Whenever I start running a CPDN task the screensaver start running immediately and when I move the mouse the screensaver cuts off until I stop moving the mouse and it starts running again. I want to be able to use my computer while the task is running in the background. How do I cut this off?

Thanks

The same as with any screensaver:

Right click on an unused part of the desktop
In the popup, click on properties
In the next popup, click on Screensaver at the top
Then go to the drop down list, and click on Blank

And just in case you're not aware, when ever YOU use the computer, screen saver or not, BOINC will pause to allow you to do what ever you want to, and when it does, any science application that it's running will also pause.
This is why it's described as "running in spare clock cycles".

when ever YOU use the computer, screen saver or not, BOINC will pause to allow you to do what ever you want to, and when it does, any science application that it's running will also pause.

Not always completely true Les, when watching videos I used to have to suspend one of the two models running on this machine to stop it being all choppy. I have since played around with the priority different processes have and things work better now. In retrospect reducing the percentage of cpu time and or memory that BOINC can have when computer is in use may have been an easier way to resolve the issue. Will try that if I ever re-install everything from scratch and get the same problems.

In Windows 7 the way to shut down the screensaver is slightly different from in XP. Right-click on the desktop > Personalize > Go to Screensaver > In the dropdown menu select None > OK button.

Properties has become Personalize.

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Cpdn news

BOINC detects user activity with boinctray.exe, which detects keyboard and mouse activity.
When viewing videos, these may not be used, and BOINC has difficulties, which is what causes the choppy display.

To get around this, it's necessary/advised to use a cc_config option.

<cc_config>
    <log_flags>
    </log_flags>
     <options>
        <exclusive_app>important.exe</exclusive_app>
     </options>
</cc_config>

where important.exe is the name of the video player.