Installation (Systray version)

Please download the CPU Systray client installer file from the Download page. After the download is done, run the client installer by double clicking the downloaded file. (If the installer doesn't start automatically, it may indicate the need to update the Windows Installer package to v3.1, available through Windows Automatic Updates.) The first window of the installer looks like this:

Click on the Next button to continue to the License agreement window:

Please read the license, and click on the I Agree button if you agree. Then click on the Next button. There is no configuration to edit:

Click on the Next button to start the installation process. When the installer is done, this last window is displayed:

Click on the Close button to exit the installer.
During the installation process, the client installer created a new folder in the Windows Start menu. This new program folder is found under Start -> Programs -> Folding@Home-x86 as indicated here:

There are two shortcuts. The first shortcut is to run the FAH client program. The second shortcut is to open the data folder where the client stores work unit data, client configuration, and executable files. This second shortcut may be used for advanced client setup or maintenance. And as the shortcut indicates, is only recommended for those with expert knowledge of the client.
Start the client for the initial setup by clicking on the first link (Folding@home). A configuration window will appear the first time the client is run:

In this panel, if you want to fold under your own username, enter it here (type over the default Anonymous name). Also enter a team number if part of a FAH team. Contributing to the project anonymously and without a team is also acceptable. Enter the optional passkey associated with your fah username.(Read the Passkey FAQ page for more information). Click on the Connection tab at the top to get to the next panel:

The first check box prompts the client to ask before downloading or uploading a work unit. This is recommended when using a part-time connection like dialup and to control when to download/upload work units. You will need to configure the client if using a Proxy. (Ask the network administrator if more information is needed to configure a proxy.) The last check box sets the client to request larger work units (which have higher bandwidth and memory requirements) and may earn more points. Click on the Advanced tab to get to the next panel:

These are the advanced settings for the client. The default settings are the recommended settings unless otherwise noted. If unsure about these settings, we recommend not changing the default settings. The default settings are suitable for the majority of users. Here is what each element does:
Core priority: When running multiple clients or have another program running continuously in the background, adjust (raise) the client priority to Slightly higher so the client gets the CPU cycles it needs. This is not the same as the Windows priority. Do not change the Windows priority for the fah client or fahcore.
CPU Usage Percent: By default, the client will use all spare processor cycles not used by other programs. Reducing the setting may help other programs run better, or reduce fan noise, but will also reduce the speed of the client and lower the points per day.
Disable highly optimized assembly code: If having problems running the client due to a processor incompatibility or any weird error, check this to disable the processor SSE optimizations. Doing this will cause the client to run much slower, but may not crash. A legacy setting typically used for older processors.
Checkpointing frequency : Increase or decrease the frequency of when the client writes data to the hard drive to save a starting point if the client is shut down. The default setting is the recommended setting.
Do NOT lock cores to specific CPU: Turning this one will allow the client to use any free CPU/core on a multicore processor. If left unchecked, it will only use one core regardless if others are free or not.
Core Network Address (Advanced): For future use, when the Viewer is finished.
Pause work while battery power is being used: This is useful for laptops to stop the client from running when the computer goes on to battery power, to avoid draining the battery.
Additional Client Parameters: Enter frequently used client flags like -verbosity 9 or -advmethods.
Machine ID: This is the client ID and it needs to be unique when running more than one client on the same computer. An example when running the Systray client and the GPU2 client at the same time. One client would be configured for Machine ID 1, and the other to Machine ID 2. Also very helpful when installing multiple CPU Systray clients.
When done, click OK. If any Additional Client Parameters were set during configuration, stop and restart the client to use the new settings. Right-click the tray icon, select quit. Then start the client again from the Start Menu. The client will now run in the background with a icon in the Taskbar. Hover the mouse curser over the FAH icon to check the current client status. To see more detail about how the client is progressing, view the log file generated by the client. Right-click on the client taskbar icon to see the available client options:

Click on Status then on Log file to open a notepad window with the FAH log file contents. This is useful to check the client progress, or check if there are errors. If help is needed, copy the contents of this log file to the Support forum.
Note: The Viewer included with the Systray client is not yet working well for all video cards, and is a known bug. This is the Display option when right-clicking the FAH tray icon. The Pande Group is aware of this issue and is working to fix them. Sometimes the viewer works, sometimes not. And it always uses a lot of CPU power, and may slow down the folding client. If the viewer works, please use it sparingly. The viewer does not need to be open for the client to run.