I see in my account where I can merge computers with the same name. However, I get some that can't be merged due to "incompatibility". Apparently, I'm not understanding something, as I should be able to take computer named "OPR3" and merge it with the new, replacement computer of the same name. If the old OPR3 is no longer in service, I don't want to just delete it, because then I lose my credits. So I should be able to transfer those credits to the "new" OPR3 computer. Of course, the new computer is going to be newer technology that isn't compatible with the old computer. But who cares? The old computer is dead, buried and gone.
Another possibility is to allow me to transfer data from an old computer that's no longer in service, to a "psudo-computer" whose name doesn't have to match anything. Then the old, dead, out-of-service computer can be removed so it doesn't take up space on my account, the webpage or the SETI computers.

BOINC and SETI@Home know nothing about th names you assign to your computers.
BOINC looks at the hardware configuration and operating systems of the two computers you wish to merge, if they are classed as being different then they cannot be merged.

(There are small hardware differences that are overlooked, but major ones, such as changing CPU from AMD to Intel prevent a merge from happening)

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

I don't want to just delete it, because then I lose my credits

You will not lose any credits if you delete computer.

But there is no need:
- It will 'vanish from view' after 30 days since 'Last contact' (will be visible only if you click 'All computers')
- I don't think project have any trouble storing the list of computers (not much space used):

Your highest number computer is ID: 7437252 (and probably is the 'new' you talk about)
Lets say the info for one computer (CPU type, Operating System, BOINC version, ...) stored on the server is 1 KB (~1000 letters/symbols)
All the 7 437 252 computers registered will need 7 437 252 KB = 7 GB (the size of one DL DVD)
If I am wrong and the info is 10 times more - even you can store 70 GB on your own HDD

If you look here:
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/stats/

- the biggest file is   host.gz   607 MB - and contains info about all the computers at SETI@home
These files from the above link are used by sites like BOINCstats to show everything on their pages (the only info they have is from those a few .gz files)

***

These are 'All computers' of yours:
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/hosts_user.php?sort=rpc_time&rev=0&show_all=1&userid=8961852

The oldest 'Last contact' is '18 Nov 2008' for:
Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.50GHz

I should be able to transfer those credits to the "new" OPR3 computer

Why do you think you "should be able"? (they are in fact different computers)
(only you see your computer names like 'OPR3' (and only I see my computer names, etc.))

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- ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)