This is strange. I have a Logitech lap desk with speakers. If I have BOINC running when I plug in the Logitech into the USB ports, the computer (MacBook Air/El Capitan) will not recognize it - the Logitech doesn't appear in Speaker Prefs. If I'm not running BOINC and I plug in the Logitech, it works perfectly. And if I get the Logitech working, I can then start BOINC - and the Logitech keeps working and stays visible in Speaker Prefs.

What's also weird is that although the computer won't see the Logitech if I already have BOINC running, I can plug my iPhone into the same USB ports and it starts charging right away.

It doesn't have anything to do with memory - the Logitech doesn't use any.

This happens only on my MBA. It doesn't affect my iMac/Snow Leopard at all - it works whether BOINC is running or not or which ever one I start first, Logitech or BOINC.

Thought I'd throw this out there to see if anyone else has had this problem. Why would BOINC interfere with the Logitech, apparently through the USB?