I just found out that somehow I have BOINC folder in my Program Data, and that multiple program's called exact_client_0.34_windows_x84_64 are taking near half of my CPU power. I never installed BOINC so I dont have BOINC Manager or program to uninstall. I cant delete the folder as it states that other programs are using it. Could it be a virus pretending to be BOINC?
The progam's exact_client_0.34_windows_x84_64 are under (C:)/ProgramData/BOINC/projects/csgrid.org_csg

I don't think we've ever had a confirmed case of BOINC being distributed in viral form, but it's always a possibility, and you're right to question it.

https://csgrid.org/csg/ or "Citizen Science Grid" is a legitimate BOINC project associated with the University of North Dakota, and they do use 'exact' in some of their application names, so it could be genuine.

But even so, it should be your free choice to install it, and to remove it.

You don't mention which version of Windows you're running, so it's hard to give exact advice, but I'd suggest you try:

1) Look to see if there is any reference to BOINC in the list of installed programs. Look in the Windows Control Panel for 'Programs and Features', and follow the instructions for uninstalling a program.

2) Open the Windows Task Manager (right-click on the task bar running across the bottom of your screen). Select any programs with 'BOINC' in their name, and then click the 'End process' button to the bottom-right of the window. Do the same with any programs with 'Exact' in their name. Then see if the folder can be deleted.

3) Restart the computer in 'Safe Mode' (press F8 repeatedly as soon as the boot process starts). Then see if the folder can be deleted.

Those three suggestions are in increasing order of drasticness. The best would be suggestion (1), if you can, because that should remove any lingering attempts to start the program again, as well as removing the programs themselves. Come back and ask again if you need more help.

Before removing it though, I'd rather we first know who he's crunching for. Because that person or group should have to respond for themselves as well, on how this could've happened.

So romes16, can you please go to the BOINC data directory (default a hidden directory at C:\Programdata\BOINC, so fill in that path in Windows Explorer and hit Enter.) Then find the account_csgrid.org.xml file and open it in Notepad. Copy the contents and post those here (or PM them to me). Please do the same for the client_state.xml file.

If the data directory isn't at C:\Programdata\BOINC, you'll have to check in the Windows registry what it is.
For this, type regedit in the search and hit Enter on regedit.exe Windows finds.
Next navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Space Sciences Laboratory, U.C. Berkeley\BOINC Setup
Here look what it says for DATADIR

I don't think BOINC can run without that entry.

---

A decade ago I was attending That Other DC Church. And over there there was a case of 'viral form'. So long story short: a dude finds out about DC; then decides to join efforts with That Other DC Church; then finds out he already did :] The team he was crunching for was 'Faster Then Lite' AKA -- FTL. IIRC that FTL thing was doing some decent job, something about first 10 teams.

My bet (sorry, PG thing) -- gridcoin is involved somehow.

---

I'm counting for science,
points just make me sick.

I am having the same priblem, it does not show up in the list of programs but if you go to the OS (C): under program files(x86) it's there. I have never installed this prgram and it is not allowing me to delete it. Help

Would this program help:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17588/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed
I can't exactly remember what that looks like, but if it shows its own list of programs then there could be a chance.