Thank you Dagorath. altering permissions on the file gui_rpc_auth.cfg has, at least, worked to get my Boinc Manager speaking with the project server so that it's trying to download a task now.

Well I finally got around to trying the technique listed in message 24160 and it seems to have solved the problem. Thanks to Gary Newell. I believe BOINC is now running properly under all three user accounts, at least the two most used ones anyway.

My fear now is what happens if I install an upgrade? Will I have to do all that again? I understand the security requirments of Vista have caused many complaints in general and this one in particular I guess. The original point of my messages still stands though, that is why can we not get an easily installed version of BOINC that works on Vista? Is it technically impossible? I certainly don't know and honestly don't want to spend the effort even thinking about it. I just want a simple installation.

Joe