Why does BOINC need to load 4 copies of the screensaver?

Questions and Answers : Windows : Why does BOINC need to load 4 copies of the screensaver?
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Profile CElliott
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Message 1747822 - Posted: 9 Dec 2015, 1:44:03 UTC

On Windows 8.1, the startup group is visible in taskmgr. That display says BOINCMgr is loading 4 copies of the screensaver. Why is that? Are all 4 necessary? If not, and since I don't use the screensaver, how can I prevent them from being loaded?
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Message 1747824 - Posted: 9 Dec 2015, 2:03:39 UTC - in response to Message 1747822.  

If you don't use the screen saver, then set Windows up not to use the BOINC screen saver (select None from the drop-down list).
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Message 1747896 - Posted: 9 Dec 2015, 11:33:32 UTC - in response to Message 1747824.  

If you don't use the screen saver, then set Windows up not to use the BOINC screen saver (select None from the drop-down list).


Thanks for your comment.

Windows does not use the screen saver. My only concern is the time it takes to boot.
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Message 1748106 - Posted: 10 Dec 2015, 9:27:13 UTC - in response to Message 1747822.  

That display says BOINCMgr is loading 4 copies of the screensaver

Picture of "That display"?

Probably you see these?:
boincmgr.exe
boinc.exe
boinctray.exe
boincscr.exe
 


- ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
 
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Message 1748122 - Posted: 10 Dec 2015, 11:28:39 UTC - in response to Message 1748106.  

Now, for some reason, only two copies are being loaded. Here, hopefully, is a picture of the startup tab in Windows Task Manager:



I cannot make the image appear in the preview of this post, so here is a link to it. This URL works if I post it into the address bar of Chrome and IE: http://1drv.ms/1SPPYv7
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Profile BilBg
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Message 1748282 - Posted: 11 Dec 2015, 2:13:07 UTC - in response to Message 1748122.  

I'm not sure what this program is showing.
Maybe it monitors what was started but don't mention that it was closed almost immediately after BOINC startup.
Probably the "two copies" are boincscr.exe & boinc.scr - if you Right-Click the line maybe will show more info?

I prefer Autoruns
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

and Process Explorer
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653
 


- ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
 
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Message 1748684 - Posted: 12 Dec 2015, 13:17:28 UTC - in response to Message 1748282.  

Thanks to all for your kind help.

You are right; boincscr.exe just comes and goes. No harm, no foul.

Thanks also for the reminder about Sysinternals and Mark Russinovich. The man and his programs are marvels.
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Questions and Answers : Windows : Why does BOINC need to load 4 copies of the screensaver?


 
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