Platform: Windows 8.1 Pro; Intel E3-1270 V3 CPU @3.50 GHz; 32 GB ECC memory.
BOINC (versions 7.16.20, 7.16.3, & 7.14.2) will not install. BOINC has been successfully processing work units since late November. However, no matter what I do, BONIC insists on running all GPU/CPU work units at Normal priority. This is a distinct improvement over the high priority with which work units used to be processed. Nevertheless, keeping four CPUs busy hugely interferes with other work, especially with Microsoft Excel where every keypress takes seconds to evoke a response. Hence, I first attempted to install version 7.16.20. Clicking on the file name in Explorer boinc_7.16.20_windows_x86_64.exe produced the splash screen "BOINC-InstallShield Wizard." Clicking on "Next" produce the license acceptance screen. Again clicking on "Next" produced the BOINC Configuration screen, which is correct. Clicking on "Next" produces the screen, "the wizard is ready to begin installation. Click Install to begin installation." Clicking again, a screen appears entitled BOINC, which says, "The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable." While it's true there are network resources associated with this computer, the BOINC installation file is not on one of them, and this process has nothing to do with network resources. The screen goes on to say, "Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package 'BOINC.msi' in the box below" (labeled Use source:). That box contains the folder name "C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Installations\{40460252-7650-457E-BB91-57332A1BD664}\". On that screen clicking on "OK" produces a new message box with the text "The file 'C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Installations\{40460252-7650-457E-BB91-57332A1BD664}\' is not a valid installation package for the product BOINC. Try to find the installation package 'BOINC.msi' in a folder from which you can install BOINC." There is a BOINC.msi file in the above single-quoted directory. However clicking on OK in the message box produces the message, "Error 1706. No valid source could be found for product BOINC. The Windows Installer cannot continue."

In File Explorer, clicking on the file name BOINC.msi produces a message box with the following text:

"The wizard was interrupted before BOINC could be completely installed.

"Your system has not been modified. To complete installation at another time,
please run setup again.

"Click Finish to exit the wizard."

I have tried clicking on several BOINC.msi files all with the same result.

The second sentence in the above message is not correct. The file boincmgr.exe has been erased from its program directory, so there's no longer any BOINC on the system with which to process work units.

I tried to uninstall the BOINC (7.16.11) with which I have operated so far this year, but the uninstaller produces the same messages as described above. So, I tend to believe that the folder, C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Installations\{40460252-7650-457E-BB91-57332A1BD664}\ should contain the uninstaller for 7.16.11, but I'm not sure of that. In any case the uninstaller won't run.

I also tried to install versions 7.16.3 and 7.14.2, all with the same dismal results as described above.

Does anyone know how I can install a working copy of BOINC?

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Common issue. A search of the forum produced this appropriate thread.
https://boinc.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=11939#82106

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Thank you for your help. The Microsoft Troubleshooter (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed-cca7d1b6-65a9-3d98-426b-e9f927e1eb4d) worked perfectly for me the first time, and let me install BOINC version 7.16.20.

I still cannot make BOINC run MilkyWay apps at any priority less than Normal using any combination of the three cc_config.xml flags:

<no_priority_change>0</no_priority_change>
<process_priority>0</process_priority>
<process_priority_special>0</process_priority_special>

If someone knows how to lower BOINC app priority to less than Normal within BOINC I would appreciate learning it. In the meantime, Powershell works in this regard.

Again, thank you for your help. I greatly appreciate your assistance.[/b]

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Thank you for your help. The Microsoft Troubleshooter (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed-cca7d1b6-65a9-3d98-426b-e9f927e1eb4d) worked perfectly for me the first time, and let me install BOINC version 7.16.20.

I still cannot make BOINC run MilkyWay apps at any priority less than Normal using any combination of the three cc_config.xml flags:

<no_priority_change>0</no_priority_change>
<process_priority>0</process_priority>
<process_priority_special>0</process_priority_special>

If someone knows how to lower BOINC app priority to less than Normal within BOINC I would appreciate learning it. In the meantime, Powershell works in this regard.

Again, thank you for your help. I greatly appreciate your assistance.[/b]

A much smaller cache might help as of right now you have In progress (522), maybe Boinc thinks you just can't have a lower priority because you won't finish all those tasks on time otherwise. It will also take a few days to a week or so before Boinc KNOWS how long an actual task will take as opposed to going by Milky Way's estimation which is how you got that particular number of tasks.

With Windows, the appropriate tools are the Windows SysInternals Process Explorer application or commercial Process Lasso.

Both can be downloaded to control very finely the priority level of applications on the fly and also permanently through rules.

When I ran Windows, I always used Process Lasso to bump up my cpu applications from Low to Below Normal and my gpu applications from Normal to High Priority.

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And you can stop boinc crunching when in the system is "in use" with the "suspend" settings in boinc manager
`options` tab, then `computing preferences` suspend computing when in use etc.