GJS1,

no it will not run on dos alone. You'll be needing a reasonable modern Windows computer, something more than Windows 98 when CEP2 launches for this and the MAC platform and good speed internet connection for the very large result file uploads. Few hands to code, so the developers explained they started with Linux, which they most of the time do anyhow and in this case was ideal, since the move to production had to be initially restricted to test the robustness of the system. They did right as uploading proofed to be having it's hurdles.

When: as per herna's reply.

My personal current impressions are that CEP2 for Windows/MAC won't beta before September, so considering, once one has done the Lucid Lynx 10.04.1 Live ISO download (my recommend) and burned a CD (yes that small) and ran it first without making change, then from that session actually proceed straight to install to a large NTFS drive and take through the auto-repartition say 80GB (don't be a miser as else you'll have to redo when hooked), you'll be set for crunching, and do use the Synaptic Package Manager to install BOINC. Oh and start with Ethernet/Cable. Only on my 3rd clean install did WIFI work out of the box when newer drivers were installed (with 10.04 that is). The Ethernet never failed once.