SETI@Home Error Codes
(Part of Safalra's Website)
(Part of Safalra's Website)
Important: This page attracts many thousands of visitors a month, and hence is costing me a lot to host. I'm not going to charge people for it, so instead I'll recommend a couple of SETI-related books, and hope some people buy them. Contact is a classic work of science fiction, and a brilliant book (unfortunately it was then made into a bad movie...):
As for science-fact, Beyond Contact is great read, and not too technical:
| Error number | Internal name | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | SUCCESS | You might argue that success is not an error. You'd be right. Still, I've put it in this list for completeness. |
| -10 | NAME_EXISTS |
You've tried to create a new account, but somebody already exists with that user name.
You should choose another.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -11 | FILE_DELETE_FAILED |
Your work unit was complete, the client uploaded it and tried to delete the old files, but couldn't.
You've probably accidentally delete-protected the files.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -12 | CANT_OPEN_DIR |
The client cannot access the directory where its files should be. You have probably moved it.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -14 | FTRUNCATE_FAILED |
The client could no truncate the file.
You've probably accidentally write-protected the files.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -15 | NOTHING_TO_DO |
The client has no data to work on.
If you're using a dial-up connection, connect and download a new work unit.
Otherwise, the server is probably down, so you'll just have to wait a while.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -16 | CANT_CONNECT |
The client was unable to connect to the internet.
If you are using a dial-up connection, make sure the connection is established before trying to send a result.
Otherwise, there may be a problem with you internet connection.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -17 | CANT_CREATE_FILE |
The client tried to create a file, but couldn't.
You've probably accidentally write-protected the directory.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -18 | WRITE_FAILED |
The client tried to write some data to one of the files, but couldn't.
You've probably accidentally write-protected the files.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -19 | MALLOC_FAILED |
The client couldn't allocate any memory for its process.
Either enable virtual memory on your computer, or buy some more RAM.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -20 | FD_READLN_EOF |
The data file ended unexpectedly.
It is probably corrupt, in which case delete the files and download new ones.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -21 | DELIM_MISSING |
An expected delimiter (usually LF-CR) is missing.
The data files must be corrupt so delete them and download new ones.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -22 | FOPEN_FAILED |
The client tried to open one of the files to read some data, but couldn't.
You've probably accidentally read-protected one of the files.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -23 | BAD_HEADER |
The header of one of the files was corrupt.
Either the data was corrupted while transmitting, or you've corrupted it yourself (maybe while trying to cheat...).
Delete the files and download new ones.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -24 | BAD_DECODE |
The work unit data is stored in base-64 encoding.
One of the symbols is outside the range.
The data files are corrupt, so delete them and download new ones.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -26 | CANT_FIND_HOST |
By far the most common error.
It means the SETI servers are down.
Just try again later.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -27 | CANT_OPEN_SOCKET |
See the ERR_SOCKS errors below.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -29 | BUFFER_OVERFLOW |
There is too much data waiting to be written.
Just let the client continue.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -30 | OUTFILE_OVERFLOW |
Your work unit was so interesting there was too much data to put in the output file.
Most likely caused by a faulty work unit, so download a new one.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -31 | USER_ID_NOT_FOUND |
The SETI@Home server didn't recognise your user ID.
The user file has probably become corrupted.
Go into the client menus, and tell it your e-mail address again, and it should get the correct user data.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -33 | USER_NAME_NOT_FOUND |
The SETI@Home server didn't recognise your user name.
The user file has probably become corrupted.
Go into the client menus, and tell it your e-mail address again, and it should get the correct user data.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -34 | OBSOLETE_VERSION |
The client has download a work unit whose header says it needs a newer version of the client.
Your version is obsolete, so you should download the new one.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -35 | NEW_MINOR_VERSION |
A new version of the client is available, and you might like to download it.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -36 | DB_ERROR |
There is an error retrieving data from the science database.
You can carry on, as it probably means the database is down for maintenance for a short while.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -37 | NET_NOTIFYME |
Similar to the ERR_SOCKS errors, see below.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -38 | NET_WAIT | |
| -39 | PLATFORM_NOT_FOUND |
The client has requested data specific to its platform, but the SETI@Home server does not recognise this platform.
The data may have been corrupted on the way to the server, so try again.
Otherwise, the client has become corrupted and you'll need to reinstall SETI@Home.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -40 | NO_NEW_ACCOUNTS |
The SETI@Home server was unable to create a new account for you.
It's probably full.
This has not occured at the time of writing.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -41 | VERSION_NOT_FOUND |
The client has requested data specific to its version, but the SETI@Home server does not recognise this platform.
The data may have been corrupted on the way to the server, so try again.
Otherwise, the client has become corrupted and you'll need to reinstall SETI@Home.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -42 | THREAD_TIMEOUT |
The server didn't respond within a set time limit.
It may be a little busy, so try again later.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -50 | GOT_HTTP_ERROR |
The client connected with the SETI@Home server, but there was an error in the data transfer.
Better try again.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -51 | MALFORMED_HTTP_HEADER |
The error was so bad, the http header was damaged.
Better try again.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -52 | FTELL_FAILED |
Similar to the ERR_SOCKS errors, see below.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -53 | ERR_SOCKS_NEED_USER_PASS | |
| -61 | CHECKSUM_MISMATCH |
One of the data files is corrupt.
Delete them and download new ones.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -62 | MEMORY_MODIFIED |
Some malicious program's trashed the memory the client was using.
This really shouldn't happen, and may be a sign of a virus (or a Microsoft operating system...).
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -63 | PROGRAM_MODIFIED |
Some vandal's modified the program - either a virus or you were hacking into it.
You'd better reinstall it.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -64 | PRINT_MESSAGE |
The SETI@Home server wants to tell you something it can't express through the existing error message.
The client will tell you what this is.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -65 | ACCESS_DENIED |
The client has been denied access to the SETI@Home server.
This sometimes happens when it is busy, so wait a while and try again later.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -66 | DUPLICATE_RESULT |
You've already submitted this work unit.
Either you've been most unfortunate and had the same work unit twice, the work unit was already sent but an error stopped the client from deleting the old files, or you've been trying to cheat.
In the first and third cases, the problem will fix itself, in the remaining case delete the files and download new ones.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -70 | CHECKSUM_FILE_NONEXISTENT |
There isn't a checksum file, so the client can't tell whether the data is corrupt.
Delete the files and download new ones.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -71 | STATE_FILE_NONEXISTENT |
The client can't find the state file.
Unless you've moved it somewhere and can move it back, you're going to have to start that work unit again.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -127 | TERMINATE_CLIENT |
The client was told to terminate - you probably told your computer to shut down.
This command is represented as an error message to insure quick termination of the client process.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -1101 | ERR_SOCKS_SERVER_NOT_FOUND |
These are all errors relating to communication between your computer and the internet.
If one of these occurs, you are probably access the internet through a newtwork (e.g. at an office) and there are communication problems or security features making the client unable to function.
A search engine will provide you with more detail on these errors.
Still in need of help? Why not ask Jeeves? Click here. |
| -1102 | ERR_SOCKS_SOCKET_OPEN_FAILED | |
| -1103 | ERR_SOCKS_CONNECT_FAILED | |
| -1104 | ERR_SOCKS_UNKNOWN_SOCKS_VERSION | |
| -1105 | ERR_SOCKS_BAD_USER_PASS | |
| -1106 | ERR_SOCKS_NO_COMPAT_METHOD | |
| -1107 | ERR_SOCKS_DEST_SERVER_NOT_FOUND | |
| -1108 | ERR_SOCKS_GENERAL_SERVER_FAILURE | |
| -1109 | ERR_SOCKS_RULESET_DENY | |
| -1110 | ERR_SOCKS_NETWORK_UNREACHABLE | |
| -1111 | ERR_SOCKS_HOST_UNREACHABLE | |
| -1112 | ERR_SOCKS_CONNECTION_REFUSED | |
| -1113 | ERR_SOCKS_TTL_EXPIRED | |
| -1114 | ERR_SOCKS_CMD_NOT_SUPPORTED | |
| -1115 | ERR_SOCKS_ADDR_TYPE_NOT_SUPPORTED | |
| -1116 | ERR_SOCKS_UNKNOWN_ERR | |
| -1117 | ERR_SOCKS_IPV6_NOT_SUPPORTED | |
| -1118 | ERR_SOCKS_IO_FAILURE | |
| -1119 | ERR_SOCKS_NO_IDENTD | |
| -1120 | ERR_SOCKS_TRY_VERSION_4 | |
| -1121 | ERR_SOCKS_TRY_VERSION_5 |
(Type something such as +"SETI@Home" +"error -26" +help)