I wanted to update Boinc to the latested stable one at Berkely so I could use the app_config.xml file as the latest Boinc from the Ubuntu repositories was 7.0.27 and I needed 7.0.40 at least to use it. While it is still fresh in my mind I thought I would document how I did it. I know D_A has given the directions to do it like this but I could not find it in the forums, so I thought it might be useful with the renewed interest in Linux thanks to MMs adventures.
How To Open Terminal and Use The Command Line
You can copy and paste the commands to a Terminal.
Install Boinc from repositories, if not already installed. If it is installed skip this part. The reason to install from repositories first is it sets up Boinc to start at bootup, creates some symbolic links, installs config files and checks dependencies. The archive does none of this. We use the archive to update the binaries installed by the repository.
Code:
sudo app-get install boinc-client boinc-manager
close Boinc Manager if open.
Now stop boinc from running. When you installed it Boinc was started.
Code:
sudo service boinc-client stop
Download latest Boinc from Berkely to your $HOME directory. $HOME is the system variable for /home/username/. It is best to download to your $HOME directory so you have Read, Write and Execute permission.
You can download using a web browser or you can use the command line if you are not using a desktop.
Type cd and hit enter.
Code:
cd
wget http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dl/boinc_7.2.28_x86_64-pc-linux-gnu.sh
Change version number to one you wish to retrieve.
cd and hitting enter, will put you in your home directory
NOTE: you do not have to type the entire file name. Type boinc_ and hit tab, it should finish the filename for you. If not type more of the name and hit tab until it does.
Change file permissions to executable.
Code:
sudo chmod a+x boinc_7.0.65_x86_64-pc-linux-gnu.sh
or what version you downloaded
Run file to unpack.
Code:
sudo sh boinc_7.0.65_x86_64-pc-linux-gnu.sh
again substitute the name of the file you downloaded
now cd BOINC the directory name should be all caps.
Copy boinc, boinccmd and boincmgr to over write the older version of boinc.
Code:
sudo cp boinc* /usr/bin/
Start boinc-client.
Code:
sudo service boinc-client start
This worked for me on Ubuntu updating 7.0.27 to 7.0.65. I have not used Mint but from what I know about it it should work there as well.
Some of the actions above can be accomplished with variances in what I used. This is what worked me. Please feel free to correct or add to this.
Yes Linux can make you feel stupid. You are not alone if you get to feeling that way when it does not do what you expect or gives an error that makes no sense to you. Enter as much info as you can here there are several experienced Linux people here, one of us will figure it out. 
To install 7.2.28 from archive it is the same just use that version number.
Here is how to install 7.0.65 from repositories using ubuntu-backports.
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If you installed boinc from the archives downloaded from Berkely and have been running boinc from $HOME/BOINC and want to use the benefits of the install from the repositories and not loose your current work here is how to do it.
Stop boinc: close boinc-manager and stop boinc-client.
Code:
sudo boinccmd --quit
Install from repositories.
Code:
sudo apt-get install boinc-client boinc-manager
if you do not want to run the manager leave that part out. It does not matter which version is installed by this.
The install process will start boinc-client when it is finished. Stop it.
Code:
sudo service boinc-client stop
If you want to use the binaries from your $HOME/BOINC install then: ~/ is another variable for your home directory.
Code:
sudo cp ~/BOINC/boinc* /usr/bin/
Then change to the boinc install in your home directory.
Now become superuser or root.
Present Working Directory.
make sure it shows you in BOINC. /home/username/BOINC
copy recursively the projects folder or directory from ~/BOINC to /var/lib/boinc-client, over writing any thing there.
Code:
cp -r projects /var/lib/boinc-client/
Code:
cd /var/lib/boinc-client
Change ownership of all files and directories recursively in projects directory to user boinc in group boinc
Code:
chown -R boinc:boinc projects
Leave superuser mode.
Start boinc-client
Code:
sudo service boinc-client start
If you see some errors do not panic. Hit the UP ARROW key and hit ENTER. Open boinc-manager or a terminal window and top. Work units should show running with no work lost.
If you screw up, everything in $HOME/BOINC should still be there so just start over. If you need to start from the very beginning just:
Code:
sudo apt-get purge boinc-client boinc-manager
You really should not need to remove the install. Nothing we did should effect the current work units. You can also use copy and paste to reduce typing errors.
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If for some reason you want to run the projects work units from $HOME/BOINC but use the scripts that are installed by the repositories that start boinc on bootup there are instructions here.
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To stop Update Managers from updating your boinc install on Ubuntu, Mint and other Debian based distros.
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Many thanks to OldChap and D_A for suggestions and error checking. 
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