Bitcoin Wiki - User contributions [en]

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2017-12-22T03:20:23Z

Flarn2006: I doubt I have the private key for this address anymore

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[CGMiner]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Click File→New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Now we need to schedule a new task. Do this the same way as you did before, with a few differences:

* Type a different name (should be obvious)
* Instead of 4800, enter 4801 for the event ID.
* For "Program/script", select the "quit.bat" you just created instead of "cgminer.exe".
* Leave "Add arguments (optional)" blank, and select the cgminer directory for "Start in (optional)".

==You're done!==

Lock your computer (Windows+L), wait 15 seconds or so, and unlock it. While it's locked, you should hear your GPU fan start spinning. When you unlock your computer, you should see cgminer appear for a second, then exit.

If it didn't work properly, leave a comment on [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|this article's talk page]], or send an email to [mailto:flarn2006@gmail.com flarn2006@gmail.com]. If it did, great!

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-06-10T07:15:18Z

Flarn2006: /* Stop mining when the computer is unlocked */ Replaced > with →

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Click File→New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Now we need to schedule a new task. Do this the same way as you did before, with a few differences:

* Type a different name (should be obvious)
* Instead of 4800, enter 4801 for the event ID.
* For "Program/script", select the "quit.bat" you just created instead of "cgminer.exe".
* Leave "Add arguments (optional)" blank, and select the cgminer directory for "Start in (optional)".

==You're done!==

Lock your computer (Windows+L), wait 15 seconds or so, and unlock it. While it's locked, you should hear your GPU fan start spinning. When you unlock your computer, you should see cgminer appear for a second, then exit.

If it didn't work properly, leave a comment on [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|this article's talk page]], or send an email to [mailto:flarn2006@gmail.com flarn2006@gmail.com]. If it did, great!

If you want to thank me, my Bitcoin address is [bitcoin:14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP 14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP]. Send me some bitcoins if you want, in which case, thanks a lot!

Mining

2013-05-31T00:11:23Z

Flarn2006: /* See Also */ Added link to relevant tutorial

[[File:Quick-and-dirty-4x5970-cooling.jpg|thumb|right|A quick and dirty mining rig]]
== Introduction ==
'''Mining''', or generating, is the process of adding transaction records to Bitcoin's public ledger of past transactions. This ledger of past transactions is called the [[block chain]] as it is a chain of [[block|blocks]]. The block chain serves to [[Confirmation|confirm]] transactions to the rest of the network as having taken place. Bitcoin nodes use the block chain to distinguish legitimate Bitcoin transactions from attempts to respend coins that have already been spent elsewhere.

Mining is intentionally designed to be resource-intensive and difficult so that the number of blocks found each day by miners remains steady. Individual [[blocks]] must contain a [[proof of work|proof of work]] to be considered valid. This proof of work is verified by other Bitcoin nodes each time they receive a block.

== History ==
Bitcoin's public ledger (the 'block chain') was started on January 3rd, 2009 at 18:15 UTC presumably by [[Satoshi Nakamoto]]. The first block is known as the [[genesis block]]. The first transaction recorded in the first block was a single transaction paying the reward of 50 new bitcoins to its creator.

Bitcoin mining is so called because it resembles the mining of other commodities: it requires exertion and it slowly makes new currency available at a rate that resembles the rate at which commodities like gold are mined from the ground. See [[Controlled Currency Supply]].

== Difficulty ==
=== The Computationally-Difficult Problem ===
Mining a block is difficult because the SHA-256 hash of a block's header must be lower than or equal to the [[Target|target]] in order for the block to be accepted by the network. This problem can be simplified for explanation purposes: The hash of a block must start with a certain number of zeros. The probability of calculating a hash that starts with many zeros is very low, therefore many attempts must be made. In order to generate a new hash each round, a [[Nonce|nonce]] is incremented. See [[Proof of work]] for more information.

=== The Difficulty Metric ===
The [[Difficulty|difficulty]] is the measure of how difficult it is to find a new block compared to the easiest it can ever be. It is recalculated every 2016 blocks to a value such that the previous 2016 blocks would have been generated in exactly two weeks had everyone been mining at this difficulty. This will yield, on average, one block every ten minutes. As more miners join, the rate of block creation will go up. As the rate of block generation goes up, the difficulty rises to compensate which will push the rate of block creation back down. Any blocks released by malicious miners that do not meet the required difficulty [[Target|target]] will simply be rejected by everyone on the network and thus will be worthless.

=== Reward ===
When a block is discovered, the discoverer may award themselves a certain number of bitcoins, which is agreed-upon by everyone in the network. Currently this bounty is 25 bitcoins; this value will halve every 210,000 blocks. See [[Controlled Currency Supply]].

Additionally, the miner is awarded the fees paid by users sending transactions. The fee is an incentive for the miner to include the transaction in their block. In the future, as the number of new bitcoins miners are allowed to create in each block dwindles, the fees will make up a much more important percentage of mining income.

== Hardware ==
[[File:Usb-fpga module 1.15x-hs-800.jpg|thumb|right|FPGA Module]]
Users have used various types of hardware over time to mine blocks. Hardware specifications and performance statistics are detailed on the [[Mining Hardware Comparison]] page.
=== CPU Mining ===
Early Bitcoin client versions allowed users to use their CPUs to mine. The advent of GPU mining made CPU mining financially unwise. The option was therefore removed from the Bitcoin client.
=== GPU Mining ===
GPU Mining is drastically faster and more efficient than CPU mining. See the main article: [[Why a GPU mines faster than a CPU]]. A variety of popular [[Mining rig|mining rigs]] have been documented.
=== FPGA Mining ===
FPGA mining is a very efficient and fast way to mine, comparable to GPU mining and drastically outperforming CPU mining. FPGAs typically consume very small amounts of power with relatively high hash ratings, making them more viable and efficient than GPU mining. See [[Mining Hardware Comparison]] for FPGA hardware specifications and statistics.
=== ASIC Mining ===
An application-specific integrated circuit, or ''ASIC'', is a microchip designed and manufactured for a very specific purpose. ASICs designed for Bitcoin mining were first released in 2013 and (at the time of this writing) are in the hands of a very limited number of miners. For the amount of power they consume, they are expected to be vastly faster than all previous technologies and will likely make GPU mining financially unwise.

== Pools ==
As mining a block became more and more difficult, individuals found that they were working for months without finding a block and receiving ''any'' reward for their mining efforts. Thus they started organizing themselves into [[Pooled mining|pools]] so that they could share rewards more evenly. See [[Pooled mining]] and [[Comparison of mining pools]].
[[Category:Mining]][[Category:Vocabulary]]

==See Also==

* [http://codinginmysleep.com/bitcoin-mining-in-plain-english Bitcoin Mining in Plain English] by David Perry
* [[Automatically mine when computer is locked|Tutorial to automatically start mining when you lock your computer]]. (Windows 7)

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-31T00:10:22Z

Flarn2006: /* You're done! */

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Click File>New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Now we need to schedule a new task. Do this the same way as you did before, with a few differences:

* Type a different name (should be obvious)
* Instead of 4800, enter 4801 for the event ID.
* For "Program/script", select the "quit.bat" you just created instead of "cgminer.exe".
* Leave "Add arguments (optional)" blank, and select the cgminer directory for "Start in (optional)".

==You're done!==

Lock your computer (Windows+L), wait 15 seconds or so, and unlock it. While it's locked, you should hear your GPU fan start spinning. When you unlock your computer, you should see cgminer appear for a second, then exit.

If it didn't work properly, leave a comment on [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|this article's talk page]], or send an email to [mailto:flarn2006@gmail.com flarn2006@gmail.com]. If it did, great!

If you want to thank me, my Bitcoin address is [bitcoin:14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP 14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP]. Send me some bitcoins if you want, in which case, thanks a lot!

User:Automatically mine when computer is locked

2013-05-31T00:09:50Z

Flarn2006: Flarn2006 moved page User:Automatically mine when computer is locked to Automatically mine when computer is locked: Forgot to change namespace.

#REDIRECT [[Automatically mine when computer is locked]]

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-31T00:09:50Z

Flarn2006: Flarn2006 moved page User:Automatically mine when computer is locked to Automatically mine when computer is locked: Forgot to change namespace.

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Click File>New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Now we need to schedule a new task. Do this the same way as you did before, with a few differences:

* Type a different name (should be obvious)
* Instead of 4800, enter 4801 for the event ID.
* For "Program/script", select the "quit.bat" you just created instead of "cgminer.exe".
* Leave "Add arguments (optional)" blank, and select the cgminer directory for "Start in (optional)".

==You're done!==

Lock your computer (Windows+L), wait 15 seconds or so, and unlock it. While it's locked, you should hear your GPU fan start spinning. When you unlock your computer, you should see cgminer appear for a second, then exit.

If it didn't work properly, leave a comment on [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|this article's talk page]]. If it did, great!

If you want to thank me, my Bitcoin address is [bitcoin:14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP 14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP]. Send me some bitcoins if you want, in which case, thanks a lot!

User:Flarn2006/Sandbox

2013-05-31T00:09:34Z

Flarn2006: Flarn2006 moved page User:Flarn2006/Sandbox to User:Automatically mine when computer is locked: Page is complete.

#REDIRECT [[User:Automatically mine when computer is locked]]

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-31T00:09:34Z

Flarn2006: Flarn2006 moved page User:Flarn2006/Sandbox to User:Automatically mine when computer is locked: Page is complete.

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Click File>New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Now we need to schedule a new task. Do this the same way as you did before, with a few differences:

* Type a different name (should be obvious)
* Instead of 4800, enter 4801 for the event ID.
* For "Program/script", select the "quit.bat" you just created instead of "cgminer.exe".
* Leave "Add arguments (optional)" blank, and select the cgminer directory for "Start in (optional)".

==You're done!==

Lock your computer (Windows+L), wait 15 seconds or so, and unlock it. While it's locked, you should hear your GPU fan start spinning. When you unlock your computer, you should see cgminer appear for a second, then exit.

If it didn't work properly, leave a comment on [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|this article's talk page]]. If it did, great!

If you want to thank me, my Bitcoin address is [bitcoin:14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP 14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP]. Send me some bitcoins if you want, in which case, thanks a lot!

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-31T00:09:04Z

Flarn2006: /* You're done! */

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Click File>New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Now we need to schedule a new task. Do this the same way as you did before, with a few differences:

* Type a different name (should be obvious)
* Instead of 4800, enter 4801 for the event ID.
* For "Program/script", select the "quit.bat" you just created instead of "cgminer.exe".
* Leave "Add arguments (optional)" blank, and select the cgminer directory for "Start in (optional)".

==You're done!==

Lock your computer (Windows+L), wait 15 seconds or so, and unlock it. While it's locked, you should hear your GPU fan start spinning. When you unlock your computer, you should see cgminer appear for a second, then exit.

If it didn't work properly, leave a comment on [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|this article's talk page]]. If it did, great!

If you want to thank me, my Bitcoin address is [bitcoin:14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP 14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP]. Send me some bitcoins if you want, in which case, thanks a lot!

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-31T00:08:42Z

Flarn2006: /* You're done! */

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Click File>New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Now we need to schedule a new task. Do this the same way as you did before, with a few differences:

* Type a different name (should be obvious)
* Instead of 4800, enter 4801 for the event ID.
* For "Program/script", select the "quit.bat" you just created instead of "cgminer.exe".
* Leave "Add arguments (optional)" blank, and select the cgminer directory for "Start in (optional)".

==You're done!==

Lock your computer (Windows+L), wait 15 seconds or so, and unlock it. While it's locked, you should hear your GPU fan start spinning. When you unlock your computer, you should see cgminer appear for a second, then exit.

If it didn't work properly, leave a comment on [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|this article's talk page]]. If it did, great!

If you want to thank me, my Bitcoin address is <code>14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP</code>. Send me some bitcoins if you want, in which case, thanks a lot!

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-31T00:08:30Z

Flarn2006: /* Stop mining when the computer is unlocked */

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Click File>New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Now we need to schedule a new task. Do this the same way as you did before, with a few differences:

* Type a different name (should be obvious)
* Instead of 4800, enter 4801 for the event ID.
* For "Program/script", select the "quit.bat" you just created instead of "cgminer.exe".
* Leave "Add arguments (optional)" blank, and select the cgminer directory for "Start in (optional)".

==You're done!==

Lock your computer (Windows+L), wait 15 seconds or so, and unlock it. While it's locked, you should hear your GPU fan start spinning. When you unlock your computer, you should see cgminer appear for a second, then exit.

If it didn't work properly, leave a comment on [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|this article's talk page]]. If it did, great!

If you want to thank me, my Bitcoin address is <code>14jPnCGuRNeXe32DN3LHB1sghstkkgxYDP</code>. Send me some bitcoins if you want. Thanks!

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-31T00:01:21Z

Flarn2006:

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows. In addition, any text surrounded by quotes is to be entered without quotes.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

===Stop mining when the computer is unlocked===

To stop cgminer when the computer is unlocked is trickier than it might seem. On my computer (and likely others as well) simply killing the process causes the video driver to temporarily stop responding. This can cause other applications to crash, and it's also just annoying as you need to wait 10 seconds or more to use your computer. For obvious reasons, it would be VERY annoying to have this happen every time you unlock your computer. (Even if this exact problem doesn't occur, cgminer may need to "clean up" when it's done, so it's best to use this method anyway.)

Luckily, cgminer provides an API to allow other applications to control it. All we need to do is send the command "quit" to the local computer on network port 4028. For this, we'll use a program called [http://joncraton.org/blog/46/netcat-for-windows netcat]. Download this, and extract "nc.exe" to your cgminer directory.

Now we need to create two new files in this directory. Open Notepad, and type the word "quit". Do '''NOT''' press Enter afterwards. For some strange reason, cgminer doesn't accept commands ending in a newline character. This is why we need to create a file in the first place, rather than simply using the <code>echo</code> command. Save the file to your cgminer directory as "quit.txt".

Go to File>New, and type the following:

@echo off
nc 127.0.0.1 4028 < quit.txt

Save the file in the same directory as "quit.bat".

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-30T23:51:35Z

Flarn2006:

'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows.''

If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also need to use your computer for other GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, it can be annoying to start mining each time you stop using your computer. On Microsoft Windows, there is a little-known way to automate tasks like this. For this tutorial, we will be using [[cgminer]]. If you don't already have it, [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0 download it from here], and extract it to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

==Configuring the security auditing settings==
[[File:Windows Audit Configuration.png|thumb|right|250px|Configuring Windows to log when the computer is locked and unlocked.]]

Windows keeps a log of various types of events that occur on your computer. These events include software crashes and system service notifications, among other things. This event log is closely tied to another feature of Windows known as security auditing. Basically, every time certain tasks are performed that require user authentication, such as logging on to your computer, it creates a log entry. This feature is designed mainly for professionals who need to monitor corporate networks, but it can be useful for this purpose too. How? It is possible to program Windows to run programs whenever specific types of events occur.

Locking and unlocking your computer are two things that Windows can log, but by default it is not configured to do so. To enable this:

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "secpol.msc".
# On the left, expand "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration", "System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object", and select "Logon/Logoff".
# On the right, double-click "Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events".
# In the dialog that appears, make sure "Configure the following audit events" and "Success" are checked.
# Click OK, and close the Local Security Policy window.

==Using the Task Scheduler==

Next, we need to tell Windows to respond to these events. There are two tasks we need to program: one to start mining when the computer is locked, and one to stop mining when the computer is unlocked.

===Start mining when the computer is locked===

# Open the Run dialog (Windows+R) and type "taskschd.msc".
# On the very right, select "Create Basic Task..." from the menu.
# Give it a name, such as "Start Bitcoin Mining". What exactly you type here doesn't matter, as long as you remember what it is in case you need to change something later. Click Next.
# Select "When a specific event is logged" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Log", select "Security". For "Source", select "Microsoft Windows security auditing." For "Event ID", type 4800. Click Next.
# Select "Start a program" from the list, and click Next.
# For "Program/script", click "Browse..." and select cgminer.exe. (You do remember where you extracted it, right?)
# For "Add arguments (optional)", type in the command line parameters. Make sure to add <code>--api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code> to the end.
#:If you're unfamiliar with cgminer, you can use the following template: <code>-o ''[pool server]'' -u ''[user/worker name]'' -p ''[password]'' --api-listen --api-allow W:127.0.0.1</code>
# Click Next, and then Finish.

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-30T23:39:30Z

Flarn2006:

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-30T23:39:17Z

Flarn2006: /* Configuring the security auditing settings */

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-30T23:38:39Z

Flarn2006: /* Configuring the security auditing settings */

Tutorial: Automatically mine when computer is locked on Windows

2013-05-30T23:37:25Z

Flarn2006: Created page with "'''''Note:''' This tutorial is created with Windows 7 in mind. The exact steps are likely different for other versions of Windows.'' If you want to mine Bitcoins, but also ne..."

File:Windows Audit Configuration.png

2013-05-30T23:37:13Z

Flarn2006:

== Licensing ==
{{self|GFDL|cc-by-sa-3.0|migration=redundant}}