Hiding the F@H Client

[TeaLeaf]

The console version runs faster than the graphical version.  Why?  Because there are no graphics to draw!  But the console version's window can iritate some people, so here is how to run the console version in a hidden mode!

For XP users:

• Download the software package called HideItX from below.
• Download the console beta client from below.
• Unzip the contents and place them in your Folding@Home folder.
• Go to your C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder and create a new shortcut.
• Browse to the program HideItX.exe and create the shortcut.
• Then right-click on the shortcut and select Properties.
• The target line will have something like "c:\program files\folding@home\hideit\hideitx.exe"
• At the end of the target line and immediately after the " mark, type a space and then add the following text
• -starthide c:\program files\folding@home\FAH3.25-Console-beta.exe -forceasm -advmethods
• The whole target line shoudl now look something like this:
• "c:\program files\folding@home\hideit\hideitx.exe" -starthide c:\program files\folding@home\FAH3.25-Console-beta.exe -forceasm -advmethods
• The shortcut should direct you to the HideIt exe file first, then the target should be the correct path for the console client (not the Core files).
• The -forceasm will turn on the SSE capability of your PC to fold about 30% faster than normal
• Now click Apply and finish the shortcut.
• To check that thsi runs properly just go to your F@H console client and close the window (or pause folding first then quit of on the graphical client.
• Now click on the new shortcut we created to HideIt and the F@H client will load up without a window and run silently in the background

For non-XP users, just adjust the paths to match the folder tree in your OS.

Hope this helps you!

TL.

[TeaLeaf]

Hmm, I can't upload for you at the moment.  I'll upload later when I have fixed it!

Doh!

TL.

[Cadaver]

Or, if you're comfortable with fiddling in your PC's registry, you can run the console version as a Windows service.  Running it like this you don't even have to be logged in, Folding will commence from when you boot your PC, until you power it down.

Check out the Folding Frogs page on how to do this.

NB: In step 12 - remember to add -forceasm and -advmethods to the registry string, as well as -service.

[smilodon]

Any more news on Hiding the FAH console. I can't find a download for HideIt.exe through Google and Cadavers link is broken

[Zok]

you're better off running the registry fix
althought hideit.exe hides the fah prog it shows itself in the active processes
which kinda defeats the object really

[TeaLeaf]

Sorry, I forgot to come back to this thread and post the files, so here they are.

I am not quite sure what Zok is on about as when you run F@H via the HideIt the FAHcore still shows in active processes anyway, so hiding the HideItX client wouldn't help! Zok can you elaborate or am I being monumentally stupid at this early hour of a Sunday morning!

The idea of HideIt is merely to run the client without the window and for most users this allows the desktop to be slighty less cluttered.

The reg hack is better if you really want to bury it deep, but this may be a bit of overkill for your own machine.  All I want to do is hide the window and the instructions I posted above, along with the attached file will do just that.

TL.

[smilodon]

Thanks very much. It's all working fine now  

[Zok]

i used the reg hack on my machine at work and liked it so much i converted my home computers
as you say it may be slight overkill at home unless you've got a machine with multiple users, as the program continues to run even when logged off

[Gh0st Face Killah]

Tried the reg hack with all the appropriate strings but get a box pop up when the sevice starts telling me about all the strings to use. How can I stop that?

Oh yes I'm running the 3.25 beta version.

photo of the box here

[Gandalf]

Just follow the instructions on the link that Cadaver placed further up the page. It installs the client as a service and will run as soon as the machine is booted

It's real easy to install. I've done 20+ machines like that now. Of course, if you don't have win2k or XP then that page won't be much help!

[Zok]

i got that message when i typed something wrong in the command line

[Gh0st Face Killah]

Sorted it now. I was trying to run the graphical version and not the console version. DOH!!!!

[smilodon]

Apart from reading the log file is there a qucik way of checking how you're doing if you use hideit etc?

[TeaLeaf]

I believe programs like EMIII do the job.  You can 'connect' them to your borged army and it gives you running stats, progress reports etc so that you know when they have crashed etc. I forget the link, but do a search for it on the F@H forums and you should find it and other similar programs.

TL.

[DonkeyCheeseGrater]

This is what Gandy uses and i have for the last couple of weeks DC Monitor v0.82

Seems to work well.