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BOINC for restricted Windows users

Good news, everyone! I've created and tested a BOINC installation for users without Administrator rights. What you need to do:

Download the BOINC installer from http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download.php. Make sure you save it, not run it.
Download this zip file and extract it to the same folder where you saved the BOINC installer.
Run the run.bat file. When it tries to extract the installation package, you will get an error message. Click OK, then chose the same folder where where you saved everything else.
The installer will now run.

When the installation is complete, you will need the World Community Grid project URL. This is www.worldcommunitygrid.org

If you are not a WCG member, register here. If you are already a member, get your BOINC account key here.

Please let me know if you experience any problems. In fact, please let me know if you install BOINC successfully using this method.
Good luck!

[Mar 28, 2006 7:25:11 AM]

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Re: BOINC for restricted Windows users

So, how's it going?

I see six downloads in my logs, and I would really love some feedback.

If it works well, I will talk to BOINC about making it one of the official install options, and to WCG about adding it to the FAQ.

[Mar 29, 2006 6:40:34 AM]

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Re: BOINC for restricted Windows users

It is unlikely that this would be made part of the official install package. The reason is that if you have permission to install BOINC on a computer you should also be able to get administration rights. If you do not have permission you should not be installing BOINC anyway.

[Mar 29, 2006 8:45:38 PM]

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Re: BOINC for restricted Windows users

That's the beauty of this installation. It works in those many cases where people have permission to use a computer, but don't have full rights. Many students and office workers fit into this category, but if you are unsure, please check the terms of your computer use.

No installer should require administrator rights for a "per user" install, but many, many do. I have merely removed the check for administrator, and preset some of the normal installation options.

Remember, this installation only works while you are logged in, and will not conflict with any other BOINC installations on the same machine. It should even work with a roaming profile.

[Mar 30, 2006 5:36:02 AM]

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Re: BOINC for restricted Windows users

I can't imagine they would ever sanction this as an official instalation option. There are reasons companies don't give administrator rights to individual users. They don't want them installing random software and messing up their computer. If BOINC / WCG endorse this workaround, and someone gets fired after using it, it would put them in a rather ackward position.

[Mar 31, 2006 1:30:39 PM]

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Re: BOINC for restricted Windows users

That's the point! BOINC doesn't need administrator rights.

If a company wants to prevent random installations, then that is trivial to do. Simply block Windows Installer using Group Policy. There are two relevant policies:

Disable Windows Installer, "Never", "For non-managed apps only" or "Always".
Prohibit User Installs, "Allow User Installs", "Hide User Installs" or "Prohibit User Installs"

So, if your computer use policy allows it, and your administrator has permitted it, then go ahead and BOINC.

[Mar 31, 2006 3:10:08 PM]

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Re: BOINC for restricted Windows users

Yep BOINC will never make it an official App, due to the fact users who download it and install should have Admin rights on there computers already.

Making a client official that breaks those rules is never going to happen, if you don't have admin rights then thats because the person who owns that computer doesn't want you to install anything

[Apr 2, 2006 8:38:11 AM]

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Re: BOINC for restricted Windows users

Not true. I quote their policy:

Run BOINC only on authorized computers
Run BOINC only on computers that you own, or for which you have obtained the owner's permission. Some companies and schools have policies that prohibit using their computers for BOINC-based projects.

Clearly, there are many cases where permission is explicitly or implicitly granted, but the owner of the computer doesn't want to grant elevated priveleges. A good example of this is a university, where the computer use policy allows running almost any software, and facilitates this by allowing user installations.

Frankly, giving normal users admin rights is insane, but most programs simply don't need them. Requiring the rights even when they are not required is a common installer error, and one the InstallSheild is often guilty of. But then, InstallSheild is a mess.

I have said it before, and I will say it again: normal users can install software, unless they are prevented explicitly from doing so.

[Apr 2, 2006 10:47:47 AM]

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