NT service version 25

[Jeff Gilchrist]

Sorry for the delay, the updated ntprime versions work well now on both XP 32bit and Vista 32bit for me. I didn't bother testing Vista 64bit since several others have already said it works for them.

[petrw1]

Is there (or does there need to be) a p64v258.zip version for Windows 64 bit?

[TimSorbet]

Originally Posted by petrw1

Is there (or does there need to be) a p64v258.zip version for Windows 64 bit?

There isn't yet. The 32 bit version will work on 64 bit Windows, it just won't have the TF speed boost that goes along with 64 bit. I'd assume there will be a 64 bit version once 25.8 is released as the stable version.

[James Heinrich]

Originally Posted by Mini-Geek

The 32 bit version will work on 64 bit Windows, it just won't have the TF speed boost that goes along with 64 bit.

But strangely enough (at least in my testing) v25.8-32 works with 2500MB RAM allocated for P-1 whereas v25.7-64 fails when anything more than 1800MB is allocated. That will (hopefully) be fixed soon, once George figures out where the problem is.

[Freightyard]

Originally Posted by Prime95

The mersenne.org ftp site contains an UNTESTED v25 NT service version for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. Please test it and let me know if it works. The files are winnt258.zip and winnt258_64.zip.

Originally Posted by petrw1

Is there (or does there need to be) a p64v258.zip version for Windows 64 bit?

What's the difference between winnt258_64 and p64v258???? I'm running the 64-bit winnt258_64!? Would p64v258 be the non-service version?

[James Heinrich]

Originally Posted by Freightyard

What's the difference between winnt258_64 and p64v258???? I'm running the 64-bit winnt258_64!? Would p64v258 be the non-service version?

Yes, the p64v258 (if it existed, currently only v25.7 x64 GUI has been released) would be the GUI version. winnt258_* is the NT service version. Unless you have a specific need to run Prime95 has an NT service, it's generally much easier to run the GUI version.

[petrw1]

Originally Posted by James Heinrich

Yes, the p64v258 (if it existed, currently only v25.7 x64 GUI has been released) would be the GUI version. winnt258_* is the NT service version. Unless you have a specific need to run Prime95 has an NT service, it's generally much easier to run the GUI version.

Do I misunderstand?

I thought one reason for the Service Version was so that under Vista, Prime95 could be run as a Service and would not have to be manually restarted (or in my StartUp) on boot-up.

[Jeff Gilchrist]

Originally Posted by petrw1

Do I misunderstand?

I thought one reason for the Service Version was so that under Vista, Prime95 could be run as a Service and would not have to be manually restarted (or in my StartUp) on boot-up.

You are right, which is why James said unless you need it to run as a service (so automatic start at boot on Vista) it is easier to use the Prime95 GUI version. If you want it to automatically start at bootup, you need to use the winnt server version.

Note, that Prime95 GUI version will work in Vista with "Start at Logon" option, so for people with systems that always stay logged in, or who auto-login on boot, the GUI version would still would work fine.

[Freightyard]

Originally Posted by Jeff Gilchrist

If you want it to automatically start at bootup, you need to use the winnt server version.

Note, that Prime95 GUI version will work in Vista with "Start at Logon" option, so for people with systems that always stay logged in, or who auto-login on boot, the GUI version would still would work fine.

I eagerly embraced the 64-bit service to run on my Windows 2008 Server box which is a remote headless server located in a co-lo data center. Formerly, I had to remain logged-in to the desktop via Remote Desktop, which hugely conflicts with good security practices.

On my Vista x64 home machine I had trouble with the Start at Logon feature and had to manually start Prime95 at every boot. Because of new security restrictions in Vista (a good thing), the data files cannot be located under "Program Files" since write access to this directory is short-stopped by UAC. Therefore, I placed the data files in "%APPDATA%\GIMPS" which is shorthand for "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\GIMPS" and started Prime95 manually with the command "PRIME95.EXE -W%APPDATA%\GIMPS".

Using the service isn't as much fun since you cannot incessantly check on progress, which I am prone to do. But it does run reliably and solid.

Thank you George!

P.S.-- I still think a Windows service that presents a GUI through a web interface would be the coolest solution!

[James Heinrich]

For what it's worth, I have zero problems with the GUI version starting up as expected on Vista64.

[Freightyard]

Originally Posted by James Heinrich

For what it's worth, I have zero problems with the GUI version starting up as expected on Vista64.

Where/how did you install? Program Files? Have you disabled UAC? Where did you locate the data files? Are you running as Administrator or lower privilege accounts?

It's possible that a permission did not get set right for me during the file copy, but I have just lived with it as I do not reboot my computer often. Now, I don't even have to think about the Windows service.