Error message I got when I tried to install. I run vista. This happens while it says setup is preparing.

Which BOINC version?
To which drive where you trying to install?
Were you trying to put the data part as a folder under the program part? (Which isn't allowed with version 6.* because of Vista constraints.)

Error message I got when I tried to install. I run vista. This happens while it says setup is preparing.

Just a guess on my part... Googling this error code for Vista seems to be associated with attempting to install to a network drive or shared folder....

additional edit

You were installing to F:\BOINC and not just F:\

That happens on laptops from where I work.

If your "My documents" directory is set to a network drive or removable drive, if that drive is not connected, installs using Windows' MSI engine will fail.

You should have a desktop icon that's a link to your "My Documents" directory. Right click on that, and go to Properties. It should open to the "Target" tab. The only thing here is "Target Location". If that says "F:" or "F:\", that's yor problem. Change it to a directory on your local drive (probably C:\).

Note that technically the BOINC EULA does not let you install it on computers you do not own.