I have just started with Linux (during the last week) and, with a few exceptions have overcome most problems. I'm with SUSE because I had fewer problems with this distribution.

However BOINC has completely stumped me. I've downloaded the Linux program file boinc_5.10.28_x86_64-pc-linux-gnu.sh (okay, I've changed the name slightly). I have also moved it to a folder on its own. However, the extension, ".sh " has me stumped, (although I think I've read about it somewhere).

With RPM packages, no problem; but sh????

The .sh suffix of a file helps identify the file as a script which uses either the bourne or bash shell to execute it. Modern Linux distros use the bash shell interpreter which is backwards compatible with the bourne shell. If the script file is not executable, then the shell interpreter is used to run the script.

Bourne shell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourne_shell

From the BOINC website:
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/trac/wiki/...#install-linux

Since boinc script is not executable, the sh command runs the script.
It's been several years since I ran SETI@home on my Linux box, but I found this article that may be of help to you:

Installing and Running the BOINC client on Unix
http://www.spy-hill.com/~myers/help/boinc/unix.html

Thank you, I now have Boinc running on my computer.

I think this, for me, highlights the problems for a Newbie to any version of Linux. All the information is so fragmented, which even the "Dummies" books haven't yet cured. Perhaps sites like Boinc (http://boinc.berkeley.edu/) could learn from this and put up an "idiots guide" to install their program.

Let's face it, this is how Microsoft took over the majority of the PC market, their products were of dubious quality but, you didn't need to be an expert. I know some Linux users frown upon dumbing down, but, with so many distributions, there is room enough for all tastes. Like me, (or as I was), there must be many wanting to jump the Microsoft ship and all they need is the reassurance they don't need to be highly qualified in computer sciences to take a leap into Linux and all the new strange words.

All I know, since Microsoft wanted to charge me over sixty pounds (UK) to use the copy of Xp I had already bought from them, I had 30 days to jump! Evidently, I had loaded it on to my computer too many times, (in my earlier experiments with Linux making rubbish of the windows boot, etc.), and my copy failed to authenticate.

Anyway, I'm now liberated, running SUSE 10.3 64 bit on my AMD 4600 box and virtually doing everything I used to do in my windows days. Yes, there were fraught moments with screen resolutions, getting my Epson SC760 working properly with graphics plus many hours doing Google searches and reading books however, I'm nearly there. Just the Benq 5000E scanner to work on, getting it to talk to sane. Hopefully I will crack it before I go insane! (Sorry, this must have been cracked so many times before but then, it is almost written for Linux.)

On the very positive side, I now have faster boot up, programs running quicker and, to save energy, faster shut down than the same computer running Windows Xp SR2. And all for the cost of a few books and a bit of time.

Again, thank you. And thank you to all the giants, upon who's shoulders I'm now standing.

Ray Woods