boinc_master?

I recently had to take my computer in to the local computer shop to get it fixed because every time I logged in I was getting the blue screen of death (even in safe mode), and since I was in a crunch for time I had to take it to someone who knew more than I did to fix it.

Basically he just restored windows to factory settings. However I noticed a user folder called boinc_master and it just contains a bunch of empty folders. Apparently its some Berkeley program that uses your computer to run calculations and I assume that when you re install windows it asks if this is ok to do and he pressed ok or something. I don't want to use my CPU to run Berkeley calculations. As a result, I deleted the folder. I can't really find any other information on my computer about it (typing in boinc in the search brings up nothing now) so I just want to know if there a way to make sure that I know my computer is not being used for such calculations?

Also I have no idea how he re installed windows to factory settings on my VAIO laptop. I tried doing a search but can't figure out what did to get factory settings. I was planning on reinstalling to factory settings again to try to undo this. system restore only lets me restore to an earlier or time or reinstall windows (using a disk which I don't have). Any reccomendations or ideas on what he did to reinstall to factory settings? Thanks for reading this.

How to make Sony Recovery Disks:
View Document

How to use Sony Recovery:
View Document

How to use Sony Hardware Diagostics:
View Document

How to order Sony Recovery disks:
1.Go to http://servicesales.sel.sony.com.
2.Enter your computer's model number (for example, PCV-XXXX), and click List Parts and accessories.
3.Follow the online instructions to order the Recovery Media Kit.
If you are not able to access the Sony Direct Accessories and Parts Center Web site, contact a customer service representative at 1-800-488-7669.

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

Boinc_master is the master account for Boinc a distributed computing client. See this wiki Creating custom installers - BOINC

My Sony laptop from the summer of last year did not have BOINC pre-installed. BOINC and its ilk are usually employed to exploit desktop graphics card GraphicsProcessingUnit's, particularly when they are underutilized most of the time. So it's very likely BOINC was packaged with the graphics card and Sony then put that package into another to sell.

As for the BOINC software, I would like to think it needs to be set up before it will run on its own, as I had done so with similar software that does "community work" in the background. Nevertheless, it may still autorun as a prelude to being set up to run. When you say "I deleted the folder", I hope you mean you uninstalled said program. Otherwise, it would add a few seconds to the bootup time searching for the missing folder.

Thanks for the help everybody. Out of pure curiosity, how long does it generally take to reinstall windows 7 to its factory settings? Here are my laptop's specs....

Product: US-VPCF2290X-LBOM
Component: 4GB (2GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1333
Component: High capacity battery
Component: 500GB (7200rpm) hard drive
Component: Intel® Core™ i7-2720QM quad-core processor (2.20GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.30GHz
Component: CD/DVD player / burner
Component: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Component: 16.4" 2D Full HD LCD display (1920x1080) with LED backlight
Component: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 520M (512MB VRAM) dedicated graphics

Half an hour for the reinstall. Half a day for the rest: settings, Microsoft updates download and install, personal choices of software to install.

I'm planning to do the same soon. Didn't realize Bluetooth can only be turned on/off via Sony software (I had removed most of them soon after out-of-the-box).