option that I use is to run it as a scheduled task that only runs when the computer is idle. Do not set it to start at bootup - so it is not a service but instead get it to run after the computer has been idle for 1 minute. This should work well!
Garo

fuzzfuzz · 2002-11-12, 01:32

Hmm, you can change the name of the Service by using ServiceName= in the local.ini (check the undoc.txt) - but i'm not sure on the actual name of the proggie. Maybe you could rename it, maybe to something like "System" - does George know that answer to this ?

Deamiter · 2002-11-12, 02:40

Garo... that sounds perfect. could you give me a quick tutorial on scheduled tasks as I've never played with them before. Once I get the basics though, I should be able to troubleshoot my own problems.

garo · 2002-11-12, 19:32

OK,
Start Menu -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Scheduled Tasks

Add Scheduled Task -> Next -> Browse -> Go into the Prime95 directory and choose the executable

Now in the first screen (Perform this task) choose "When my computer starts"

Then enter the username and passwd with which you want to run the task. I don't think that account needs to have administrator privileges. Then choose the advanced properties before you click finish.

Now go to the schedule tab and here choose when idle. Set the time in the box to whatever you want - I usually do 1 minute.

Now go to the settings tab and uncheck the 72 hours box.
Also check the "Only start if computer is dile" and the "stop task if computer ceases to be idle" boxes.

And voila it should be all set.

Again, make sure that start at bootup is not checked on Prime95 so it DOES NOT install itself as a service and that no icon is chosen.

Lastly test that everything works by going into scheduled tasks again and right-clicking on Prime95 task and choosng run to make sure it runs and there are no password or path problems etc. etc.

Oh yeah, one more thing: if you change the password for the username with which you have set the scheduled task, the process will stop running. So if you change passwords you will need to go in and reset them in scheduled tasks again.

2002-11-10, 20:02	#1
Deamiter Sep 2002 3²×13 Posts	FireDaemon (or P95 service) question. In the lab where I work, I had P95 going, but some very stubborn people (as in they object on principle, not due to any legitimate complaint) made a huge fuss about having a program that they could not stop when they wanted too. The major complaint is that when the program is shut down, FireDaemon automatically restarts it. Since we need to log in individually, simply running the program without FD is not an option. Does anybody know how I can run P95 ONLY when NOBODY is logged on. Alternately, if there is a way to totally shut down the P95 program (and still have it come back up after the user logs off) we could reach a compromise. This seems more difficult to me, but it'd be favorable because the program would run more often. Again, it seems as if the main problem is that P95 pops back up after it is shut down in the task manager.

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2002-11-10, 21:31	#2
Prime95 P90 years forever! Aug 2002 Yeehaw, FL 17·487 Posts	Run version 22 so that you do not need firedaemon. Use the Options/No Icon menu choice so that other users do not see the prime95 icon. Look into the PauseWhileRunning option in undoc.txt. If you can find a program that only runs when a user is logged on (explorer.exe maybe?) then you are in business.

2002-11-11, 03:32	#3
Deamiter Sep 2002 75₁₆ Posts	I'm sorry. It was my understanding that even V22 needed Firedaemon to run while there were no users logged on. I guess that's why you took it off the downloads page. If anyone else out there knows a couple programs that run only when logged on on a windows 2k or XP box, I'd appreciate it if you'd throw a message this way. Otherwise, I'm off to go play with the pause function. Oh, and if the prime program DOES get killed (as it will when some of these anal individuals go in and want it off the computer alltogether) can any of you gurus write me a script to make it restart on log-off? I know it doesn't affect anything when the program is stopped, but Eric in particular is VERY stubborn about such things. These computers rarely get rebooted, so it'd waste a lot of processing every time Eric wants to play Jedi Knight. Thanks a lot!

2002-11-11, 10:05	#4
fuzzfuzz Aug 2002 9₁₀ Posts	With Prime95, when the "Start at Bootup" option is selected, the client installs itself as an "Automatic" service - perhaps you could try that and then alter the option in the Service Control Window to disallow the client to interact with the desktop, thus running the client in "hidden" mode. This will also have the bonus of the client not being able to be terminated by a non-Admin (or it might be Power-User) user. I employ this setup on my work farm and to all intents, the client is invisible. And being a service, the PC does not have to be logged on for the client to run. The downside is that you cant directly check on the progress of the client unless you stop the client service and then run it manually, but you can always check the logfile... Hope this helps.

2002-11-11, 14:08	#5
Deamiter Sep 2002 3²×13 Posts	That's perfect. Except that even when it's set to not interact with the desktop, and I turn off the tray icon, the program still pops up as a program on the task bar. is there a way to kill that as well? [edit] Ok... duh, there's a 'no icon' setting in p95. Thanks for all your help. I'll go play with the services some more and drop by again if I need more help! [/edit]

2002-11-11, 21:53	#6
Deamiter Sep 2002 75₁₆ Posts	Ok. Now when I try to cancel the program from the task manager, it says that I don't have permission. and I DO have admin access to this computer... It works fine from my XP computer, but windows 2k won't let me fool with it in the task manager. I CAN shut down the service, but that's too complicated for a general user. Actually, as of now, I'll just instruct people to exit the program from the task bar, but they WILL be looking in the task manager, so I've got to be prepared. Anyway, I've got a trial computer up and running, and I'll see how it goes when I get some time to fool around with it. One last question... can I change the name that is displayed in the task manager? If I change it to "system idle" or something similar, it might go unnoticed by anyone who cares. This renaming wouldn't cause me problems, as the other admins and our supervisor are fine with the program as long as they don't get complaints from other users.

2002-11-11, 23:05	#7
garo Aug 2002 Termonfeckin, IE 2⁴×173 Posts	Actually a much simpler option that I use is to run it as a scheduled task that only runs when the computer is idle. Do not set it to start at bootup - so it is not a service but instead get it to run after the computer has been idle for 1 minute. This should work well! Garo

2002-11-12, 01:32	#8
fuzzfuzz Aug 2002 3² Posts	Hmm, you can change the name of the Service by using ServiceName= in the local.ini (check the undoc.txt) - but i'm not sure on the actual name of the proggie. Maybe you could rename it, maybe to something like "System" - does George know that answer to this ?

2002-11-12, 02:40	#9
Deamiter Sep 2002 3²×13 Posts	Garo... that sounds perfect. could you give me a quick tutorial on scheduled tasks as I've never played with them before. Once I get the basics though, I should be able to troubleshoot my own problems.

2002-11-12, 19:32	#10
garo Aug 2002 Termonfeckin, IE 2⁴×173 Posts	OK, Start Menu -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Scheduled Tasks Add Scheduled Task -> Next -> Browse -> Go into the Prime95 directory and choose the executable Now in the first screen (Perform this task) choose "When my computer starts" Then enter the username and passwd with which you want to run the task. I don't think that account needs to have administrator privileges. Then choose the advanced properties before you click finish. Now go to the schedule tab and here choose when idle. Set the time in the box to whatever you want - I usually do 1 minute. Now go to the settings tab and uncheck the 72 hours box. Also check the "Only start if computer is dile" and the "stop task if computer ceases to be idle" boxes. And voila it should be all set. Again, make sure that start at bootup is not checked on Prime95 so it DOES NOT install itself as a service and that no icon is chosen. Lastly test that everything works by going into scheduled tasks again and right-clicking on Prime95 task and choosng run to make sure it runs and there are no password or path problems etc. etc. Oh yeah, one more thing: if you change the password for the username with which you have set the scheduled task, the process will stop running. So if you change passwords you will need to go in and reset them in scheduled tasks again.