So just because you cannot upgrade your (proprietary Dell) videocard...

Second, I have a Dell Precision M6300 and I can't upgrade my video.

So just because you cannot upgrade your (proprietary Dell) videocard, project developers are pathetic when it comes to programming for these lower videocards?

If that's what you believe, that's pathetic too. But we all know you know exactly what I meant.

- Seti needs only 254MB on the card, 384MB when you update to video drivers over 190.38 and the CUDA 2.3 Software Development Kit (SDK). The side effect of CUDA 2.3 drivers and above is that they see less memory on the videocard than there really is. This is an Nvidia problem, not a BOINC or project problem.

No, it's not an NVidia problem. My system has 256mb and SETI was working just fine. Seems to me this is an effect of the Windows Programmer Syndrome, where memory can be hogged because... well, because you can. (sigh)

- Einstein has the continuing problem that the FFT algorithm does not fit in memory under 256MB. They've only temporarily set the requirement to 300MB, until they know how much video memory their latest BRP3 application is actually taking up.

Then this is a communication problem on the part of the Einstein team. Instead of alienating volunteers, the message about video memory requirements should explain the reason for the GPU task rejection and give a URL for that, instead of expecting people to figure out by sheer guessing that they should go check the web site.

- Milkyway has always been an ATI project first, anything else later. They require double precision in their calculations, something that your Dell proprietary Nvidia chip cannot do. So you don't even have to fret over this project's requirements.

Fine, I'll dump it from the list.

Is there a way to determine which projects will not allow me to participate with my GPU so that I can exclude them entirely from my computer time?

Normally BOINC will tell you as soon as you request CUDA work from the project. The project will give an answer back whether or not your GPU is OK.
Other than that, check their forums. Einstein has a sticky thread in their Cruncher's Corner forum that shows the latest requirements.

Milkyway has a GPU requirements thread in its forums.

Seti has a GPU forum where you can ask questions. Be polite, the people answering you are usually volunteers just like you are.

Any chance this is Vista giving you the headache?

http://forums.ceruleanstudios.com/showpost.php?p=695582&postcount=25

That's what I used as a work around.

It's actually not BOINC directly. Here's what I found out on the mailing list.

The reason for this is that Vista has a new place for keeping your "current browser" setting, and wxWidgets doesn't know about it.

BOINC follows what Windows says is the default browser. You may have set in Firefox to check that it is the default browser, but did you also tell Windows?

Start->(Settings->)Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs->Set Program Access and Defaults, set Firefox to be the default web browser, click OK. (Windows at times forgets these settings as well, especially after you updated it or Internet Explorer).