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February 6

My compuer broke

how can i fix my broken computer.

Can you tell us more? What exactly is broken? What happens when you turn it on - for example, does nothing turn on, does text appear (if so, what), does Windows / OS X / Linux start up? --h2g2bob 01:12, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Have you tried taking it to a computer repair shop? If you don't know how to be articulate about it you are probably not going to be able to fix it on your own. --140.247.250.21 17:39, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

MP4

Hi. Does anyone know of a free or open source app which I could use to convert the files from a DVD into MP4 or something that would be compatible with a PSP? Alternatively does anyone know how to do it with Nero or Media Player or something? thanks Mix Lord 01:20, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This is a good looking guide to using DVD Decrypter and PSP Video 9 to do exactly that. For most other video types, using PSP Video 9 on its own is fairly easy. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 01:45, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Okay thanks. I'll try thatMix Lord 06:44, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Adding Harddrive space to a laptop

So I've been looking into buying myself a laptop, and I want the best 15" laptop out there in pretty much every aspect other than graphics. I don't play games or anything, but I have enough music (about 100+ gigs right now and growing quickly) that I'll want a LOT of harddrive space (2 or 300g maybe?). But I also want the computer to be really fast, because I've consistently worn down the speed of every computer I have had through constant use of music, video, and innumerable strange programs. I've noticed that nearly every computer offering that much harddrive space is a) usually larger than 15", and b) that if I do buy, say a 120 gig harddrive laptop, the only drives available cap off at 5400 rpm, which, I take it, isn't as fast as 7200 or higher rpms, available with smaller hardrives. I have seen online, however, internal harddrives for individual sale that can hold 300 gigs and run at ridiculous rpm speeds. The question is whether I could buy one of these drives and an otherwise nice laptop with a small harddrive and then hire a computer guy to put the two together. Would this work? Would overheating be a problem? Physical size of the disk? Are these extra internal drives PC-specific? Will it really work so fast? How would you suggest I solve my conundrum? Thanks a lot, Sashafklein 03:48, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No, that won't work. I suggest getting a small external HD. --Wooty Woot? contribs 04:02, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You don't get fast speeds at anything past 150gb. 5200rpm is fine. And you won't find that size in a small HDD for a laptop. --⁪froth^T 05:42, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

RPM is only one factor of the speed of a harddisk. Seek time and latency need to be taken into account aswell, but having said that, maybe we are getting too technical. Assuming the laptop has a S-ATA (Serial ATA) bus check the speed of that bus (S-ATA starts at 150MBps and goes to 300, 600 & 1.2GBps) and the amount of disk cache the harddrive has. The more the better. The speed of the bus only gives you what is known as the burst speed and can only be maintained as long as there is data in the harddrive cache. The harddrive fills this up pre-emptively using complicated algorithms based on what previous data has been asked for.

What ever harddrive you are getting another tip is that if you are only going to be storing large files on it, like music and/or video, rather than "strange programs". you could increase the cluster size. This optimises the seek function of the harddrive, thus making it quicker.

So, the spin speed is not the only thing that matters, although you can get harddrives with a faster speed than 5400rpm for laptops at very large capacities, you should make sure that the drive you buy is physically compatible with the laptop you buy, but do not forget the disk cache size when buying or the cluster size when formatting the drive.

Good luck. Steve Edgington 10:06, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks everybody. I guess I'll keep looking around. Sashafklein 03:13, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You could easily get a huge external drive for a fraction of the price it would cost you to get a totally souped up laptop. Surely you don't need all 100GB of music every place all the time? It seems smarter, to me, to get a 500GB external drive in the place where you actually use the music and just cycle what you think you might plausibly ever need at any given time onto the laptop as needed, but what do I know. --24.147.86.187 03:37, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed. An external hard drive is what you need. --Proficient 08:37, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

NC command

I was browsing the internet and came upon a command in mac os x terminal called nc. I've figured out how to use it (man pages), but what is the practical use? As far as I know, it just sends raw data to computers. Thanks!--Ryan 04:43, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

netcat --Spoon! 04:55, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Can't change images on my web page

I can't change the images on my web page. I'm using a purchased template and tranferring my own images for the ones shown, following the instructions, but when I refresh the page I get a blank image space, with an icon (round,square & triangle) in one corner. I've emailed the template provider and they've said use photoshop which I already am using. I am being careful to make the photos the correct file size and even flattened them but to no avail. As I am very new to this type of work I am probably doing something really stupid so I hope you can help. Thank you.Sue latham 07:58, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You either have to change the HTML so it uses the new images, or alternatively make sure your new images have the exact same names (and format) as the ones you want to replace and then simply upload the new images to the same location and overwrite the old ones with the new. I would highly recoment the first option though, getting at least some basic HTML understanding is not that hard and helps a lot. Try reading one of the many, many HTML tutorial's out there. --Sherool (talk) 08:41, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The icon you describe sounds to me like Photoshop's default icon for PSD images. Are you sure you are saving them in the right file format? Typical web formats are JPEG, GIF, and PNG. Anything else is probably incorrect. --140.247.250.21 17:48, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It also sounds to me a lot like a web browser's placeholder image icon. --cesarb 19:01, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you all. I've managed to get the small pics to show but not the larger ones.

Assuming you've correctly uploaded your image to the web, have you checked the path name to it is spelt correctly? If you directly type in the URL of the image into your webbrowser, does it display? If not, you've likely not uploaded it correctly, or it's not in a supported file format _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 16:42, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

PCI express (PCIe)

Having read extensively on this bus and also having included a discussion of it in the hardware courses I have tutored over the last few years I have still not been able to find out the Frequency (Hz) this bus runs at. We are told the Bandwidth, but this is a function of the hertz rating and the amount of conductors involved in the transmission. The EIA/TIA-644 specification says that the total bandwidth is 655Mbps on a single LVDS pair with a 100Ohm load. As the bus is a serial bus one can assume that the hertz rating is therefore 655MHz, but I do not like assumptions and would like to know the actual specific Hertz rating of this bus so that I can demonstrate how the bandwidth is worked out for one or more lanes to my future classes. Thank you Steve Edgington 09:43, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

From our PCI Express article: "At the electrical level, each lane utilizes two unidirectional low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) pairs at 2.5 Gbit/s. Transmit and receive are separate differential pairs, for a total of 4 data wires per lane." --antilived^{T | C | G} 11:27, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

ADSL Data usage Meter

Would you'll be able to provide a link for an accurate data usage meter on the adsl broadband connection that takes only the internet data traffic volume? Some of the freeware I downloaded even takes readings on normal browser and program execution.

If you use Microsoft Windows 2000 (any version) or XP (again any version) try using the 'Network Monitor' tool that is shipped with the Operating System. This tools monitors ALL the traffic on a particular network LAN segment, so all of the traffic coming in through your broadband connection to any of the computers in your local LAN, if you use a router, or just to your PC if you have only a broadband modem.

Here is an example of what it looks like below;

File:Example of Network Monitor.jpg

Good luck Steve Edgington 18:14, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wireshark might do the job, though I could be wrong. Splintercellguy 00:50, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

PUH-LEESSS.... use PNG --antilived^{T | C | G} 11:24, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

X_X yes please --⁪froth^T 22:17, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Someone might also want to add that to an articel or it'll be Fair Useless. 68.39.174.238 15:32, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hypertext as cultural phenomenon

what might be the ramifications of the hypertext on culture? The hypertext transforms a text, which no longer has a set meaning, but how can we look upon a text as a unit when it is led into different directions by "links". There are no authors any more(in the sense that nothing new or amazing can come from an online publication), only writers and users, most of whom do not write very well. What is the future for culture when it is being degraded as it is? Also, does anyone know of any idea of where we are headed with the hypertext? What's next? Thank you for any comments on this you might have, it would be greatly appreciated. Henry Adams

Actually, some of the best journalism and writing I see comes from online sources; and yet I also don't see traditional book sales decreasing. Some writers like Cory Doctorow are embracing this new distribution method of the internet, while out of copyright works can be obtained for free (archive.org, Wikisource, Project Gutenberg etc). What hypertext does do is change non-fiction from a linear story where concepts are explained in turn, into a web of interconnected ideas. What's next - tags, which is really just more of the same. --h2g2bob 13:30, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hold on there - I think you are getting a bit carried away.

"The hypertext transforms a text, which no longer has a set meaning" - not really true - a text still has a set meaning - all the hypertext does is make it easier to link to other texts.

compare the above with this

" "The hypertext transforms a text, which no longer has a set meaning" - not really true - a text still has a set meaning - all the hypertext does is make it easier to link to other texts" Here I've hyperlinked several words - so you can click on them to look at what the wikipedia page says about them - the meaning of the sentence hasn't changed.

Quote "..how can we look upon a text as a unit when it is led into different directions by "links" " - my answer would be to simply read it as a unit - the links are optional - you don't have to click. Personally I only click if I think a hyperlink will be useful or interesting.

You seem to be dissapointed with the standard of writing on the internet - this is unaviodable - many people can now publish electronically their thoughts and thesises - it is off course unlikely that all of these will be of the highest quality. But I don't see any reason to believe that nothing good will come from the entire body of electronically published work.

As for the future of hypertext - I think it will stay an integral part of the 'web experience' - I've never had any major qualms about it - I see it as being similar to having many books on my desk at once with the indexed references at the back all at easy reach..87.102.13.26 15:01, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the response... but I think you've proved my point. The note that I started with was mine (as its author, and as a "user") and it has now changed. Anyone can come along now and read the entire thing (including this), instead of just my piece that got this started. To the "new reader", this section is not just a question about hypertexts, but a discussion about them...you have changed my identity, yours, ours, and his/hers... a bad example, but hopefully you get my point. No identity is secure. When you read a page in a book, you are free to establish your own reading, but online, a text can be edited... meaning is not stable. Although I agree that links are optional they are also prompts by which to contaminate the readers reading. Any thoughts? Henry Adams

Surely it's clear to the reader and to you that this is a place for questions and answers - I fail to see how responding to you proves a point - you confused me there with your reasoning - I assumed it was an open question and that an answer would be expected..

As far as I can see your identity is secure - this page is like a transcript of a conversation - my comments are labelled separately from yours - I think it is plainly clear what you have written, and what has been written by me.

I find hyperlinks useful in finding information and as an educational aid. I agree that I wouldn't want to see hyperlinks in the middle of a novel or poetry etc, or indeed in the middle of a quotation. In this respect I think we agree. I also hope that common sense would prevent most english speaking people from doing so.

So to summarise: in a an educational text, or an encyclopaedia I wholeheartedly support 'hypertext', in a technical document they may be useful, in other contexts I would not approve of their use.87.102.13.26 15:36, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(By the way if you publish work on the internet it cannot be changed - unless you specifically allow it. Wikipedia is different in that it is a collective effort - though to alter someones comments on a talk page or here is considered vandalism ie wrong to do.)87.102.13.26 16:03, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hypertext only transforms a text in the sense that it puts it into dialogue with other texts. In other words, hypertext is not something which alters the text itself but rather is a system to organize texts. I think there are definitely going to be cultural ramifications for thinking about information in this way — as always being embedded within a larger mesh of information — though this is primarily a technical change. From a philosophical point of view information is always embedded in a larger world of information — language itself necessarily and constantly involves reference to a world of meaning outside the text itself. Would a rose hyperlinked to any other flower smell so sweet? --140.247.250.21 17:44, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Stability and authorship are different questions. They are not necessarily linked to anything with hypertext. Perhaps here you are confusing hypertext with things like wikis, which allow easy multiple and simultaneous authorship. (Multiple and simultaneous authorship did not begin with the invention of a wiki, nor did a lack of stability of text, but it has made it significantly easier and allowed a far greater number of participants than any other mode of mass communication, so I'd say that is an important change.) --140.247.250.21 17:45, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The question is rather invalid because it contains a lot of logical fallacies.

Weigand Output/Interface

I am looking for information or history of the Weigand output/interface used in RFID or barcode security readers. I did not find any information on wikipedia, and several various web searches just gave me vendors. Any information would be appreciated. Jaegendar 13:48, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Source code website

Hi, Does anyone here know any website that provides source codes of its softwares. Thanks. Sara

Wikipedia (which runs on the MediaWiki software) is a good start, since you're here. It's free software, and it's used at a lot of other sites besides Wikipedia. --대조 | Talk 14:15, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I am looking for the code of a specific software for my project, and I downloaded many softwares(commercial ones) for this purpose, but unfortunetely they are not coming with their source codes files. So Taejo are you telling me that I can find what I want on wikipedia?. Sara

What exactly are you looking for? If you're trying to find the source code for commercial closed-source software, you're out of luck. SourceForge is home to a lot of Free software projects that you can glean code from (assuming you can accept the terms of their license; mostly the GNU GPL or a BSD license). -- mattb @ 2007-02-06T15:13Z

You can pretty much find open source libraries for anything (especially on source-forge). If you give us more specifics (what exactly you need, what OS and what language), we can probably give you more help. Oskar 15:35, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A tip: don't assume that people will have read your previous questions. Just to clarify: what I meant is that the source code for Wikipedia is a available. I read your question as you wanting to find the source code for some (any) website. --User:Taejo|대조 11:39, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

sourceforge didnt help me much, for more details you can check my first post [1]. Sara

I can tell you with almost certainty that this is impossible to do with pure java. Java is not designed to do that kinda stuff, it's designed to be portable and secure. At one point or another, compiled code must be invoked. I suppose you could do it with something like NativeCall that unloads the keyboard and mouse drivers. However, I wouldn't recommend it, this sounds like a very bad idea from the start. Oskar 22:24, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Mounted disk icon on Ubuntu desktop

I'm dual-booting my system with Ubuntu and Windows. I have my windows partition mounted (using ntfs-3g) on my Linux system in case I need a file or something from it. It's not something I do often, but it is a nice convenience. However, now my otherwise clean desktop has this ugly icon on it that says "windows" under a small picture of a disk. It goes away if I umount it obviously, but I'd rather have it mounted and not have to look at that damn thing all the time. Can anyone help me? Oskar 15:33, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Have a look at http://ubuntuguide.org/. I have 6.06 (http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_dapper), and I used that to mount my NTFS. Then you can create a link to it from anywhere. I hopde that helps. - Akamad 19:58, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think that's what (s)he wants. This should help if you want to eliminate the disk icons altogether. --antilived^{T | C | G} 11:17, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

OskarS sounds like a she-name? Dude... Anyway, thanks, that worked! Oskar 17:40, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes and I am a little girl in some sort of twisted online fantasy game :p. You just never know... --antilived^{T | C | G} 23:37, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

One Huge pc power supply

Ok, so say your a pc enthusiast and you have a garage with, lets say 8 computers in it. would it be more effective to use one power supply in terms of efficancy?

Also, could we expect to see houses with built in +12V, +5V ect power rails to make homes more efficant?

I guess the transformer could always double up as centeral heating too :)

BenHowes 17:04, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The main problem with distributing extra low voltage is that the power loss due to resistive heating of the wire is proportional to the square of the current. Higher voltages need less current to deliver the same amount of power. It's for that reason that high voltage is used for long distance electrical power distribution. So, distributing +12V, +5V, and other common power supply voltages, would be less efficient, not more.

You would have a related problem with your "common power supply" solution: as the distance to the power supply gets longer, the voltage drop gets higher, which could make the voltages fall outside of the specified range.

That said, it's common to have telecommunication equipment which runs on -48V DC, and there are proposals to use 380V DC in data centers [2]. In both cases, the computers still have their own power supplies; the difference is that, instead of the AC->DC->AC->DC conversion done by computer power supplies (see switched-mode power supply for the why of all these conversions), they only have to do an DC->AC->DC conversion. Since by using DC their UPS do not have to convert their output to AC (data centers usually have dual conversion UPS), at least two conversions are avoided, making it more efficient.

--cesarb 18:51, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks very much for that! I hadent thought about the voltage drop issues. theres always super conductors, but i doubt that there is any chance of saving money after installing coldheads all over the house to cool the liquid helium used in ceramic supercinductors :P BenHowes 19:25, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Another problem is the evolution of power supply voltages. It used to be that there was only +5 and ±12. But ATX style power supplies now also have +3.3. (See page 37 of this pdf.) What will it be in 5 years? Probably something different. —EncMstr 03:31, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The actual loads are already operating down at 1.8 and 1.2 volts. As someone above said, there's some benefit to distributing high-voltage DC, but there's nothing to be gained by distributing today's low voltages (in the hopes that they'll still be useful tomorrow). By the way, did you realize that many ordinary computer power supplies already will operate just as happily from high-voltage DC as they do from line-voltage AC? (But don't try it on my say-so!)

Atlant 13:29, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Any info about "exosort" sorting algorithm?

I just discovered a company -- FAC Systems, run by Farid A. Chouery -- that's selling an implementation of a sorting algorithm known as "exosort". They seem to claim it offers significant time savings over quicksort in practical sorting problems, although they don't appear to claim that it performs better in asymptotic analysis. Anyway, Google and friends don't really seem to know anything about the algorithm, and I'm curious if anyone has any more information about this "exosort". Is it in fact a new algorithm? Is it described anywhere, or is it basically a trade secret? Are there any independent tests of its performance? --Ryguasu 17:05, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

First off all, it cannot have a better analysis than optimized quicksort, because optimized quicksort (unlike the regular kind) is computationally optimal for the problem of exchange-sorting. You can get better results using non-exchange sorts, like Radix sort, but that only works on limited kinds of data (most often numbers). Second, I doubt that this tiny company has outsmarted a whole world of academiacs that have long considered quicksort one of the best sorts there is for general data. Google shows all of three results. I call bullshit.

If they do have some sort of algorithm, it is most likely a slightly modified variant of another sort. The 60% (if it is even true) might come from a comparison using regular, un-modified quicksorts worst case (quicksort has a horrible worst case of O(n^2)) with their algorithm. I wouldn't believe them for a second. Oskar 21:59, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't say it's impossible. Quicksort is O(n log n); if their supposed algorithm is 60% faster, it would still be O(n log n) (it's just a multiplicative constant). That could be done, for instance, by somehow optimizing for cache behaviour (which can make quite a difference on modern computers); in fact, optimizing for cache behaviour is the only way I can see they could beat quicksort on the average. However, even if it's possible, I agree with you that it's very unlikely. Instead of something unproven like that, I would prefer to use an optimized version of the introsort algorithm (which retains quicksort's average speed but avoids its worst-case behaviour). --cesarb 03:03, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It is possible to get decent linear speedups from sorting algorithms by careful consideration of cache issues for the specific sort of data concerned. I remember seeing a paper on this topic at a conference a couple of years ago. --Robert Merkel 03:24, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Unlock Code For Samsung A707

hi, I've got a Samsung A-707 handset but a'm unable to find a permanent network unlcok code for it. Can you please help me out and send me one on my email address - <email removed> Thank You very much.

Poetry software

Does any software exist specifically for the purpose of composing verse. I was thinking of something along the lines of a word processor, but able to compute meter, rhyme, etc. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? Thanks! Bhumiya (said/done) 21:11, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Microsoft Word? --Proficient 08:38, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Microsoft has hidden depths! Where is the "compute meter" command? I think the OP's best option is to find a rhyming dictionary. Don't know about a meter-computing tool (at least for English) --대조 | Talk 11:26, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, rhyme was actually the least of my concerns, since so many rhyming dictionaries exist already, and rhyme isn't strictly necessary in poetry anyway. It occurred to me that a lot of poetic devices could be turned into computer functions, possibly within the framework of a word processor, or possibly as a stand-alone program. But I suppose its appeal would be very limited. Bhumiya (said/done) 03:15, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Here's a book about computer-assisted poetry-writing: [3]. The author has a page with some software from the book here: [4]. Post back with some poesy you create! :) --TotoBaggins 19:53, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Headphone socket on external DVD drive

I bought a new external dvd drive to sit on my desk as my box is behind the desk. I noticed today that in the back there is a headphone jack. I'd like to use this to listen to my headphones as an audio out but haven't been able to figure out the procedure. I've tried a few things including playing with the digital out under the drive's properties (Win XP), but I'm still coming up short. Any suggestions? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.199.159.98 (talk • contribs).

Ah! A true engineer! When all else fails, read the instructions! --Zeizmic 02:59, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Noticed the little button next to the eject button? Put a CD in and press that and you should have music... although the jack should be on the front not back. Normally it completely bypasses the computer, and as long as you got power, it will act like any other CD player. --antilived^{T | C | G} 11:11, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

February 7

Computer Programming - Images

I am doing a project for a school club where I have to design a computer game. I have the game itself done but do not know how to make images display. I have the images saved in a file. I am using a Microsoft Visual Studio.Net 2003 compiler and my code is in C++. If anyone could help me with coding for images that would be great. (I could also use C# if necessary). Thanks. 71.240.130.95 00:01, 7 February 2007 (UTC)Lauren[reply]

OpenGL or GDI+? --wj32 ^{talk | contribs} 09:20, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Web Hosting

Hi, I have my website coded and finished and would like to upload it. What are all the steps required to host a website on the internet? As well, how does the domain name registery thing work? Also, if I register a domain name, can I switch webhoster and still keep the domain name? Thanks. Jamesino 02:52, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, you have to find a host, then upload the files there. The domain registry basically registers a domain name, and then the servers map that domain name to wherever the web host is. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 03:00, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

First, get a host. There are lots of hosting services out there. Usually when you sign up for webspace (say, on bluehost.com or godaddy.com) they will throw in domain registration for free or for cheap. The domain name and the web host are two different things, though, and if you switch hosts you can always redirect your domain name to the different host. --24.147.86.187 03:30, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Another Vista Question

Can the upgrade software CD'S for the Vista OS be run in s regular CD-ROM drive or just a DVD drive.--Biggie 08:24, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

DVD drive. --Proficient 08:39, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yep. But I have the DVD version and it says on the bottom of the case "Includes 32-bit DVD and information on obtaining 32 bit CDs or a 64-but DVD, additional fees may apply." I threw away the paper that came with it with the "information" but I think I remember it being pretty simple to get CDs from microsoft once you own the DVD --⁪froth^T 18:38, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you as always.--206.251.1.250 19:30, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Running full-screen programs in a window

Does anyone know any software to do so if it exists? Thanks. --Taraborn 12:33, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You don't need software for that. That's a setting in Windows. - Mgm|^(talk) 12:58, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't be that sure. Try to do that for Starcraft, for example. --Taraborn 14:07, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If it's directx, try this app and "force windowed" --⁪froth^T 17:26, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you very much. --Taraborn 19:46, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

xp and bios

right i have two major problems the later mainly my fault the first windows fault. i have a computer that i cnat acces the bios on due to a password and no1 nows the pasword (got from a friend)on it it had windows nt and novel client server thingy. i thought i would just install xp over the top and not worry about the server stuff as i dont need it. after making boot disks and after multipe attempts ( never quite gopt the right service pack version on the disks) i got windows to install however during installation its says it cant find "cyclad-z.inf" and "cyclom-y.inf" fine i skipped these files and carried on installing without problem. then when it tried to load windows up afterwards i got blue screen and system lincense violation, checking the error code on microsoft says its cus i installed xp over nt, but why is there a problem and what can i do to sort it?

second issuse is then i thought lets try and get into the bios and alter boot order and perhaps disable some stuff the blue screen message gave me (shadow caching?) as the password wasnt anything obvious and the motherboard has no "clear cmos" switchs i tried reflashing. searching for the bios on the manufacturs website i downloaded the most recent and reflased, went well however the moniter no longer works tried two moniters and tried on both the intergrated and graphics card points and neither works, but the moniter is getting a signal as it says no input when i disconnect the moniter. motherboard was s26361-d 1170 a11 gs2 and a reflashed using file a1170_00.omf any help is most appreciated--137.205.8.2 16:37, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well first of all flashing the bios shouldn't affect the r/w CMOS memory on which it keeps its settings. Also, to clear your BIOS settings password manually you can always unplug the computer and take out the battery on the motherboard for a couple of hours. Finally, why are you burning boot disks to install windows xp? --⁪froth^T 17:24, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

cus i couldnt set the cd drive as primary boot device as i couldnt get into the bios cus of the password so i was using the 6 floppy boot disc thing, wouldnt taking the battery out the motherboard compelty wipe the bios? ie leave nothing at all?

No it won't. The BIOS is on a flash chip, which is nonvolatile. When it detects a discrepancy in the realtime clock it resets the CMOS memory.. and the clock needs the battery to run. --⁪froth^T 22:07, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cleaning Laptop Monitor

Alright, well this might expose my naivety with laptops, but I'm in need of some good advice. I received a laptop (Gateway) this Christmas and it's working very well. The only problem is that, despite the fact that I don't touch or mess with it, the screen has a couple of smudges. Now, these aren't noticeable, but for a perfectionist like I am right now, it's becoming a slight pain. What can/should I do to remove this minor smudges. I read something about a damp cloth, but that notion makes me slightly nervous. Help me out, guys! Best, Yanksox 19:54, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The new gift aura has lasted this long?! Impressive! :-) Damp means wet, but not dripping: wring the cloth out well. But rest assured, even if some raindrops fall on your laptop, nothing bad is likely to happen. When you do eventually spill a coke on the keyboard, just turn the keyboard upside down immediately to get the excess out. For coke, which contains phosphoric acid a light rinsing and drying of the keyboard is in order right afterward. I'd power the PC down first for that. —EncMstr 20:24, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oh phew. I came here after reading your (EncMstr's) edit summary expecting you to have advised Yanksox to wash his monitor with Coca Cola lol. Glad I was wrong. Anchoress 20:28, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, I guess "damp cloth & coke" wasn't the best thought out of summaries. Though now that you mention it, Coke should be a fairly good solvent for removing unknown smudges. Hmmmm.... —EncMstr 20:52, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Heh, it probably would be. I was thinking about the sugar residue, though, which would be a magnet for future smudges. Anchoress 20:58, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And really sticky, too Oskar 21:08, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And not particularly clear... it would be a big smudge itself --⁪froth^T 22:16, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow, you brave the RD page history? Impressive. --⁪froth^T 22:14, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Diet Coke shall solve all your problems, just keep it away from mentos. --antilived^{T | C | G} 23:34, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Command Line Apps in OS X

Hi everyone. Is there any way, in Mac os X, to send the output from one command line program to the input of another? Thanks!--Ryan 23:37, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Note that this has little to do with your OS and everything to do with your shell (OS X defaults to some csh variant, I think). What you're after is the | (pipe) character. I'd highly recommend googling for a guide to the shell you use. -- mattb @ 2007-02-07T23:56Z

Mac OS/X runs the tcsh by default and like all Unix shells, it supports piping from one app to another. (I note that that tcsh article says bash is the new default, but not on my systems; maybe the article is wrong?)

Atlant 01:33, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Bash is the default on my Mac. Probably you have done upgrades, leaving old settings files in place, or you have a transfered personal configuration file (if you for example transferred your home directory as part of an upgrade or purchased a new system) that would override the system default. TERdON 23:13, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

C++ question

Hi. I am writing a command line c++ program for Mac os x (using g++ compiler), and I want to make it able to open another command line program (that I didn't write). How is this done? thanks in advance!

My (maybe wrong) advice would be to try to use some kind of System() command and call the other program through the shell --⁪froth^T 00:27, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(edit conflict) I've never programmed on a Mac, but if it has a compatible library, look at the exec() and spawn() calls in process.h. —EncMstr 00:28, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps you want the ANSI C call system(), or the Unix call popen() or so? --Tardis 00:48, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

fork() is another interesting article. In fact, "forkandexec" is practically just one word. Once you penetrate the mysteries of this, you too will be able to say "fork off and die" with a straight face. But system() is probably enough for what you want.

Atlant 01:40, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are two cases: if you just want to run the program, you can do this:

system("ls -l /etc");

but if you want to capture the output of the program, you could do this:

FILE *fp = popen("ls -l /etc");
if (!fp) { perror("popen"); exit(1); }
char line[1024];
while (fgets(line, sizeof(line), fp))
    printf("Got this line: %s", line);
pclose(fp);

There are probably nicer ways to do this in more idiomatic C++, but I don't really know that language. The above is straight C. --TotoBaggins 21:49, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Don't forget that system() will also let you collect the exit status. Sometimes, that's all you need.

Atlant 13:28, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

February 8

Including RSS feeds on websites

This is probably way more involved (i.e., going to require some coding, etc., if even possible), in which case I'll understand, but any pointers to further reading material would be appreciated. I'm trying to figure out how to include (embed) certain elements of an RSS feed onto a website, e.g. as part of a forum signature, etc. Specifically, there is an RSS feed at http://qdb.us/qdb.xml. My idea is to use a random element of the feed as part of my forum signature, with the forum software allowing the use of BBCode and HTML as part of the signature... or, if that's not possible, just displaying one of the elements on a website. Furthermore, if possible, would it be possible to randomize which element is displayed, and perhaps limit displayed elements to those at or smaller than a certain size? —Xhantar^Talk 00:38, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What you're trying to do is embed dynamic elements onto a webpage without access to any scripting. I don't think this is possible with HTML (it is certainly not possible with BBCode). —Mitaphane _?|! 01:58, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The only way it would be possible is using, say, PHP on your own server to generate an image, and linking to that image from the forum. This would require you had access to a web server with PHP, and unless you can find a solution that's already coded it would also require some work of your own. I managed to locate three such scripts, [5] [6] [7]. The last one there doesn't require you have a web server or anything, but it is fairly hideous and has an advertisement on it. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 02:34, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

For the image, you could use SVG, which would make it easier. This seems the only way, unless you have admin access to the forum server. --h2g2bob 03:15, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I suggested / meant to suggest using PHP to generate a standard image, such as a JPEG, which could be linked externally from the forum in question and would be dynamically changed by the PHP script. I'm not sure how SVGs could come into play; no forum software that I know of supports them, and few browsers do. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 03:20, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You were clear, I probably wasn't :D I was suggesting that in PHP generating SVG is probably easier than generating JPEG. But you're right about lots of browsers not supporting it, so I guess it's not actually such a good thing --h2g2bob 04:13, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for your replies. My web host is running PHP 5.0.4 as well as the GD extensions, so that and the links you provided gives me something to play around with. Thanks again. —Xhantar^Talk 05:51, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I ended up getting this to work quite well. See [8] - refreshing the page will display a random quote from the http://qdb.us/qdb.xml RSS feed as a PNG graphic. The source code is available at my sandbox, if anyone is interested. Cheers. —Xhantar^Talk 17:38, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

unix mail app

How do you read mail with the unix command line mail app. I can send mail, and when I send to an external account, it comes from (myusername)@(myipaddress). When I send mail to this (from outside my network and from within), I type "mail" and it always says, "no mail for (myusername)". How to I configure it to receive mail from computers inside my network? THanks!--Ryan 04:00, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The system needs to run a mail transfer agent of some kind. See list of mail servers. —EncMstr 20:05, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Information technology

What is SAP? What are the courses offered by SAP? And which course is suitable for MBA student who has specialised in marketing? Which course is suitable for MBR[HR] student?

(Sigh) What is the meaning of "do your own homework!"? What are the reasons you must do your own homework? And which course is suitable for people who don't do their own homework? Which course??? Which!!!!! --Wj32 ^{talk | contribs} 09:22, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(depcapitalised above Q & A) It doesn't look like a homework question. In the context of an MBA, SAP probably refers to a Standard Accounting Program. However, we have no idea what courses would be suitable, as we are not psychic, and do not know what country you are in, what kind of level of course you are interested in, and what you want to do. Proto::► 12:57, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In the business world these days, I'd guess that SAP would be the giganormous eponymous software package sold by SAP AG. -- mattb @ 2007-02-09T03:49Z

AI Program

Hi Friends,I have been interested in observing and working with AI Programs.I heard many say that there are free AI programs in internet, but I can not find any such except for a trial demo versions. Could you guys get me the link for any free AI advanced utility program for eg like plain old ELIZA or ALICEBOT?..Thanks in very advance guys

SourceForge has many --h2g2bob 19:09, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Batch and multiple replacement

Is there any Microsoft Windows software that does:

Read a number of text, HTML, CSV or any other text-based files.
Do multiple replacements to each file (e.g., Jan -> January, Feb ...).
Save the files.

It would be great if the software supports regular expression and numerical ASCII, Uncode expressions ( ^p, ^n ...). Better be Free Software. -- Toytoy 12:49, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Have a look at unxutils. gawk or sed can probably handle the editing. As far as how you specify the files, perhaps use a shell (e.g. bash, tcsh, etc.) where you can program a script easier, use the 'find' command (again, unxutils), or just use ls | gawk and generate a batch file (one command per filename) from the file names. --TRosenbaum 14:56, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

NetBeans IDE Help

Friends,I have just began using NetBeans IDE and I have a problem with passing command line arguments in the IDE.The catch is that the input window at runtime vanishes even before I move my cursor in the textarea and I get the output as 0 arguments for a simple print statement. Someone suggested using Scanner class which works really well, also I can pass the arguments at the System Prompt,so there is no problem with the logic.I need to make a lot of Projects using IDE and this KNOT is hampering my progress.<PLEASE HELP> JITHIN59.182.60.146 15:09, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Script Manager

I sat for 2 HOURS here waiting for the page to "Retrieve my other scripts". Its not like I have 666 scripts or use dial-up Could you give me some type of information in the time length when dealing with this "script manager". GRRRRRRRRR --Darkest Hour • ¿? 03:13, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's an experimental tool. Ask at the talk page and see what they say. --h2g2bob 19:05, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If it's not pretty much instant, then it's not finding the script it' strying to look for --⁪froth^T 22:51, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

printer control program

How do I close my printer control program on my LexmarkX63, so I can use my 4 in 1 machine

I can't work out what you mean by your question. A Lexmark x63 is a Multifunction printer and manuals are available online at the lexmark site here. Where is your printer control program running? Do you mean on your PC or on the printer it self? Closing the control program should not be difficult, perhaps it is waiting for you to configure something before it will let you close it. Vespine 21:24, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Trail Version

Is there a way to continue running free software than only has a specific trial period? Thanks. 24.39.182.101 18:01, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Most software like this allow you to purchase the product, enter an activation key and not have to uninstall/reinstall on purchase. I'm sure there are hacks out there but I would be surprised if that was not illegal in your country. ny156uk 18:25, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Besides using a crack or keygen (or paying for it, for that matter), I've found out that in some cases if you set back your system clock a month it will allow you to continue using the free trial, but it doesn't work for all software. --Emery 22:45, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Some Adobe trials immediately expire if you change the system clock. — Matt Eason ^{(Talk  Contribs)} 00:07, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Over the top way would be to run within a virtual machine. Splintercellguy 16:23, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Video Clips

Hello,

I have a digital camera that takes movies but when i put them on to my PC they are in .mov format and im having trouble playing them (i have managed to play them with windows media player (the latest one) but they dont have any sound). Any suggestions?

Also does Youtube take any format of video?

thanks, --84.71.9.155 20:10, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

.mov should play with Quick Time, and YouTube automatically converts films into the right form I think! Jackacon 20:30, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, you upload to youtube in any from a list of supported formats / codecs; and it gets converted to H.263 Flash Video by YouTube's servers. Try VLC to play the movs. --h2g2bob 22:10, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also you might want to make sure that your camera has the ability to record sound, as well as video. Some digital cameras simply can't record sound, and maybe that's why no sound is playing. Check the camera and look for a small hole, or just take a gander at the owner's manual to confirm whether your model can record sound or not. Hope this helps. --Emery 22:42, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

HKP server for Debian?

I'd like to run a private HKP server to gather PGP keys for people in my organization. I have a Debian server that can be used for this purpose. I only really need HKP support, but one of those neato web frontends wouldn't go amiss. It looks like "pks" hasn't been updated in about three years, and is no longer packaged for Debian. What do people running OpenPGP keyservers do? grendel|khan 21:44, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And once again I should consult apt-cache search openpgp|grep -i server before checking in here. It's called onak, and I've got it up and running now. grendel|khan 01:34, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

PHP/Apache Include() Path Errors Not showing up

I have a php 4 script that is trying to include another script using the include() statement. I know that this script cannot find the script that i'm trying to include (because i have not uploaded it yet.)

However, when i view the page it doesn't tell me that it can't find it. I used to get an include path error when this happened. I suspect that my hosting company has altered some settings on my server/ini file.

I am seeing parse errors ok.

As i use included files alot, i'd like to see an error displayed when they are not being included properly.

So, which php/apache settings restrain such errors?

So far i have:

1. added this line into my .htaccess file "php_flag error_reporting on"

2. ensured that my custom error reporting script is not being used (commented out any set_error_handler() lines)

3. tested the script with the following line added to the top of my scripts: "error_reporting(E_USER_ERROR | E_USER_WARNING | E_USER_NOTICE);"

None of these seem to make php tell me it has had problems including the file that doesn't exist.

Any help and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance Ronnystalker 21:57, 8 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hello Ronnystalker. I have somewhat limited experience when it comes to PHP, but have had instances before similar to what you described. A few suggestions that I'm hoping might help:

If the setting log_errors (boolean) is set to true in the server's php.ini file, have a look at the server's error log, if you have access yourself. Errors are usually logged to a file (defined by the error_log setting), or via syslog() if the special value syslog is set for the error_log setting. I realize this won't help with displaying runtime errors, which is what you're trying to achieve, but we'll get to that shortly and it might still be helpful to be aware of the info logged to the error_log file or syslog(), whichever the case might be.
As a way of troubleshooting, I'd suggest making the following changes to php.ini, if you have the access:
- Set error_reporting to E_ALL. This can be set during runtime, using the error_reporting() function, as you attempted, but also see below. The available error level constants are listed here.
- Set display_errors to true. This can also be set during runtime, using the ini_set() function - but again, see below.

Values in php.ini can or can not be changed for the duration of a script's execution, at runtime, as defined by the following constants (copied from here):

PHP_INI_USER: Entry can be set in user scripts or in Windows registry
PHP_INI_PERDIR: Entry can be set in php.ini, .htaccess or httpd.conf
PHP_INI_SYSTEM: Entry can be set in php.ini or httpd.conf
PHP_INI_ALL: Entry can be set anywhere

For the settings referred to above, they are changeable as follows:

error_reporting: Changeable PHP_INI_ALL
display_errors: Changeable PHP_INI_ALL

So it should be possible to define the level of reporting for runtime errors in your particular script(s) by using the ini_set() function (or using .htaccess), even if you do not have access to php.ini and your hosting provider has decided to set a more restrictive level for error_reporting there.

Note that when using .htaccess, you will need to add "Options" to your AllowOverride specifications for the directory or webserver, if it's not already allowed. See here.

Hope that helps. —Xhantar^Talk 07:15, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

February 9

MySQL Query for Returning Most Played Songs

I am writing a system which shows users' recently played songs. When a user listens to a song, details of this song are sent to my website which then inserts the artist, song, time and username into a MySQL database table. What I want to do, however, is show the 10 most listened to songs in addition to the most recent songs. I've got the most recent songs query working absolutely fine but I am facing problems with getting a list of the most played songs.

The table schema is as follows:

listenid - int(10) unsigned auto-increment key (the key row)
artist - varchar(255) (the name of the song's artist)
song - varchar(255) (the song name)
fulltext - char(64) (the artist and song name concatenated and run through MD5 cyphering - I thought this would help for counting rows since only one column needs counting as opposed to two, which I don't think is supported)
time - int(10) unsigned (the UNIX timestamp for the time when the song was submitted to the site)

Basically, I need a list of the number of rows with matching song name and artist, ordered descending. I tried using the following to no avail:

SELECT artist, song, COUNT(fulltext) AS times
FROM nowplaying
GROUP BY fulltext
LIMIT 10

That query returns an error message saying there is a problem with the syntax near 'fulltext)'. Any ideas? RevenDS 01:35, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

See if this works:

SELECT MIN(artist), MIN(song), COUNT(fulltext) AS times
FROM nowplaying
GROUP BY fulltext
LIMIT 10

—EncMstr 01:43, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Fulltext is probably a MySQL keyword, escape that field name with quotes or backticks or whatever MySQL uses for escaping fields. The MIN() and MAX() functions shouldn't be used on character types, either. What's more, this design won't scale well at all because of the aggregate function on a character field. However, if you don't plan to have a few million rows in this table it should work okay. From what I can see, there's no need for the fulltext field anyway; you can group aggregate functions by multiple fields:

SELECT artist,song,COUNT(*) times
    FROM nowplaying
    GROUP BY artist,song
    ORDER BY times DESC
    LIMIT 10

-- mattb @ 2007-02-09T03:26Z

I believe you hit on the optimal solution just before I did. Nice work! —EncMstr 03:59, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Unless I'm mistaken, the original syntax error that User:RevenDS mentioned—"problem with the syntax near 'fulltext)'"—was because the field was renamed to "times" using AS times, and so GROUP BY should refer to the same name, i.e. GROUP BY times instead of GROUP BY fulltext. If AS times was omitted, you should use GROUP BY COUNT(fulltext). Feel free to correct if I'm wrong. —Xhantar^Talk 07:26, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I can see why you might consider that, but group by count(*) wouldn't give a useful result. Group by doesn't have to reference a field which appears in the select_list. COUNT(*) AS times creates a new variable, so to speak. I had trouble escaping fulltext to prevent MySQL from using it as a keyword: and that's what the errors I got seemed to be pointing to. —EncMstr 07:40, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You're mistaken, I'm afraid. The syntax error is because fulltext is a MySQL keyword. -- mattb @ 2007-02-09T07:38Z

Thanks a lot, mattb, your SQL did the trick. I did not realise you could use GROUP BY on multiple fields. For clarity, I was refering to this; this is the SQL that will successfully retrieve a list of the most-mentioned artist/song combination:

SELECT artist, song, COUNT(*) AS times
FROM nowplaying
GROUP BY artist, song
ORDER BY times DESC
LIMIT 10

Thanks again. RevenDS 19:54, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

RAID 1/0 Setup

I have two SATA 160 GB drives that I would like to arrange such that there are three small RAID 0 partitions for WinXP, OpenSUSE and Ubuntu and a large RAID 1 partition(s) for important data. Is it possible to have the same drives set up like this? Is it complicated? --Seans Potato Business 06:11, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I believe it is possible, yes, though the instructions I lack. Splintercellguy 16:22, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You want to triple-boot into two kinds of Linux and one kind of Windows, using RAID for all three of your boot partitions? If you're using hardware RAID, I doubt you can create RAID sets at the partition (rather than drive) level. Linux has its own software RAID, but Windows won't work with that. I think you'd have to change your parameters at least a bit. For instance, you could get an additional smaller drive, run your triple-boot system off of that, and run your (hardware) RAID 1 partition across the two 160GB disks. If you'd asked about booting various types of Linux off of that setup, I'd say it's likely possible, but if you're going to be booting Windows as well, you'd need a kind of RAID support that Windows doesn't have. I'm going to lean toward "no" for the answer, absent some kind of magical cross-platform partition-level RAID tool. grendel|khan 18:52, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Clearly, I posted too soon. See Non-standard RAID levels#Matrix RAID; you can get one RAID-0'd block device and one RAID-1'd block device out of your two drives. Install your operating systems on the RAID-0'd "drive" (good luck with the triple-booting thing) and the rest on the RAID-1'd one. grendel|khan 18:56, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Doesn't that need a driver in Windows? If it needs a driver in Windows that means it's still a soft RAID and thus might not be supported in Linux. --antilived^{T | C | G} 07:01, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Since I'm using an AMD motherboard and certainly don't want to have to change it, should I just forget the whole thing? --Seans Potato Business 15:19, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Designing my website

Is there freeware for website design, best if it is WYSIWYG (probably) ... that I can use to design, test, and demonstrate my website without actually publishing it to the web on a server? My 'site', I suppose, would be a file that could be viewed by my browser (or I can send the file to someone else who could view it on their browser...), as though I were online, but without actually being online where my incomplete or confidential information might be accessed. (...hate sounding like such a rookie, but you go to war with the army you have, so to speak...)

WYSIWYG is somewhat counterproductive for actually learning these things. If you're dead set on it anyways, there's three free software editors that I can find: Nvu, Mozilla Composer, and Amaya. Web browsers can view saved HTML/XHTML/CSS/etc. files the same as though they were uploaded to a webhost, so there will be no problems for you there. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 17:33, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Browsers can render SGML and derivatives whether it's local or being sent from a server. Also, your site will definately be more than one file (and much more if you use a WYSIWYG editor that insists on exporting everything to common files) --⁪froth^T 18:18, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

As far as "as though I were online", you might want to actually run a web server on your own computer temporarily. If you're just making static HTML pages, it doesn't make any difference, but if you have any dynamic content beyond Javascript or so you'll need the server to run them. You can prevent outside users from connecting to this server if you like, although even without such precautions it's relatively unlikely that someone would find it without being told about it (and with many common home network setups it's impossible without your help). --Tardis 20:11, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Signing X.509 certificates with OpenPGP keys.

I have an X.509 certificate which is being used on our local mail server. I want to sign this certificate with my OpenPGP key so that someone who trusts me trusts me will trust the server. I have an inkling that this is possible (we're using Enigmail with Mozilla Thunderbird), but I have no idea how to go about it. Is it worth doing? Is it possible? I fetched the cert with openssl s_client -connect myserver:993, and I have it in ASCII armored format. I'm using GPG to manage my OpenPGP keys. grendel|khan 16:47, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Where can I find a FREE program that tapes/records streaming media and converts to mp3?

Where can I find a FREE program that tapes/records streaming media and converts to mp3? Im ooking for a free program that can record streaming, realmedia, online radio, youtube sound and music and convert them into mp3 files. The best I found so far was audacity although I came across a demo of a very goo dproduct that recorded just the song and not the background sounds on the computer. It even blacked out lags in the sound.--Jacobin1949 17:43, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Streamripper can record MP3 or OGG/Vorbis streams, mainly Shoutcast streams (such as those one Shoutcast.com). Unplug or the videodownloader website can download Youtube/etc. videos; they can be converted to some other format with SUPER. Not sure about real audio or windows media audio; doing it manually with Audacity may be the only choice. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 17:53, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try Audacity [9]. It can record, edit and save mp3 and ogg/vorbis files. 84.250.227.44 19:08, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

With Screamer Radio, you can record the streaming content. Anchoress 20:13, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Adobe/Macromedia apps

GAH! This is terrible. Somebody on the computer let one of the Adobe or Macromedia apps use the internet, and they all disabled themselves. What do I delete so that either I can use it, reinstall, or something? For some reason Distiller and Acrobat Pro 6 have not been affected. If that cannot be helped, I need a program to convert three flash documents I created into movies. .fla into .swf Thanks for any help! [Mαc Δαvιs] X (How's my driving?) ❖ 18:51, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Uhh, they were warez'd and were disabled by the product activation? Get a new crack? Or is something else occurring? -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 19:15, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes! They were. Eek. [Mαc Δαvιs] X (How's my driving?) ❖ 20:03, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Suggest attempting to delete the preferences and repeat the installation. 68.39.174.238 15:40, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Did that! I am pretty sure I deleted all the preferences and it won't let me reinstall. I also deleted registration files (I didn't register), and probed Application Support. [Mαc Δαvιs] X (How's my driving?) ❖ 22:39, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Registering a Domain Name

I want to register a domain name for my first website. What is the best registry? Ie, which website registry offers the most trustworthy service for the least money. Ideas? Many thanks.

The "best" depends on your needs. However, I do agree with the List_of_top_ranking_domain_registrars if that can help :) → Icez {talk | contrib} 20:01, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Network Solutions --⁪froth^T 22:54, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with Froth. I currently host 306 domain names for clients (I used to host a lot more before I "quit" the hosting business). I've never had a client have trouble with Network Solutions. I've had six instances of a client losing an unexpired domain name through GoDaddy because some punk tricked their system into allowing them to take over ownership. Then, to get ownership back, you have to pay GoDaddy well over $500 to "investigate". The punks know this, so they only charge $450 to give the domain name back. I also had a client lost all of his domain names when the "free domain name" company he went with went out of business. He just quit instead of trying to get them back. --Kainaw ^(talk) 20:26, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Connecting two computers in a network

Hello, I have connected my laptop and the home PC in a network, I have done the necessary configuration so that I can access shared drive of both the laptop and the PC. But the problem is that I can't access the shared drive of the PC from my laptop, it displays the following message " (PC name) is not accessible, you might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of the server to find out if you have access permissions", Any idea why is this happening? Note: I am able to access the shared drive of my laptop from the PC. Many thanks.

Is your firewall setup to allow the incoming connection? By the way, I'm assuming you're using windows xp on both machines. - Akamad 21:43, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm thinking the machines are on the same network. I think it's the result of some group policy or whatever barring the ability to open shares without passworded account authentication. Splintercellguy 00:51, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

They are on the same network, and yah I am running windows xp on both sides. I am able to view all other things on the PC from the laptop such as shared printers and faxes, but only the shared folder of the PC cannot be accessed.

I don't know what the problem is sp I did a google search on the error message you are getting. Have a look at the results, hopefully they will help: [10]. - Akamad 12:24, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Reassociating .JAR files

I know .JAR files can be launched from the command line (java -jar file), but how do I reassociate them with Windows to open on a double click? I recently upgraded my JRE/JDK to version six, however removing version five of the JRE/JDK apparently broke the file association. Any assistance would be much appreciated. Kyra_~(talk) 22:42, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Open an explorer window, go to Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types, find .JAR, and edit to your content. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 00:18, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wifi connection in Win XP MCE 2002 SP2

Hi folks,

I'm having some trouble setting up a wireless network adapter in a PC running Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2002 with Service Pack 2 (*gasp for breath* longest OS name ever!).. after faffing around for a while and having no joy getting it to recognise the card at all, it occurred to me to wonder - does MCE2k2 actually even support wireless networking? I can't seem to find a straight answer on that anywhere, but unlike newer versions of XP, when I go into the network connections panel, there are no references to wireless networks at all. It DOES have the 'Wireless Network Setup Wizard' in control panel, but I don't want to create a new network, just connect to an existing one. Normally what I'd do is (assuming the card was correctly installed) go into Control Panel/Network Connections/Wireless Network Connection, and work from there.. but.. there appears to be no such thing in this version of XP. Am I just nailing jelly to a wall here?

Any advice welcome, thanks! --Cryptess 22:55, 9 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, as a former WinXP MCE user, I can confirm it does support wireless networks. Is it possible it doesn't recognise your wireless network adapter? To check this, go into device manager (can't remember ho you get there, and no longer have windows on my PC) and see if its there - if it is, see if there's a red "x" against it. Cheers, Davidprior 01:33, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm starting to suspect that the card is defective. Device manager doesn't recognise it - merely shows it as an unknown ethernet device. Neither the supplied drivers, nor the latest version from the website helped.. I've emailed the company's tech support for more info, but it's good to know that at least it's probably not the OS at fault. I'm aware that XPMCE2005 supports wireless, but wasn't so sure about 2002. Cheers :) --Cryptess 01:41, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Outlook Question

In Outlook 2003, how do you re-send/receive to receive old emails that were alreaded deleted in the program.

Assuming that Outlook is connecting to a POP3 account, and its set to delete messages after it has retrieved them, its not possible. If this isn't the case, can we please have some more details. Cheers, Davidprior 01:26, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you are connected to an Exchange server, talk to your Exchange admin. Deleted message are actually stored on the Exchange server for a certain number of days (configured by the admin) before being permanently deleted. --Robertstinnett 16:05, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How do you get RE-send and receive messages; so that would be dulicate messages? 68.193.147.179 01:34, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Three-part answer:

You'll be able to resend it if it is still in your sent box - there may be a "proper" way to do so, but I don't know how, what I don know is that you could simply forward them from there (deleting anything which indicates a forward).
If you've deleted them but not compacted your personal folders, there may be some way t do this, but its beyond me - perhaps someone else can advise...
If you've deleted them, and compacted your personal folders, I cannot see any way to do this, short of proffesional (expensive) data recovery.

Hope this is of some help, Davidprior 02:18, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Outlook Question 2

How can I make outlook automatically send and recevice messages when I am not on outlook or when my computer is off? 68.193.147.179 00:28, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

When your PC is off, there's not much it can do, including sending or receiving e-mails :-) In seriousness, you may have a device that uses less electricity than your PC, but can check your mail acct(s) and beep (or similar) if you have a message waiting - I think some routers can do this (some versions of the Linksys WRT54G series could certainly be made to do so). I believe some ISPs can even send you a txt message if you have an e-mail waiting
If your PC is on, but Outlook is not open, I'm not 100% sure, there are definitely programs that can check for email (assuming your provider uses a common protocol such as POP3 or IMAP) and alert you if a message is waiting - there may even be applications that can retrieve these messages and add them to the .pst file in which Outlook stores messages - however, given the proprietary nature of this file format, I'd guess this is unlikely

Cheers, Davidprior 01:42, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Are you using Outlook on a home computer or an office network? Anchoress 02:06, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

a home computer

February 10

AMD Athlon XP 2100

Is this CPU a 32 bit or a 64 bit processor? Warren —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.155.224.155 (talk • contribs).

It is a 32 bit processor. I have two of them in this machine.... —EncMstr 01:23, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Export

I was trying to put together an MS Excel file that contained worldwide coastal cities broken down by continent, country, and then city. I wanted it to be worldwide and I was happy to find wikipedia has a category called "Coastal cities". My question is what is the best way to transfer that list of worldwide coastal cities on wikipedia to MS Excel? Is there something to export the wikipedia database?

Thanks —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 72.211.147.138 (talk • contribs).

Look at Special:Export for an XML import. Or maybe just copy and paste to a text file, format it up a bit and paste that into Excel.... —EncMstr 01:23, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Excel software

Do you know of any Excel software, besides Google Docs for a web site so that multiple users can edit the Excel sheet at the same time? 68.193.147.179 01:19, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

for free on-line spreadsheets, Google gives lots of results [11], but I don't know which (if any) of these allow multiple users to edit the sheet simultaneously (this seems like quite an advanced feature - wouldn't it need cell-by-cell locking?). Cheers, Davidprior 02:03, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Does anybody know a way to put the spreadsheet right onto a domain (ex:www.domain.com)?

iTunes

My iTunes will not import songs that do not come off a music cd. It'll go through the motions, but then the songs just aren't there. I have WinXP and iTunes 7.0.2.16. Would uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes fix the problem, or is there something else I can try? 71.220.127.97 01:27, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Trouble w/ the Sims

Problem: When I try to play the Sims: Makin' Magic, no music plays except for when it shows the company logos, and I can't enter into lots, the program quits when i try. Attempts: Unable to find reinstall, i just installed the whole thing a second time, while foolishly not deleting the old versions. I'm going to keep working on it. Any suggestions? Thanks ahead of time. Oh, and i'm using a mac.-an anon

Do sign your posts with ~~~~. With the given information, I would suggest removing all traces of the game, then doing a clean reinstallation. Splintercellguy 04:04, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That worked. Thanks!63.231.243.111 16:03, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

WMP 11 distortion

When I play an online embedded video in Windows MP 11, the proportions are distorted (too wide,) and I can't install WMP 10. I tried reinstalling 11, but no change. Scienceman123 talk 02:14, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is this happening for all videos or only from a certain site? Droud 04:30, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Multiple, for instance the wmv files on [www.retrojunk.com] Scienceman123 talk 03:06, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Monitor screen refresh rate

Well i finally have vista on my desktop and for some unknown reason i can not get the monitor refresh rate back to 100 hertz which i use the most so my computer does not have those flicker issues. are there any ways to fix it up. The options to change the hertz are not availible. It says only that i can use the hardware default.--Biggie 02:47, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

First thing to ensure is that you have the latest drivers for your video card. If this doesn't work then, there's one small registry edit that might. Make a new DWORD registry key at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\DirectDraw\ForceRefreshRate (with regedit), and set it to the decimal value of your desired refresh rate. If you choose something your monitor doesn't support, you might have to boot into safemode to revert it. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 02:59, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for the advice--Biggie 03:40, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

info about computers

i am a computer dummy ! who or where can i go for answers to basic questions about setting up and /or learning this devil machine ? Dumm 03:16, 10 February 2007 (UTC) signed Dumm[reply]

See if any of your local colleges, senior centers, or learning annexes have 'intro to computers' type of classes. Having a real person to show you the way is always better than reading some book. (at least in my experience). --72.202.150.92 03:35, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ask at your local library. Libraries sometimes help directly, but if not will normally be able to point you to somebody else who can help. Searching the internet for "(program name) tutorial" may also help. --h2g2bob 04:03, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If your PC uses Microsoft Windows, you could try wikibooks:Basic Computing Using Windows - for a single-page, printable version see [12]. Might also be worth looking at wikibooks:Computers for Beginners. Cheers, Davidprior 13:10, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How can I make sure my computer is free from Keyloggers?

At work, I routinely access my personal email account. How can I make sure there isn't a key logging program running in the background? I am running the latest public version of Mac OS X. --72.202.150.92 03:32, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's nearly impossible to be "sure" that there are no keylogging facilities on a a given machine. The keylogger could always be built into hardware or, in software in some part of the OS that is inaccesible to the user. The best you could do would be to run spyware scanners that can detect the most commonly used keyloggers. Diletante 18:22, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Check and make sure the keyboard plugs directly into the computer and not into a little shunt/adapter at the backpanel. That's the most common hardware location (Assuming you're not up against a really well heeled Mallory). 68.39.174.238 23:23, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

To see just how tough it is to be absolutely sure, check out Van Eck phreaking. You'll just have to take the usual computer hygeine precautions (don't run programs from sketchy-looking entities, etc.), and take comfort in the fact that presumably, like the rest of us, not many people are interested in your personal emails. --TotoBaggins 04:32, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Internet History Statistics

Is there a program/extension, perhaps for Firefox, that provides statistics on what websites one browses? --Proficient 08:27, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Do you mean other than the history function? Just type Ctrl-H. If you don't like it grouped by day, click on the button at top right of the sidebar. Oh,... I see what you mean: it doesn't show dates and counts like Netscape Navigator, Mozilla and SeaMonkey do. If you use the Adblock extension in any of these browsers, filter rule entries show hit counts, which is close.... —EncMstr 08:47, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It would be cool though if it broke it down in a bunch of graphs like some of the old edit counters did. [Mαc Δαvιs] X (How's my driving?) ❖ 14:54, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It would certainly be possible to make a firefox extension of this - try asking on MozillaZine. The history is stored in a file called history.dat on your computer, so if you know some scripting language like perl you could do some analysis yourself. --h2g2bob 03:25, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Program to convert existing video files to an iPod compatible format

Are there any effective programs (for MAC) that can easily convert an existing video file to a format that can be seen on the newer iPods. I searched around for far to long and ended up buying a program online that didn't bloody work - after about a week and a half of battling, I managed to get a refund for it. Anyway, I'm looking for something preferably free and easy to use. --Jeffrey O. Gustafson - Shazaam! - <*> 10:10, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think VLC media player supports conversion as well as playback. It's available for the Mac as well. http://wiki.videolan.org/IPod --Kjoonlee 20:31, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Roxio Popcorn is by Roxio, and therefore great. Quicktime, iMovie, and Garageband are able to export to iPod movie. If it takes Quicktime Pro, import it into iMovie and export from there. Quicktime Pro, I do however recommend. Seven bucks if I remember, or you can input a serial from <DMCAOMG> [Mαc Δαvιs] X (How's my driving?) ❖ 22:33, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've actually got QuickTime Pro - I just haven't been able to get it to import a bloody thing. --Jeffrey O. Gustafson - Shazaam! - <*> 09:48, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

[13], [14]. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 01:19, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've had the Handbrake program (the first link by CC above) for a few weeks, and it seriously kicks ass. Anyone looking for an elegant, easy to use program to get your DVDs to your iPod should download this ASAP. As far as what I was looking for (conversion), I'll give iSquint a try. --Jeffrey O. Gustafson - Shazaam! - <*> 09:48, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I haven't actually tried iSquint. A better one yet might be VLC. Try [15] (skip down to "Convert MPEG2 to MPEG4"; works with most any video format, not just MPEG2) or [16]. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 10:17, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've tried out iSquint and it works like magic, seriously. Just drag and drop and convert away. Beautiful. And it converted a full length motion picture (Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning, Creative Commons license, of course) in less than a half hour, flawlessly. Amazing program. --Jeffrey O. Gustafson - Shazaam! - <*> 14:56, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Translation software

How do translation functions(such as on search engines) on the internet work? D Cowen

Well, to be honest, in most cases they don't. At least not well. TERdON 16:11, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

They begin with a word-by-word translation. Then, they go through grammar improvement rules. This is OK for European languages, but fails miserably when a single word can become multiple words in the other language. For example, "ta" in Mandarin means "he" or "she" or "it". So, if you are translating "ta bu pang" to English, what should "ta" be? You need to know something outside of the words/grammar in the sentence. The current translation programs cannot do it. Some are nice enough to translate it to "[He/She/It] is not fat". --Kainaw ^(talk) 16:46, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Modern translation software is based on sentence structure and hinting (such as using "he" as a pronoun when the nearest noun is masculine, or believed to be) as well as word translation tables. This allows them to reorder the sentence structure, as required between English and Spanish for example. Still, as above, any language which would require comprehension to translate is entirely unsuitable for computers. Droud 03:53, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

product of regex's

Assume you have two regex's, such as a(ba)*b and a*ba(b)* (those are: a followed by some number of repeating "ba" and ending in a b, then some number of a's followed by ba and ending with some number of b's). Is there a general step-by-step rule for combinging the regex statements? For example, if the first as regex A and the second was regex B, what is the step-by-step rule for producing "A and B" and "A or B"? I have no problem writing small regex statements and this would be a great tool for turning a handful of small ones into a large complicated one. --Kainaw ^(talk) 16:41, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Regexps don't really support boolean logicals like that. You can start alternate branches with the pipe character ( | ), but to accomplish the "AND" functionality you're probably best off using boolean logicals in whatever programming language you prefer or reworking your regexp to more specific. The two regexps you gave will indeed match some of the same strings, you really just need to figure out exactly what you're looking for and write the regex to accomodate that. -- mattb @ 2007-02-10T19:13Z

I think that you can even possibly try and create a nondeterministic FA from this, and then try and convert it back to a deterministic FA by subset construction. Either that, or write out the finite automata and then try to unify them by hand.

That is how I do it now. It is rather straightforward to create a FA for each one, join them, and then create a regex from them. However, I figured some brainchild must have simplified the process at some point and I just never heard about it. --Kainaw ^(talk) 23:17, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, there is a standardized process: make a NFA, then use subset construction.

Encryption in Apple's Mail App

Hi. I am trying to get encryption to work in my Mac OS X Tiger mail app. I created a key (public and private) for myself in the keychain utility. The help document says that a lock should appear when sending and viewing encrypted messages, but non show up. Could someone give me a tutorial on how to set up encrypted mail for me ad my friends? We all use Tiger. I would prefer that the setup does not use keys from outside vendors, that we should be able to create our own. Thank you very much!--Ryan 17:00, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Macworld had a good article, Signed, Sealed, & Deliver in the November issue, and here's another article from the same issue on it[17]. [Mαc Δαvιs] X (How's my driving?) ❖ 22:32, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's great, but that requires downloading a key from Thawte. I'm pretty sure its possible to make my own key, and if it is, i would like to use it. Thanks again!--75.0.67.112 03:25, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Crazy arrays in C

Hi!

Please do tell me what's wrong here 'cause I AM going crazy! It is written in C. If I would set it to "= 1" at REFERENCE 1, then the program would get stuck right there. This holds true even if I would set it to "= 0". But if I would set it to "= -1" then the program would crash. However, it would NOT crash If I would remove the line at REFERENCE 2.

What makes it even more interesting? If I would move the decleration of semiCryptoCharValues to AFTER the decleration of realWheelLengths, it would run smoothly, no matter what.

What's going on here!?

Big thanks in advance, even if you just read it! PureRumble 21:37, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

NEW EDIT: By the way, I'm using Cygwin on windows XP home edition, compiler gcc. I have Pentium 4 Hyperthreading, 3Ghz, 512 MB RAM (can't swear it is DDR, probably SDR).

  #include <stdio.h>
  
  int main() {
     
     int firstIndex;
     int secondIndex;
     
     char* semiCryptoCharValues = malloc (1000*sizeof (char));
     
     char realWheelPrints[5][73] = {0};
     char realWheelLengths[5] = {0};
     
     firstIndex = 0;
     
     while (firstIndex < 2*5) {
        
        secondIndex = 0;
        
        while (secondIndex < 73) {
           
           realWheelPrints[firstIndex][secondIndex] = -1;//REFERENCE 1
           
           secondIndex++;
           
        }
        
        firstIndex++;
        
     }
     
     semiCryptoCharValues[0] = 5;//REFERENCE 2
     
  }

Your firstIndex is ranging from 0 to 9 (< 2*5), but it's only allocated up to 4 (char realWheelPrints[5][73]). You are scribbling over unrelated variables on the stack; see the buffer overflow article. --cesarb 21:58, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

..... oh please don't you think I'm that stupid ;.( I have NO IDEA how I could miss that!!!!!! Thanks man! PureRumble 22:41, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

It's very common to miss mistakes in your own code. Your brain sees what you think you wrote, not what you actually wrote. One of the best ways to get unstuck when your code doesn't work is to try to explain it to someone else (even if that someone doesn't know about programming!), since having to explain it forces you to think about what the code means (and the person you are showing the code to often can spot the inconsistencies in your code). Other tricks are to go do something else (sometimes even getting up to get a cup of water is enough) and then look again at the problem, and to print the code (I use a2ps for that) and read it on paper.

On a completely unrelated note, I suggest you turn on warnings (-W -Wall); your code has at least three places where the compiler points you are doing something incorrectly. --cesarb 23:42, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

One way to avoid this specific error is to #define the values for the array sizes. This makes it easy if you need to change them. Setting the arrays as = {0} will not set the whole array to zero, probably only the first element. You can use calloc to set memory to zero. You could also use for instead of while to make the code a little clearer. --h2g2bob 03:13, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, setting it to {0} (or {{0}} for the bidimensional array) does set the whole array to zero. Just look at the code gcc generates with optimization disabled (with optimization enabled, it notices the whole function does nothing useful but call malloc and elides almost all of it):

	leaq	-400(%rbp), %rdi
	movl	$365, %edx
	movl	$0, %esi
	call	memset
	movl	$0, -16(%rbp)
	movb	$0, -12(%rbp)

It's calling memset to zero the first array, and using direct moves to zero the second array. --cesarb 13:12, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And beyond what any one specific compiler does, the C standard says initializing aggregate types like that must zero any bits not mentioned: § 6.7.8.21 If there are fewer initializers in a brace-enclosed list than there are elements or members of an aggregate, or fewer characters in a string literal used to initialize an array of known size than there are elements in the array, the remainder of the aggregate shall be initialized implicitly the same as objects that have static storage duration. Christ I'm a nerd. :( --TotoBaggins 21:34, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I stand well and truly corrected --h2g2bob 00:47, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How Secure is Vista w/o additional defence?

Headline says it all. I just got my Vista ultimate installed, though my AV/FW won't install. Though since Vista got both "Defender" and "Windows Firewall" I feel a bit safe. Still, many people feel secure in XP w/o security. But since Vista is so new, there is not any great ways of hacking it? Or? Do I really need any more defence in the comming weeks? 213.64.150.116

You can't really defend yourself against exploits, except keep UAC turned on and make sure you know exactly what's happening when you press Yes. --⁪froth^T 22:47, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What's Windows Update set to? You may be alright now, but if you fall a few security updates behind for a prolonged period of time, you could be in trouble. 68.39.174.238 23:21, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You don't need a firewall/antivirus if: you don't download executables from strange sources, you don't run ActiveX controls from strange sources, you have a router, and you keep on top of updates. Using a non-IE browser can also help. Anything else would have affected you whether or not you have AV/FW protection; i.e. brand new, unpatched browser exploits and the like. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 01:25, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The most important thing (for any operating system) is: don't run untrusted code. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done, because in the past Windows has made it very, very easy to run untrusted code. Consequently, lots and lots of expectations have taken root that presume, for all sorts of "ordinary" and allegedly non-dangerous operations, that easy execution of nontrusted code is not only possible but routine. A website wants to let you install their nifty customized toolbar? Sure, no problem, just one click to install it. Some exotic new kind of dynamic webpage content wants you to install the plugin that will let your browser display it? Sure, no problem, just another click. An email message contains an attachment which you need to view? No problem at all, just click it, and whatever needs to happen will happen.

Windows has (rather belatedly) begun inserting various "are you sure" prompts, in an attempt to protect you against untoward consequences from untrusted code (and other content) which you didn't mean to trust. As Froth mentioned above, Vista includes a new subsystem called UAC, and from what I hear, UAC ought to protect you from most malware. Theoretically, Vista ought to be quite secure, right out of the box, as long as UAC is turned on.

Unfortunately, from what I hear, UAC is flawed. Not that it doesn't work, but in that it asks you for confirmation about all sorts of stuff. Consequently, it is very likely that you (or any Vista user) are either going to (a) become annoyed by UAC and turn it off, or (b) become reflexively adjusted to automatically clicking "OK" every time a UAC dialog pops up, without necessarily reading and thinking carefully about every one.

In the past, Windows security depended on every user assessing the safety of every email attachment and every webpage link, and deciding not to click on the dangerous ones, and never making a mistake, because just one wrong click could lead to total pwnage. Tomorrow, it sounds like Windows security is going to depend on every user reading and thinking about the implications of every UAC dialog that pops up, and declining to accept the dangerous ones, and never making a mistake, because just one wrong click could lead to total pwnage. The implications here are left as an exercise for the reader.

External links:

Windows expert Scot Finnie admits that he'll be turning UAC off
Apple's irreverent take on the issue (video, .mov]

—Steve Summit (talk) 16:38, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think that's because it doesn't have that weird timer that sudo has on GNU/Linux. You know... how you don't have to type your password twice in 5 minutes. Of course, I'm just guessing. --wj32 ^{talk | contribs} 21:21, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The biggest problem with UAC is not that it pops up too often, but that it doesn't give you the information you need to make a meaningful decision. --Carnildo 23:51, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

outlook

Is there a way to import all of your messages into outlook 2003 even messages that you already imported into outlook

http programming

Is there anyway of learning how to do basic http programming, without having to pay a thing? Asics talk 22:52, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

HTTP meaning learning the protocol? As far as I know, the specifications are open/RFC nature. As to what language, there are probably multitudes of free examples that can be used. 68.39.174.238 23:19, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

HTTP is not a programming language. I assume you are referring to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. There are at least a thousand free tutorials for each on the internet. --Kainaw ^(talk) 23:21, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps you want a program like Apache web server? The technical specifications for HTTP are created by the World Wide Web Consortium, and are here. --h2g2bob 03:04, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, I did mean html, that's why I didn't know how to find it, because I was searching for the wrong thing! Thanks again. Asics talk 13:12, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Abstract images generation

Hi,
Maybe this question would be better suited on the Misc section, but I'll try here anyway. Does anyone know of the software/techniques which is used to make images like this: [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]? Or even a tutorial that could help me start on something like it... Thanks, --Fir0002 01:47, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try Apophysis, it's one of the best programs for this sort of thing (fractal flames) out there. — Kieff | Talk 02:47, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The Gimp has a lot of extensions for creating random backgrounds and such. --Kainaw ^(talk) 23:15, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you're mathematically inclined, POV-Ray can easily be used to make geometric abstracts. --Carnildo 23:52, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

open proxy

When i was looking at www.ninjaproxy.net or a site it was linked to I pressed feed and got the open proxy(im not using it now i managed to get off of it and return to my orignal ip) But do i have to pay for the open proxy? sience thay dident say anything about it and dont have a forum whare i could ask them im asking it here on wikipedia?--Crocadog 03:57, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Which website is it? I doubt you will have to pay for the open proxy, unless you gave away personal details. It is almost impossible to track someone on the internet, because the internet provider wouldn't disclose the information without a good reason. --[|.K.Z|][|.Z.K|] 04:11, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

i dident give away any personal detales so i wont have to pay for it.--Crocadog 14:45, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If it was something you had to pay for, that fact should have been made explicit, and you would have had to agree to it. I can't imagine any company would allow it without securing payment (eg you giving credit card details or something) first, so I wouldn't worry . _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 15:16, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

February 11

Using custom icons in XP

I'm having trouble finding out how to use custom icons in XP. Here's the deal: I have some .ico files on my desktop. I want to use them for shortcuts (to folders) on my quicklaunch bar. The problem comes when I try to change an icon by right-clicking -> properties -> shortcut -> change icon. The list only presents a few icons embedded in SHELL32.dll. When I try to browse to my .ico files, it complains that they "don't contain any icon files". What is the simplest method of using custom icons in the manner I have described? Thanks in advance, 82.46.44.59 11:26, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Display encrypted email in Outlook 2003's "Reading Pane"

Folks -

I've just setup Outlook 2003 to work with encrypted (S/MIME) email backed by a digital certificate. It all works fine, but I'm annoyed that I can't view encrypted emails in Outlook's "reading pane" (A message This encrypted e-mail cannot be displayed in the Reading Pane is displayed). I've had a quick search on Google and not been unable to come up with a solution. Anyone know if this is this possible and how?

Thanks, _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 14:26, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Firefox "confirm close" extension?

I just spent about an hour composing an answer over at RD/S, and then I accidentally closed the tab, losing my work forever. Is there a way (perhaps via an extension) to get Firefox to prompt for confirmation before closing a tab (or window) containing an unsubmitted form?

[Note 1. How did I "accidentally close the tab"? What was I thinking? It really was an accident -- I was using my trackpad to move the mouse pointer to check something in another tab, and the mouse pointer happened to pass over the "close tab" button, and I've got that oh-so-convenient but oh-so-risky "tap touchpad for mouse clicks" option turned on, and at just the wrong instant, a wiggle in my finger or a glitch in the touchpad driver got registered as an unintended click.]

[Note 2. It took a long time, but text editors and word processors eventually got pretty good about not losing your work. They'd prompt you if you tried to close without saving. They took steps to save -- and let you recover -- your work if they crashed out from underneath you. Now that so much editing and other "real work" is done via web forms, web browsers really, really need to work as hard at protecting the unsubmitted contents of HTML forms against accidental loss.]

—Steve Summit (talk) 15:34, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No need to prompt for confirmation. If you close a tab by accident, just unclose it (History > Last closed tabs). This is one of the most useful new features on Firefox 2.0. I just tested, and it does not lose the form contents. --cesarb 16:02, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You can get firefox to warn you when you close tabs but i turned it off it was annoying me Jackacon 20:35, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cesar: thanks for the tip; that'll be another reason to move to FF 2.0 soon. (If only I'd been running it yesterday!)

Jackacon: I assume you're referring to the warning about closing a window containing multiple tabs. As it happens, I've already got that option turned on (and like it), but it wouldn't have helped in this case; what I'm imagining is a specific warning when closing a tab or window containing an unsubmitted form, which is quite a bit more destructive than closing any old other window or tab. —Steve Summit (talk) 20:29, 12 February 2007 (EST)

Firefox 3.0 alpha 2 has the unclose tab feature, but allows you to reopen many closed tabs, not just one. It will give you the option if you right-click (option-click) on an open tab and select "Undo Close Tab." Clicking multiple times reopens the tabs in reverse order than they were deleted Freedomlinux 03:52, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

cross-platform encrypted subdirectories?

Background: I've got a USB thumb drive which I'd like to carry some of my files around on. I'll be connecting it to Linux machines, Mac OS X machines, and sometimes even Windows machines. Some of the files contain personal information, so I'd like to keep those files encrypted, in case the thumb drive is lost. Not all of the machines I might be connecting the drive to will be "mine", so I'd like to carry the necessary decryption software (for all platforms) on the drive itself. And, of course, I'd like this all to be reasonably convenient.

At the very least, I could just encrypt the sensitive files using PGP, and then keep Linux, Mac, and Windows copies of PGP on the thumb drive, so that I could manually decrypt and reencrypt the files as necessary. But what I'd really like is a way to mount the directory containing the sensitive files as an encrypted filesystem.

I know that there are packages that can encrypt an entire drive or partition, and then let you mount them as a filesystem with convenient on-the-fly encryption and decryption (i.e. so that you can access the files using any application, without having to perform explicit decrypt steps before viewing and explicit re-encrypt steps after editing). I think there might be packages that let you do the same for individual files and directories. I'm hoping there's such a package that's cross-platform, but I've never heard of one (but I haven't exhaustively looked).

Anybody know of any crypto filesystem packages that might do what I want? —Steve Summit (talk) 15:50, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I do not think there's any package that does it (it would either need filesystem support for encryption, which does not exist on the FAT filesystem used on USB thumb drives, or something like union mount). A simpler alternative would be a loopback-mounted filesystem; TrueCrypt is one option which is able to do that. With that you would have a large encrypted file (containing the filesystem) on your thumb drive, instead of encrypting the whole thumb drive. --cesarb 16:13, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How about just zipping up your directory with a file archiver like WinZip or whatever, and storing that on the drive? This comparison of file archivers will tell you which ones have both encryption and the platform support you require. --TotoBaggins 01:41, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's a good idea, and I thank you for it, but: manually unzipping (or otherwise unarchiving) before I can get at my files, and remembering to delete them when I'm done, and remembering to re-archive if I modified any of them, is precisely as inconvenient as decrypting and re-encrypting them with, say, PGP. I'm really tired of that kind of nuisance; I really want a transparent mount. (This isn't out of the question -- Linux has LUFS, and I'm pretty sure MacOS has something similar.) It looks like TrueCrypt might be just what I'm looking for; thanks, Cesar! —Steve Summit (talk) 01:26, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Images blocked on my computer

Further to my query regarding image changes on my web page. I'm using a purchased template for my web site and transferring my own images for the ones shown, following the instructions. The new images showed on the "pics" page but not on the previewed web page. Becoming very frustrated I copied the pages onto a CD to send to a friend to ask her advice and when I checked the CD to see if it opened OK, there were all my pictures in the right places. So I guess there is something in my computer which is blocking these images. I'm using Norton Anti Virus. Does this block images from one place to another internally, without being online? If so how can I change it? Does it also mean that my finished web pages will show the images when put online or not? Thank you to anyone with helpful suggestions.Sue latham 16:49, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think it's norton (if anything, Norton should be more strict for CDs). Can you open one of the HTML files which has images on it in notepad or a similar program. Do Edit, Find (or Edit, Search) and search for "D:" or "E:" - I'll bet that it'll find it in some text saying "<IMG src="D:\something\pics\something.jpg" ..." or "<IMG src="file://D:/something/pics/something.jpg" ...". If this is the case, do a Edit, Replace to replace all "D:\something\pics\" (or whatever) with "pics/" - see Path (computing) for what this is all about. If that doesn't come up with anything, then please say so, and say what format are the images in (.jpeg, .png, .gif, &c...)? --h2g2bob 18:09, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I checked the text you mention and the section regarding one of the photos says:- </td></tr><tr><td width="720"> <IMG SRC="picts/home.jpg" border="0" width="720" height="80"><br> </td><td bgcolor="#000000" width="1"> There is no "D" or "E" because all the HTML files are within the template folder. I also tried on my computer at work and all the images (.jpegs) are visible! Sue latham 08:00, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

recovering deleted files after formatting?

I accidentally deleted some files 4 months ago and after that i formatted my PC. is there any way to recover them? I know there are s/w available to recover files after they have been removed from recycle bin but is it possible even after formatting?

After the format: possibly; but after 4 months: not really much of a chance. Try an undelete program anyway, there's nothing to lose - I've never come across a good one, so I'll be interested in what the others have to say. --h2g2bob 17:50, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try PhotoRec, but it probably will not find much. --cesarb 21:25, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Neither deletion or formatting by themselves are fatal, but your chances decrease significantly when they go together. Add in four months of usage since, and it is very likely that the computer has written over your files. Freedomlinux 03:54, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Deleting Document History in MS Word - Office Professional

I use MS Office Professional at home and whenever I open MS WORD I see a column on the RHS that lists a selection of previous documents that I may not want other household users to view. How can I empty or remove that list of saved or archived documents please? Thanks in anticipation. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.145.241.59 (talk • contribs).

You can disable the list. Go to Tools --> Options, select the General tab, and uncheck the Recent Files option. SubSeven 21:41, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Spreedsheet

Does anybody know a way to put the spreadsheet right onto a domain (ex:www.domain.com)?

You might see if your spreadsheet software has a "save as HTML" option, then copy that HTML to your web page. --TotoBaggins 22:46, 11 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

As TotoBaggins suggests, most spreadsheet software (including MS Excel) have the option to "save as HTML" or "save as webpage". If you upload that to the web, it will display the spreadsheet in a web browser. If you want to keep the spreadsheet as an actual spreadsheet there's no reason why you can't upload that to the web. People viewing your website under Internet Explorer for Windows, with MS Excel installed will even see the spreadsheet loaded within their web browser, other users will need to download the spreadsheet and open it elsewhere. Unless you've got a particular reason not to, the first choice would be my preferred option, since it has much better cross browser/platform support, and makes life easier for your visitors. _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 20:59, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Auto Full-Screen When Connected to TV

I like to keep my laptop connected to my TV (Samsung LNS3251D) in order to play videos on the TV. Problem is when I open a video when I'm connected to the television, they automatically take over the entire TV screen. I'm unable to remove the full-screen mode in order to do things like minimize the window, exit the video, move forward in the video, etc; its quite annoying. I'm just wondering if there is something I can do to remove this feature. Perhaps I'm missing something simple, but thus far I've been unable to fix it by tweaking any of the video card (ATI 9600 PRO) display settings. Anyhow, thanks in advance for your help.

February 12

"telephone" character

I saw a "telephone" font-character once in a Wikipedian's signature; it was actually the shape of a rotary-style phone. Is that a Unicode character? And what's the code to recreate it without tracking it down and rigorously copying and pasting? --128.113.149.103 00:12, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

U+260E (☎) and U+260F (☏) are symbols for black and white telephones, respectively. See Miscellaneous Symbols. --Spoon! 00:21, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Whilst it is a Unicode symbol (as Spoon correctly states) you might find that it doesn't display in a number of browsers or operating systems. The alternative may be to use a symbol from a font such as Wingdings (although note that this may also not work on some systems - if that font isn't installed) _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 20:53, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

'(' (left parenthesis) is a black telephone in Wingdings. I don't think there's a way to use alternative fonts on Wikipedia though, if that's where you're planning on using it. — Matt Eason ^{(Talk  Contribs)} 21:53, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There is a way to use alternative fonts, but it's not recommended; not everyone has Wingdings, for instance. See That mysterious J for an example of how using font-specific characters instead of the correct Unicode codepoint can cause problems. --cesarb 00:06, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

External harddrive

I have an USB-connected external hard drive. If i back-up all my files onto it, will I be able to boot and run my computer from the external hard drive if someday my internal hard drive malfunctions? If so, is there any additional procedures I must undertake for this to work? Thanks. Jamesino 02:15, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No. Also it's a bad idea so you don't want to undertake any procedures --⁪froth^T 03:00, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes you can do that, if your BIOS supports it. Well it's not as much of a "bad" idea, just that it is gonna be slow. External harddrives are quite similar (and in many cases the same) to internal ones. --antilived^{T | C | G} 04:34, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oh yeah if by copying all your files you mean copying the MBR is well, then yes. Otherwise you will need to install a bootloader first. --antilived^{T | C | G} 04:35, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, it's not just the BIOS that has to support it, but also the operating system (which has to read part of itself from the disk). The operating system also has to be able to find which disk it's booting from without getting confused. --cesarb 14:42, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes but that "confusion" is pretty easy to eliminate by chainloading and remapping device names --⁪froth^T 19:56, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wireless Routers ?

My ISP (MTNL, India) provides ADSL internet connections. With the package, they also provided an ADSL Router to me. Now, what I am supposed to do is, take the jack of my phone line, put it in the router, and connect the ethernet/usb to my computer. That works just fine. However, I wish to make this a wireless connection. I have heard a lot about "Wireless Routers", but I cannot find any details on them. Are they compatible with ADSL ? Or I still need to keep my ISP's router ? Also, my desktop pc has no provisions for wireless internet, from the hardware side. So, will the wireless router have ethernet ports as well, to provide for the older desktop pc ?

Thanks ! --RohanDhruva 03:22, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You'll need to buy what is commonly sold as a "wireless router". Some of those have an integrated ADSL modem and you will probably be able to discard what your ISP sold you. Alternatively, with can buy one without it and connect the "ADSL router" to the "wireless router", usually via Ethernet, but some also provide an USB interface. I don't know if you really meant your ISP sold you a wireless router (which I take as having NAT functionality) or if it just a modem. In the former case, you may get into some trouble because you would be behind two NAT boxes. Most of the wireless routers will have extra Ethernet ports, usually 4 (with the ASUS WL-330g being a notable exception), so you would be able to connect your desktop. --Cataphract 03:52, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You could run into problems here. I would suggest that you use this great resource and read up on router, etc. You have to assess exactly what you have before you can move on. --Zeizmic 13:32, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Assuming the box from your ISP is a modem rather than a router, you should just be able to buy a wireless router, connect your modem to it, and then connect your computer to the router. As Cataphract says, the majority also support wired connections (via ethernet) as well as wireless. If the box from your ISP is a router, as you state, then you should be able to buy a wireless router with an integrated ADSL modem. You would connect this directly to your phoneline, eliminating the need to connect the box from your ISP. If the box you have is a router, connecting it to a wireless router could cause problems... _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 20:56, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Figure out checksum

Hi, I need to figure out how a checksum is made. An UDP data field has two bytes for a checksum, a x0A byte, a byte with the length of the rest of the data, and the then an arbitrary sequence of alphanumeric characters (let's call this sequence X)

Example (hex): 6D 85 0A 61 (X = "a", in this case, because a=x61)

I've captured the following checksums (hex), function of X:

X	1st B	2nd B
a	6D	85
b	6E	86
c	6F	87
1	3D	55
2	3E	56
aa	CF	5B
ab	D0	5C
ca	D1	5F
cb	D2	60
bb	D1	5E
wv	FA	9C
ww	00	9D
aaa	36	94
baa	37	97
caa	38	9A
bda	3A	9F
aaaa	98	35
baaa	99	39

It's easy to see that incrementing by 1 any of the characters of X will increment by 1 the first byte and by y the second byte, where y is the position of the changed character, counted from the end. The 'wv'->'ww' example also give an idea on how it "resets" the byte. I can't, however, find the general rule and help on that direction would be appreciated. Thanks --Cataphract 03:32, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Our User Datagram Protocol article has a copy of the general rule. --cesarb 13:38, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This is not the header checksum. It's implemented on the application layer, I think. For instance, if I understand correctly, the UDP header checksum is calculated by arranging the octets in pairs and then summing those pairs. A brief glance on these checksums is enough to realize this method is quite different. --Cataphract 15:39, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry about that. I just found out the rule for the first checksum byte: it's the sum of all the characters, plus the string size, modulo 251. Note that the initial 0x0A is part of the string. Now I'll take a look at the second checksum byte. --cesarb 20:09, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The way the second checksum byte increments suggests some variation of Fletcher's checksum. I still do not know the exact formula, however. --cesarb 20:20, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I found a simple (Fletcher-style) algorithm which fits all the data except the "bda" one. Are you sure you didn't mistype the checksum value for it on your table above? Here's the algorithm (in Python):

def csum(s):
	a, b, n = 0, 0xc, 0
	for c in s:
		a = (a + ord(c) + 1) % 251
		b = (b + a + n) % 251
		n = n + 1
	return a, b

Don't forget to include the initial 0x0A byte in the string. --cesarb 21:53, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, you are right, the second byte is 0x9D. I also made a mistake in the example, it should read "6D 85 0A 01 61" instead "6D 85 0A 61"; the length is included. So if we take the whole string, length included, we can write the simplified:

def csum(s):
	a, b = 1, 1
	for c in s:
		a = (a + ord(c)) % 251
		b = (b + a) % 251
	return a, b

Thanks a lot for your help. --Cataphract 22:59, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Converting .tar.gz TO .exe Executable Installer

Tar (file format) (article) states it has an extension of .tar and is contained by (article) Gzip, which gives extension .gz.
In article SourceForge you will see that many developers make open-source softwares.
I downloaded one, but it had an extension of .tar.gz and I want to convert it to an Installer type .exe. Can some one help me out in this matter? And is there a free software that automatically does this for you? --Maclean1 04:02, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You can't. It doesn't make sense. A tar.gz is just a compacted bundle of files. An installer type .exe is a program that installs something (usually another program). Maybe you mean a self extracting archive? --Cataphract 04:19, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think he meant compiling the source code inside the tar file and make an executable. Anyhow, it is too complex for you to do that in Windows (I don't think it's just ./configure&&make&&make install in windows) and you should just download the binary in the first place. --antilived^{T | C | G} 04:31, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I want to install the software to my Windows XP Computer. Please Help. I am Computer Savvy. --Maclean1 04:41, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Good! Being computer savvy will help. Your best bet is to check the downloads area of the web site, and if they have a version that says something like "Win32 binary", get that. There is no way to automatically turn a .tar.gz file into a windows executable. You might also look into the Cygwin Unix-like environment for Windows if you're feeling exceptionally savvy. Good luck! --TotoBaggins 05:07, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Most of the SourceForge projects do not have Win32 binarys. --Maclean1 05:23, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This is because free software culture, including SourceForge, has a stronger following among Unix people than Windows people, for various reasons. Your options are: Cygwin, install Linux or similar, or just seek out whatever free software is available for Windows. --TotoBaggins 14:47, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And I would really appreciate if some creates an article (not redirect) for Win32 binary due to its Top Importance. --Maclean1 05:27, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

EXE says all you need. A full article on "Win32 binary" would just be a dicdef. That is: "Win32 binaries are typically executables for Win32". Not too exciting, to be honest. The reason for unavailability of said binaries depends on which project you're talking about. Some of them are only designed for POSIX systems. Some are incomplete and have Win32 versions planned. Some are coded in interpreted languages. And there are a plethora of other reasons. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 05:40, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Computing/IT

What fraction of a millimeter is a nanometer? mando

10^-6, that is, 1:1 000 000. See SI prefixes. --Cataphract 04:15, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Windows Media Player

I upgraded to WMP 11 and for the life of me I can't figure out how to add a folder to the Library or add just a singular audio file to the library. Thanks in advance. Deltacom1515 04:15, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Drag and drop.

Doesn't work. Deltacom1515 23:30, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes it does, it works every time for me when I do it. Drag a supported audio file (don't bother expecting WMP11 to support OGG or something esoteric) from Explorer into WMP11. It may automatically categorize the file, so you might want to have a look around. If that truly doesn't work, then I have no idea what's wrong with it.

Intel 82845G chipset

Hello again im wanting to see if i can intall a 1GB DDR RAM module into the chipset described in the subject. I am unsure if it would work for my motherboard, However i do have a 2.4GHZ pentium 4. Would it be a good idea to install the 1GB module into that chipset if anyone happens to know about those chipsets/motherboard.--Biggie 06:37, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Google shows that it's a graphics controller... It'd help most if you can give the maker and model of the motherboard, assuming that's what you're doing. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 06:40, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

i look on device manager and click the system devices but im not sure which one of those devices is the motherboard. I need to know the keywords in that system device menu to figure which one is the motherboard.--Biggie 06:48, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

From the last 4 letters of the name of the graphics controller, Intel 845G is likely to be the name of your motherboard. According to the Intel Website, it can take 3 types of memory: Single Data Rate (SDR) 133Mhz, Double Data Rate (DDR) 200Mhz and DDR 266Mhz. The latter are also often referred to as PC1600 and PC2100. So, you should check the instructions with the memory module, and make sure that it operates at one of those speeds. Johnnykimble 19:11, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

One of my computers is an 845GL. That can take 1GB, i'm sure. The only difference between the G and the GL is that the GL has no AGP socket and doesn't support Hyperthreading. CaptainVindaloo ^{t c e} 19:25, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't recommend it from a strictly utilitarian POV - 512 is enough for anything but gaming in my experience, and if you're doing gaming, you might as well be saving for a new computer. --Wooty Woot? contribs 04:52, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

A 2.4Ghz isn't that bad nowadays, unless you're doing much gaming. That motherboard seems a bit subpar for a P4 chip though, if those stats are right. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 09:56, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2.4 P4 is what I have, and it's good for daily stuff, but if you're not doing gaming, shelling out bux for RAM is better than shelling them out for a video card, but probably not worth it. 256 is bad, 512 is good, 1GB isn't much of a jump from the computers I've used. I have 2GB and it helps BF2142 load faster but not MS Word or all the crap that starts up on boot. --Wooty Woot? contribs 20:38, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Deleting Document History in MS Word - Office Professional

I posted this question yesterday but discovered today it had been deleted, without apparent explanation. If I am doing something wrong here, will the person responsible for deleting my post please have the Cojones to advise what the problem is? I am getting utterly fed up with Wikipedia for this and similar behaviours by some (though clearly not all) of it's "editors". I repeat the question here: I use MS Office Professional at home and whenever I open MS WORD I see a column on the RHS that lists a selection of previous documents that I may not want other household users to view. How can I empty or remove that list of saved or archived documents please? Thanks in anticipation.

Your question was answered above by SubSeven (it's about 11 questions up) - "You can disable the list. Go to Tools --> Options, select the General tab, and uncheck the Recent Files option." — Matt Eason ^{(Talk  Contribs)} 12:02, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

As Matt says, your question was answered above, and at no point has been removed from the page. I appreciate there's a large number of entries on the page, but it would be nice if you'd assume good faith and check a little more thoroughly before complaining... _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 20:52, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In thanking SubSeven and UkPaulo for their assistance and comments above, I unreservedly apologise for any unintended and unjustified offence I may have caused. But I remain adamant that when I checked for any responses to the question I posed earlier, it HAD been removed - I checked and re-checked several times - hence my ascerbic comments above. And I make no apology for having reported similar mischief on this and other Ref Pages in the past - something that has been spiritedly reported and adversely commented upon (the mischief) by other disgruntled Wiki Users. But that said, thanks again.

How to close an alert box from a script?

Hello! Can I somehow close an alert dialog box from my script, without user having to press OK?

Maybe there is some method, for closing it. I have a script auto-submitting some values through a browser window. It worked fine, but now the designers of the site changed it a bit, and the page that is shown after submitting the form, pops up an alert saying that data are accepted. So my script cannot proceed any further until the user clicks OK, and, since there is no user, the script is stuck on it. Can I close the box from my script (which is currently written on Visual Basic)?

Alternative approches that I can think of, can be: 1. Using HTML-filtering engine such as Proxomitron to filter out the alert code 2. Killing the browser application forcibly each time after submitting a form, and opening it again to procees the next one.

Any solution which is simpler and more straigt-forward than those, will be very appreciated. The browser is IE, but I can switch to any other if it turns out I can use it for this task. You might ask, why I don't just POST those data from a perl script without use of any browser. The reason is that I use some scripts from the page where the form is situated. If I did it without a browser, I would need to emulate those scripts.

Crocodealer 14:56, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Then emulate those scripts, or try running your script from rhino. --⁪froth^T 17:00, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I did it via Proxomitron instead. Crocodealer 15:25, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How do I alter this code?

===Begin mediation===

The case name in the box must include Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal/Cases/. After that, put the current date, which is 2025-08-01. After the date, put a space and give the case a name.
Example: Wikipedia:Mediation_Cabal/Cases/2025-08-01 United States of America

Enter the name of your case as described above in the box, after "Cases/":

There will be about a 10 minute delay before your case is placed on the case list.
help

To make it an edit box to input a comment on my usertalk? Also I need it to be about 100px sq. Thanks in advance, --User:Darkest Hour

You can't. Those boxes are only for inputting the NAME of the page. Once they enter the name of the page, they can be taken to an edit page for that page, or that page can be filled with premade content. --⁪froth^T 19:54, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You can't make it an edit box for use in adding entries to pages, I'm afraid. _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 20:49, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Portable Mac WEb Browsers

Are there any free portable app web browsers for Macs?

What about the Mac version of Firefox...? _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 20:48, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

SPYDAWN Unwanted software

'SPYDAWN' Does anyone have any idea how to remove SPYDAWN software? It showed up on my browser and I cannot remove it. When I open internet explorer, instead of my normal homepage, it goes to this crap. Some sort of website touting spyware. Pop ups, a different tool-bar. A real pain in the arse. When I go to programs, and try to uninstall, it says it can't remove because it's in use. I believe it's a program designed to get me to purchase software to remove itself. Here is a virus, for 19.95 we'll remove it for you. Please, any info will help.

It's not something I've heard of but it sounds like spyware — try Adaware (it's a free download) or Windows Defender (from Micro$oft) to see if they can remove it. Otherwise, you could try a commercial anti-virus program like Norton Anti-virus... _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 20:47, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Use Spybot S&D, Ad-aware Personal Edition, and HijackThis if it's stubborn. Splintercellguy 03:02, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

lol, a similar thing happened to me twice. i tried first deleting all the files,then i uninstalled the program. Also, try booting into safe mode.

How does wikipedia survive without captchas?

Given its high popularity, I've often wondered why there aren't spiders just spamming the whole site all the time. That seems difficult to defend against without captchas or required logins or anything. Anyone know why they leave us in relative peace (knock wood)? --TotoBaggins 21:00, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hmm... other users can probably give a better answer to this, but here's my thoughts. Firstly, unless we required a captcha to be entered for every edit (which would have a serious usability impact) then captcha's wouldn't be all that helpful (since anon IP's can still edit). That said, the ability to require a captcha when creating a new user account is built into the MediaWiki framework. I believe it is implemented on some of the other language Wikipedia's, and is automatically enabled on the en-wiki under particular circumstances (if it is deemed likely the server is being subject to mass signup). Seem to recall this was discussed somewhere at somepoint. Also, remember that administrators can block a particular IP (including the IP of a particular user). Thus, if a bot tried to spam the site, their IP would be rapidly blocked, and thus any spammer attempting this would need to be in control of a number of IPs (a botnet perhaps). Finally, I believe the server's do monitor their load, and take steps to automatically reject mass edits. As I said, other users can probably give a better answer, and I'd be interested to hear it — an interesting question! _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 21:06, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

They don't leave us in relative peace. We have blocking of spammers (both IPs and usernames), blocking of open proxies, the Spam blacklist, anti-spam bots, a special page to search for links (to find other instances of spamming), page creation restrictions, protected page titles, and several other measures I don't know about, and we still get a lot of spam (of course, like with vandalism, most of it is quickly reverted). --cesarb 21:30, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Editing large Wikipedia articles

Folks - Bit of a strange problem, which has been annoying me for a while! In recent weeks, if I attempt to edit a large-ish Wikipedia articles (nothing ridiculous, not even big enough to merit the "this is a long article" notice) I am unable to save or preview my changes. Basically the browser just hangs, and then times out before it gets a response - no error, it goes for quite some time before giving up. The problem is present using both Firefox and Internet Explorer 7 (I use Windows XP SP2 by the way). Also occurs when using AWB. The problem doesn't appear to be intermittent - whilst it's not always been the case, it always seems to be the case currently. At first I thought it was a Wikipedia problem, but it has gone on for some time now. What's curious is that on several occasions I have tried editing from behind an open web proxy (after eventually finding one that wasn't blocked!). There was no problem in editing in this way which is interesting, since it implies it's not a problem with my computer setup / firewall / router. I'm thus at a bit of a loss! It's not the end of the world, since I can edit individual sections OK, but it's a bit of a pain, particularly if picking a previous revision of an article, and attempting to save it. Anyone got any sensible thoughts? _└^UkPaolo/_talk^┐ 21:13, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The fastest and easiest way to read binary data from standard input in c is....

Hi!

I'm about to do a homework in c. We are supposed to submit the code to one of the schools computers for evaluation. We have this time-constraint on us (your program is not allowed to execute forever), and there will be LOTS AND LOTS of data to read from the standard input. That is how the computer will test the program. It will provide the input through the standard input and evaluate the generated output on standard output to see if it is OK.

Here's my problem. As far I can see there are like hundreds and hundreds of ways to read from standard input and write to standard output in C. Which one of these are the easiest and best way? I want to be able to read in huge amounts of data (nr. of bytes in the order 10^6), process it, and generate output. I can recall some function like this: c.in << ... & c.out >> ...! But I'm not sure. Are those good?

Another question: My program will be working with the data in blocks of 128 bits. But is it a wise thing to write data to standard output A.S.A.P? I mean, shouldn't I make my own buffer in an array and write large chunks of data to standard output instead of small ones. I am afraid that constantly writing out small parts would require way too much overhead. Am I right, or is it even worse to save the thing in an array?

Any kind of answer will be appreciated! PureRumble 21:45, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

If you're in C, you don't have iostream, but rather stdio.h. The standard way of getting a single character from a stream is getchar(), and the standard way of writing one is putchar(); avoid such things as fscanf() because they do incur noticable overhead. Perhaps slightly more efficient for block data would be fread() and fwrite(), or even just (on Unix) read() and write(), bypassing C streams altogether. You certainly don't need to worry about more than a function call of overhead when writing out little bits of data because the I/O facilities (even just the kernel ones) will buffer your data quite reasonably. Finally, the amount of time required to read and write a million bytes is entirely trivial (think 50 milliseconds, even counting disk access for both input and output), and your computation time on that data is likely to be so small as to fit in during the disk accesses and add nothing to the total time. --Tardis 23:04, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Well, you will want to limit the number of system calls you make. Every time you go to the disk your code stops and the operating system takes over. So, if you can limit the number of times you do this, that would probably help the most. So when you go out to disk, grab the whole file, if you can. If you can't at least grab an entire page.

Writing will be just as expensive as reading, in general. So save up as much as you can before making the system call.

The good news is that the C-library may do all of this for you. Reading the manpage for fflush() might be useful. Mdwyer 23:10, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's not quite true that "Every time you go to the disk your code stops and the operating system takes over." Except under extremely primitive operating systems like MS-DOS, a system call to read or write data "to disk" does not necessarily mean that the operating system is actually going to go out to disk. The OS may implement its own buffering, caching, readahead, and writebehind, and even if not, on a multitasking OS the actual writing (at least) can go on in parallel, as control returns to your program. See my longer answer below. —Steve Summit (talk) 02:13, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Tardi, Mdyer. Thanks for fast reps! Mdyer, if I read you right you're saying that (a) reading in a block (16 bytes) with fread, (b) processing it and (c) writing out the generated block with fwrite before going back to (a) should be no problem since fread and fwrite do nice buffering for me, am I right? The amount of data to be taken care of is 16*10^6 bytes. What about reading in ALL of it in one giant array, processing the blocks one by one, and writing back all of the array at the same time when done? Does that sound crazy or just ingenious? Note: I have no idea if my input is lying on a file or if a program on the evaluating computer keeps feeding my program with input. PureRumble 00:00, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

It depends. At least on *nix, it's common for the buffering level to depend on where the output is going to[23]. If you want block buffering, you should use setvbuf to change it. Other than that, premature optimization should be avoided; you should only worry about it if your code is too slow, and even then, you should first find out where the program is being slow and optimize just that part. 16 million bytes is next to nothing for today's computers; reading and writing them should take a very small amount of time (I just timed it here, and it took less than a second using a 1000-byte block, and only 4 seconds using a very inneficient 16-byte block; the stdio buffering will make it more similar to the first case than to the second). It's much more probable that your own processing of the data will take more time. --cesarb 01:33, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There are of course two ways to go about this. One is to do lots of research and try to predict which methods will be fastest; the other is just to try them and time them and see. Both approaches are valid, and they work well in combination: analysis can refine your testing and suggest new approaches, while testing gives the final, accurate-in-the-real-world answer you need, which no amount of analysis on a complex system can generally give you with accuracy.

In terms of research, it is important to understand where the I/O overhead really is, and which layers of buffering and other optimizations are already being performed for you automatically. As others have noted, C's <stdio.h> package reads large blocks of characters from the underlying OS and doles them out to you however you want, and it treasures up the characters you write to it until it has a large block, which it then writes to the OS all at once. Also, the OS may do its own buffering, and more. For example, Unix has always performed readahead and writebehind. When you write data to the OS, it isn't necessarily written to disk right away. (This saves time if you rewrite the same block of data several times.) When you read several blocks from the same file in succession, the OS may read the next block preemptively, guessing that you're probably about to ask for it. These strategies make a huge difference, although they can make it harder to predict or control exactly when the physical disk I/O will take place and how much time it will take. (Finally, I'm pretty sure that modern disk drives do all sorts of caching, readahead, and writebehind right down on the drive.)

Once upon a time, stdio was much more efficient than raw OS reads and writes as long as you were doing lots of little reads and writes. However, using stdio ends up meaning that characters are copied hither and yon an extra time or two, so for high-throughput applications, stdio's overhead can be noticeable. If you're reading and writing very large blocks of characters, it can be more efficient to go to the OS directly.

Besides the overhead of copying characters around, you also want to think about function call overhead. If you're processing data a character at a time, and if reading (or writing) a character involves calling a function which calls a function which calls a function, the function call overhead is going to add up and be noticeable. System call overhead is generally greater than function call overhead, so if you're writing and reading small chunks of characters directly to and from the operating system without using stdio or any other user-mode buffering, it can be much slower. (On the other hand, on modern systems, function call overhead and system call overhead are much less expensive than they used to be, so these factors don't matter so much, either.)

For the very highest I/O performance, you can use the Unix mmap() system call or something like it, to map an entire file into your program's address space using the processor's virtual memory hardware. This can really scream, although the advantage is not always as dramatic as it once was, because modern operating systems contrive to do something very much like mmap even when you thought you were doing traditional read- and write-based I/O.

Everything I've discussed so far pertains mostly to traditional C and Unix. If you're using C++, things are somewhat different. If you're using Windows, things may be very different -- I don't know anything about its I/O architecture.

But, as others have noted, much of this is academic, because a megabyte of data just isn't as much as it used to be. One thing hasn't changed, though, which is that if you want numerical answers as to what's fastest and by how much, you're eventually going to have to implement it both ways and see. (There are so many optimizations already going on automatically, beneath your control, that it's very difficult to predict.)

You may also find that the differences are not noticeable, after all. I once coded what I thought was a much faster version of a key function, and perhaps it was, but I had to run it inside of a loop, calling it 10,000 times, before the difference was large enough to actually be measurable. —Steve Summit (talk) 02:02, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Use the system calls, Luke. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.49.220.190 (talk) 08:30, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(Such as read() and write()). --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 09:52, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If he's reading 16 bytes at a time, those calls are almost certain to be a loss. —Steve Summit (talk) 13:14, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

! W O O O O O W ! What can I say... you ask a question and you get complete essays as replies! Thanks to you all. My current strategy is big internal buffer (500000*16 bytes) and I read directly from file/program that provides input/whatever with write() and read()PureRumble 20:17, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

Just a Captain Obvious remark really, but don't forget to set the -O2 optimisation flag when you compile. Does nothing for read/write optimisation, but helps the rest of the code. --h2g2bob 13:58, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Code alterations

How do I alter this code to either get rid of the lone box in the left hand corner? I am talking about the bottom tabs script for css. The "loner box is right under userpage or in this case project page. Here is the code:

/* bottom tab styling (not for IE currently) */
#mytabs {
    margin: -0.3em 0 0  11.5em;
    white-space:nowrap;
    line-height: 1.1em;
    overflow: visible;
    border-collapse: collapse;
    padding: 0 0 0 1em;
    list-style: none;
    font-size: 95%;
}
#mytabs .hiddenStructure { display: none; }
#mytabs li {
    display: inline;
    border: 1px solid #aaaaaa;
    border-top:none ;
    padding: 0.1em 0 0 0;
    margin: 0 0.3em 0 0;
    overflow: visible;
    background: White;
}
#mytabs li.selected {
    border-color: #fabd23;
    padding: 0.2em 0 0 0;
}
#mytabs li a {
    background-color: White;
    color: #002bb8;
    border: none;
    padding: 0.3em 0.8em 0 0.8em;
    text-decoration: none;
    text-transform: lowercase;
    position: relative;
    margin: 0;
}
#mytabs li.selected a { z-index: 3; }
#mytabs .new a { color:#ba0000; }
#mytabs li a:hover {
    z-index: 3;
    text-decoration: none;
}
#mytabs h5 { display: none; }
#mytabs li.istalk { margin-right: 0; }
#mytabs li.istalk a { padding-right: 0.5em; }
#mytabs-ca-addsection a { 
    padding-left: 0.4em;
    padding-right: 0.4em;
}
/* offsets to distinguish the tab groups */
li#mytabs-ca-talk { margin-right: 1.6em; }
li#mytabs-ca-watch, li#mytabs-ca-unwatch, li#mytabs-ca-varlang-0, li#mytabs-ca-print { margin-left: 1.6em; }


/* remove comment tags if bottom tabs should be rounded as well in moz */
/* #mytabs li, #mytabs li a { 
  -moz-border-radius-bottomleft: 1em;
  -moz-border-radius-bottomright: 1em;
}*/

It is really quite odd I ve tried a lot of stuff to it but it will not change. Any one with bottom tabs please help. For quick reference see: user:Darkest Hour/monobook.js and User:Darkest Hour/monobook.css. Thanks in advance, --Darkest Hour 23:01, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also is it possible to add the extra tabs that you get with the addtabs.js and the dropdown.css(antivandal tools)?

Okay I now am using the IE version. I also know the code that is creating the issue is:

#mytabs { 
  width: 100%;
  position: static;
    margin-left: 14em;
    white-space:nowrap;
    line-height: 1.2em;
    overflow: hidden;
    border-collapse: collapse;
    list-style: none;
    font-size: 95%;
}

I am now testing it on the other version to see if I can remove it. --Darkest Hour 23:40, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

:* Nope can someone use the Ie version and get rid of the lines? --Darkest Hour 23:46, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

email address book

Hi, I use Mozilla Thunderbird for my email. The problem is I recently had some sort of a catastrophic failure in my computer an I can no longer access that program on my computer. In order to fix the problem I will probably have to reinstall Windows, which in the past has always wiped my address book (very bad!!!!!) My question is, where is the information in an email address book stored? Also is there some way (via the internet maybe?) to log into my email account and retrieve all my previous messages and addresses before I reinstall Windows. Thank you! S.dedalus 23:29, 12 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Mozilla programs typically store your information in a "Profile", which is (with modern versions of Windows) probably in your "documents and settings" directory's "Application Data" subdirectory. Look for "Mozilla" or "Thunderbird", and copy the directory for your profile. You should then be able to overwrite the default profile created when you (re)install Thunderbird with your old data, and have everything the way it was. --Tardis 16:23, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Speed utility

Hi, I was wondering, does anyone know of any utility program that allows to directly modify the speed at which an application runs? By that I mean, lets it run faster/slower than it is normally intended to, and that works on Windows Vista. I've seen a few of these applications around, but all of the ones I can find aren't compatible with Vista. Any help? Thanks.

Do you mean Overclocking? If not, can I have a link to another such program, just to see what you mean? ST47Talk 00:23, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This guy has a lot of info on this, geared towards slowing down games. Droud 00:27, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the info, but I was looking for something specifically about speeding up applications, maybe I should've elaborated. Note that this has nothing to do with overclocking/performance, any sort of hardware limitations, I'm just trying to find a program that lets you run an application faster than normally intended.

What kinds of applications are you thinking of? Unless they contain explicit internal delays which normally slow them down but which might (somehow) be bypassed, there's no magic way to make code run faster, except by running it on a faster processor.

Thank you, this is exactly what I was looking for, "internal delay", thanks for the term. A program that is coded to run constantly at a specific speed, and what I'm trying to do is modify this speed. So, does anyone know of such a program?

You might be able to successfully fool such a program with a piece of software that manipulates the system timer, setting it 1 millisecond ahead every half millisecond. I've never seen nor heard of such a program. Droud 02:47, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Does anyone know of the existence of such a thing? I would make something of the sort myself, but I'm not much of a programmer. Any help would be appreciated...

I found a resource on MSDN for you. Droud 04:02, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(If you're on a multitasking machine, you can make one program run faster by running fewer other programs in parallel with it, or by giving it a higher scheduling priority, but I don't think you're talking about that, either.) —Steve Summit (talk) 02:18, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe SpeedGear (Google it) satisfies your needs. --Taraborn 17:42, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I tested this application and it didn't seem to work on Windows Vista, unfortunately...or maybe that was just the program in question. Maybe there is no solution.

Update: I got such an application working, but unfortunately, all it could achieve was to slow down the program, I'm assuming it must have some sort of anti-speed up mechanism built in...ways around this?

February 13

Why is Vista Protected Media Path needed if HD-DVD players are allowed in XP?

The Bluray and HD-DVD versions of PowerDVD and WinDVD are both compatible with Windows XP SP2, providing a suitable (eg. HDCP) video card and monitor are used. Microsoft's arguments in favour of Protected Media Path and related technologies ([24]) suggest that without it, users would be unable to play these new HD formats. But if XP can play them anyway, why do Vista users need PMP? -84.69.45.120 02:33, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Digital output in PowerDVD is limited to HDCP enabled displays. Playing the content back on an analog monitor also results in lowered resolution, much like Vista. Droud 02:55, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

But what is Vista's highly elaborate protection system for if XP can already provide a level of protection which is satisfactory to HD publishers? -84.69.45.120 03:36, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It is for nil, basically just another anti-consumer feature of Vista that is getting overblown media exposure. Droud 03:50, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

PHP exec() and rhythmbox-client?

I have made this little script that gets song info from Last.fm and put it into an image as a mini-challenge. You can see it here if you want. Now as it is running off my computer I want to use the output from rhythmbox-clinet --print-playing using the exec() function. But, as PHP is not running as myself, it will not return the song I'm currently listening. Is there any way around it other than making a bash script that's on the crontab and gets the song info and writes to a file, which php reads? Also does any media player under Linux uses MySQL to store things other than Amarok? SQL approach would be a much more elegant way to this problem. --antilived^{T | C | G} 06:21, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sudo will do what you want. --TotoBaggins 14:59, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No, I want to get the info from my user, who is not root. And plus, it would be a huge security risk to do that along with plain text passwords. --antilived^{T | C | G} 18:59, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sudo can make processes run under any UID, not just root, you just have to configure /etc/sudoers properly. Check and make sure rythmbox doesn't have a facility to do what you want before you go the sudo route. Diletante 20:01, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yea that's a very bad route as it will expose my accounta and my password if anyone got the php code itself. Ah well I will try figure out another way. --antilived^{T | C | G} 02:51, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

XFS annoying "feature"

I use XFS as my main file system and (luckily) use JFS to store my data. An annoying/more-than-annoying feature of XFS is that it fills open files with zeros when the computer crashes (SGI says it's for security reasons). But yesterday, my computer crashed for no apparent reason and several files got blanked out including my Beryl plugins (yes, the actual plugins themselves), and some parts of dpkg. How can I turn off this feature without hacking the code? --wj32 ^{talk | contribs} 07:05, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

AFAIK, there isn't a way. It's a known problem with XFS, and the reason many people don't use it. --cesarb 15:05, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What comes after wikis?

I started editing on Wikipedia in the spring of 2006. I had been using Wikipedia for reference for some time before that, but I had little awareness of the general usefulness of wikis as a tool for collaborative editing. The more I learned about Wikipedia, the more impressed I became. Then I read the Wiki article and was shocked to learn that wikis have been around since 1995, about when I learned some HTML and began editing Web pages the "traditional" way. I worked all that time at technology companies, participated heavily on Usenet, and thought I was somewhat technologically aware, and yet neither I nor any of the computer geeks I knew were doing anything with wikis. Now I feel like in some ways I squandered about a decade in which I sub-optimally used other tools such as e-mail to handle jobs that wikis handle much better. Apparently, it took the phenomenon of Wikipedia breaking the million-article mark and showing up in every other Google search to get my attention enough to let me figure out some of what wikis are useful for. So that raises the obvious question: what else am I missing? Right now, some computer nerd somewhere is probably writing the next great software concept that will change my life in ten years. What will that software be? I invite the Wikipedia Reference Desk editors to nominate their favorite candidates for the mind-blowing software that comes after wikis. --Teratornis 08:36, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I remember using TWiki around 2000 when it first came out, but I didn't find it that great till Wikipedia came along, and now I see the light. As for what other software that'll be popular in 10 years.... That's really a long time to predict for a fairly fast moving technology. I like the idea of TOR, for example. I expect more BitTorrent/parallel processing type deal going on, where people share their unused resources to others. I can see that happening even more now that I think about it, because the industry is pushing for Dual Core and Quad Core, making multi-processor code more in demand, so why stop at one PC when you have the internet? I expect a boom in software to monitor (if not control) all electronics in your house too. Other than those, I can't think of anything. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 09:49, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I could see BitTorrent getting much bigger, but that sounds like more of an infrastructural improvement rather than a change in how people work. Using bandwidth more efficiently has the same effect as making the Internet faster, but you're still doing the same things. A provider sends out just one copy of a video file instead of a bazillion copies, but it's still the same kind of video they would have made one way or another. Wikis are different than most software in that they change how you think about solving problems with computers. After we have seen the astounding working example in Wikipedia, we realize that basically the solution to just about everything, or a large component of the solution, is to build a wiki for it, to collect all the bits that everybody knows about a subject and edit them all together into something better than anyone (usually) comes up with individually. For years we heard the advice in business for managers to listen to their employees and encourage everyone to contribute their productivity-improving ideas, but there was no efficient mechanism for suggesting ideas, and incorporating the good ones into the collective know-how. Other than by using the ancient method of speaking out loud and then relying on personal memory. Wikis are great, but they require vast amounts of labor to be any good. People still have to know how to write, and quality writing is a rare skill. Wikipedia attracts enough good writers by selecting them from the whole world; what about a small corporate wiki that only a limited pool of employees edit? How will its articles get up to anything like featured article status? Maybe a next huge software advance would involve breakthroughs in Computational linguistics that would enable computers to take the garbled gibbering of the average person and transform it into brilliant prose (formulating and asking cogent questions as necessary to resolve ambiguities and fill gaps). Maybe the next great software will be able to read questions exactly like the one I'm asking here, and give answers as good as any human. Although I don't expect to see that in just ten years. --Teratornis 22:16, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think we'll see real-time wikis, where you can see everyone's edits as they type them. At least, I'd like to see this, since it would get rid of editing conflicts. Droud 13:39, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Of course, the next generation will drop all the "wiki code" and mimic MS Word. So, you will easily be able to tell the old-school guys who type in text and the newbies who add a flowery background, extra-large red fonts, framed signature block, background music... Then, wikis will dies a slow painful death as the content is steadily replaced with garbage. Basically, it is just like the web before Frontpage and after Frontpage. You had a few good web pages, then you suddenly had millions of nearly identical crap pages. --Kainaw ^(talk) 13:51, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think the main responsible for that is PHP-Nuke instead of Frontpage. --Taraborn 17:41, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Multiprocess programming book/source of information

Does anyone know a good book about how to make "programs that interact with other programs" in MS Windows? That would include multiprocessing programming, API functions (SendMessage and so), getting useful handles and other tips and tricks. I couldn't find a suitable one. Thanks ;) --Taraborn 09:21, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Edit: Visual C++ --Taraborn 17:39, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You can use mutexes and shared memory to accomplish this. Shared memory will perform much better than SendMessage(). Please provide the language you're writing in so we can find relevant examples. Droud 13:34, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Excel Problem - Please help (solved)

I have numbers in B8 to B10. Now I want to multiply each cell by 20%. And I want each result to go in C8 to C10. How do I do that? --Parker007 10:29, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In C8, type =B8 * 120% and press Enter. Then, there should be a little black square in the bottom-right hand corner of the active cell, which should be C8. Drag this down until you get to C10. Hope this helps. Harryboyles 10:34, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wow, thank you very much. It works :) --Parker007 10:40, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Missing export Kernel Strider2

I am trying to use a 1GB Flash Drive,It seemed to have loaded ok,When I tried to use it I got..."The ACE.EXE File is Linked to Missing export Kernel 32.DLL:Get VolumeNameForVolumeMountPointW." And..."F:\ACE\ACE.exe A device attached to the system is not functioning " How do I find the device that is not functioning,so I can figure out how to fix it?Is It the Missing export Kernel?If it is than how do I fix it? I don't want to buy some program if I don't have to.I'm not a "Wiz" on the computer but I'm trying.Any suggestions would be appreciated Thank You Strider2

Do sign your posts with ~~~~. It sounds like kernel32.dll is corrupt, if running 2000/XP, can you do "sfc /scannow"? Splintercellguy 16:29, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

IPod chaos

Can anyone tell me how to change the names of things saved on my ipod, preferably without deleting them and putting them back on. Whenever I plug my ipod in Itunes opens, but it is empty and there doesn't seem to be any way of moving things into it, probably because my computer is rubbish. (Of course it is, it's a computer.) So everyhing on my ipod comes from a different computer, and therefore isn't on my computer anywhere. There doesn't seem to be any way into my ipod files through the computer. What do I do?172.209.3.10 16:41, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have tried searching my computer for the files on my ipod, but part of the3 way through the search is says internet explorer is broken and has to close, and then my computer stops working until I turn it off and back on again. My ipod is apparently in the F:, but this just has a few empty folders in. I have tried everything I can think of in itunes, and nothing does anything. It says I need to go on their website to download itunes7, but when I do it says Thank you for downloading itunes7, but it still isn't on my computer anywhere, and still says I need to download it.172.209.3.10 16:41, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The music folders on yor iPod are hidden, there is an option in Windows somewhere to make them visible. Then you'll be able to see them but they'll all be in random order, something to do with DRM or something. If they're in MP3, you should be able to open each one individually with Media Player and then change the song names there, don't know about AAC or M4A though. Hope that helps

Mix Lord 02:02, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That doesn't actually help much, as I don't know how to make them visible:(

Compounded round-off error

I can't remember what the technical term is for rounding-off rountines that compounds and becomes large errors. Like, if we have a number that has to be multiplied a bunch of times and it is rounded off each time, making very small errors quite large. What is the term, and just as important, do we have an article on it? Oskar 16:24, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure of the term, but you might want to see: Round-off error, Rounding, and Guard digit. Also somewhat related are: Accuracy and precision and Significance arithmetic.

Atlant 17:53, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds maybe like Propagation of uncertainty might help a little (part of accuracy and precision). --Bennybp 18:43, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

blink in ie

Does IE7 support text-decoration: blink; ?86.41.130.243 16:40, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No. Mishatx *разговор* 16:47, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think <blink>this</blink> works. But not in wikipedia --⁪froth^T 17:39, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

transistor speed changes over decades

I'm aware that many of the improvements in computer speed come from improvements to the design of the processor.. I was wondering what increase in performance is due to increases in transistor response times? As a simple example if an old processor such as a Z80 or 6502 was made today using the same circuit diagram but with modern manufacturing methods and at a modern size eg 90 or 65nm, how 'fast' could it be made to go - what clock speed?87.102.66.142 18:03, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What makes transistors faster? In a nutshell, miniaturization. Smaller transistors generally have to move less charge around to change modes. Similarly, smaller transistors generally have smaller parasitics (which are related to my first statement). If you're interested in how faster transistors facilitate faster microprocessors, there are several factors. Faster transistors help decrease latencies, allowing for faster signal propagation and thereby allow a smaller clock period for clocked logic (though it should be noted that interconnects--wires--are often just as significant a source of propagation delay as transistors). Smaller transistors allow higher device density, allowing more logic to go into a single die. The Intel 4004 had about 2300 transistors on 13 mm^2, while a modern Itanium2 microprocessor has around 1.7 billion transistors on a few hundred square millimeters. More logic usually means more capabilities (or in the latter case, much more superscalar cache). Shrinking transistors also may help reduce power density (heat dissipation), which is often a limiting factor in design (though this is a far more complicated issue than I'm making it out to be). -- mattb @ 2007-02-14T01:15Z

P.S. - Answering your question regarding how a 6502 would perform manufactured with modern methods isn't really possible without looking at a schematic or layout and having some hard numbers about typical device delays on a given process. -- mattb @ 2007-02-14T01:26Z

ok I was really hoping that someone would know the typical or best response time 20years ago, and the figure today.83.100.158.13 09:00, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try digging around in old ITRS reports and compare the gate delay product CV/I. That gives you a good idea of how much delay is introduced by a typical loaded transistor in a VLSI design for a particular generation. If memory serves, the gate delay product on modern CMOS processes is a handful of picoseconds. -- mattb @ 2007-02-14T15:14Z

Hardware:About USB problem!

Hello! First of all, I just wanted to say that you people are doing great. Keep up the good work. Now my problem is that, i have a Kingsten 256MB USB. I bought it a year ago, it was working perfectly fine until last sunday. Now, da problem is that, it is getting connected to Windows, i mean tht when i plug it in, Windows does recognize and tells that the hardware has been installed and ready to use, but thts it. It does not open. its even shown in hardware list. When, i checked its properties, it said that device is working fine, but it deos not show any memory size. it just tells 0bytes and it should tell 256MB. i tried to format it, but tht was of not help and there was was some, it said tht the device cant be accessed. Now,please help me. OS is WinXp SP2, system is PIII.

Thanks alot !!!!!!!

You will have to go through the usual troubleshooting. First, try the stick on another computer. If you can, try a different usb stick on your computer. Then you know if it is the computer or the usb. After that, call back. :) --Zeizmic 20:53, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Minor

/* Transform the user toolbar into a sidebox */
#p-personal {
    position:relative;
    z-index:3;
    width: 11.6em;
}

#p-personal .pBody {
    width: 10.7em;
    border: none;
    margin: 0 0 0.1em 0em;
    float: none;
    overflow: hidden;
    font-size: 95%;
    background: White;
    border-collapse: collapse;
    border: 1px solid #aaaaaa;
    padding: 0 0.8em 0.3em .5em;
}

#p-personal ul {
    line-height: 1.5em;
    list-style-type: square;
    list-style-image: url("/style/monobook/bullet.gif");

    font-size:95%;
    margin: 0 0 0 1.5em;
    padding:0;
    text-align:left;
    text-transform: none;
}

#p-personal li {
    display: list-item;
    padding:0;
    margin: 0 0 0 0;
    margin-bottom: 0.1em;
}

/* suppress the person icon by your username */
/* needed if not already in place */
li#pt-userpage { background: none }

Can there be a description like "personal tools" above the box? Drop this int monobook.css to see what I mean. Its pretty cool.

Darkest Hour 20:02, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Python packages with cross-dependencies (python 2.4)

I have a little roadblock trying to get cross-dependencies working in a python package where one submodule is trying to import from another. The docs seem a little unclear as to whether this is allowed or not. All the relevant directories have blank __init__.py files.

Assume the following package structure (just a rough sketch):

   MyTest/
       individual/
           human.py
               class person:
                  ...
               class employee(person):
                  ...
               class athlete(person):
                  ...
           animal.py
               ...
       group/
           team.py
               class hockey_team:
                   members = [athlete(),athlete(),athlete(),]
               class bball_team:
                   members = [athlete(),athlete(),athlete(),]
           business.py
               class sales_dept:
                   members = [employee(),employee(),]
               class hr_dept:
                   members = [employee(),employee(),]

1) what is the "import" syntax used to incorporate 'athlete' and 'employee' into 'team' and 'business'? Inserting "import MyTest.individual.human.athlete as athlete" does not seem to work.

2) what is the equivalent __import__() syntax to do the above? [assuming you can't do

from foo __import__('bar')

]

3) when the package is called from a caller script in some arbitrary location, how do I ensure that the cross-dependency doesn't break due to file location of calling script or name conflicts from other modules used in the calling script?

The rest of the code works fine, the problem arises when trying to link the cross-dependencies. Any tips, pointers or tutorial links dealing with this much appreciated. NoClutter 20:24, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What is cwrite in c and how do I get it?

Hi!

I found some info about this function cwrite in c. It is supposed to have a huge output-rate. But I can't find any more info about it on the net. Damn google doesnt accept the "("- and ")"-marks. Any help, please? PureRumble 20:35, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

It's not standard C, so you might be referring to any random implementation of it. Google Code Search might be helpful, if it's from an open source project. Try here: [25] --TotoBaggins 21:51, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It does not seem to be a standard function, so it probably will not help you. A quick Google search shows me it seems to be from the Intel Paragon, and used in systems such as the ASCI Red. See [26] for instance. --cesarb 21:52, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That page says: Other than the return values and an additional error, the cwrite() and cwritev() functions are identical to the OSF/1 write() and writev() functions, respectively., so maybe the huge output rate is due to running it on ASCI Red. :) --TotoBaggins 22:18, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(Just looked up the article about ASCI Red) ...... Toto, that is a good point. That is a very very good point! Thanks for quick reps all of you! PureRumble 22:23, 13 February 2007 (UTC) I want my program to write a bunch of data out on standard output as fast as possible. Currently, I'm using an internal buffer of my own (chars array 100000*16 bytes), and I'm writing the data to standard output with write(). How can I do this even faster? Can reading be done any faster? I'm using read(). ThanksPureRumble 22:23, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

You should just write it in the simplest way possible. It will probably be fast enough, and if it's not, you can look at where it's spending the time and address that. read() and write() are unlikely to be the source of the problem. --TotoBaggins 04:00, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Vista vs XP??

I bought a new Dell PC last September and am very happy with it. I am not an expert IT user but now I am retired I enjoy digital photography with my family and I also enjoy generally browsing the Web with AOL 9 Broadband, especially Wikipedia. I use a Microsoft Office suite for typing correspondence and Excel for home finances etc. I send and receive loads of e-mails around the world to keep in touch with far flung family and friends - but apart from this minimalistic use, I do not play games or download music etc.

My question is, as a contented XP user, should I really consider upgrading to Vista at this time? I accept that if I don't accept before end March, the Free Upgrade will expire and I will have to pay for it at some future juncture when I will be more content that the glitches have been ironed out (if any). So if I do nothing now, for how long will XP still be viable?

Thanks. CasualWikiUser 20:58, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

XP will still be a viable OS for a long, long time. It suits all your basic needs, and you seem perfectly content with your system (although I should say, even though I haven't tried it, I hear Vista has stellar ways to deal with digital media, so it might handle your photos better). There is no urgent need to update, and you shouldn't feel obliged to do so.

However, if your system can handle Vista, and especially the Aero Glass system (Aero is a system for providing really nice user interfaces, check article for details), there is no good reason not to update. If you are unsure about your system and whether it can handle Vista, see Microsofts Vista Upgrade Advisor. Vista will provide you with a better user experience, as will Office 2007. It is a good idea to wait to let the OS "age" a little, but everything will probably work just fine if you install it now. Also, it's going to happen sooner or later, Vista will pretty much be standard in a year or two. It's your call, really. If I were in you shoes I would probably wait for my next computer, but that is just me :) Oskar 21:19, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You should read through Features new to Windows Vista, and see if there's anything you really want. If there isn't, there's no need to upgrade. My impression is that Vista is not a huge improvement, but it really depends on what features are important to you. --TotoBaggins 22:21, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I would recommend against an upgrade. This might be just my opinion, but for anyone not looking for real-hardcore office stuff or gaming (DX10), Vista isn't anything beyond a visual upgrade for XP. Also a slight offtopic: AOL is a mess of a company, and you may want to move away from using them. If it works for you, that's cool, but AOL has a very nasty habit of overbilling, having poor customer service, and offering unnecessary bloaty spyware/adware-like programs, sometimes going so far as to install them without your consent. However, my opinion is: stick with XP! It works, it's stable, everything runs on it, and you won't run into any "why is this running so slow!?!" issues. Edit: Also, for the viability question - old operating systems are usually supported for a long time for most programs, sometimes as long as five or six years past the release of a new version. Like I said, if you're e-mailing and doing photography, you won't need to worry about anything but upgrading your browser and maybe camera drivers, which often stretch all the way back to supporting operating systems like Windows 98! --Wooty Woot? contribs 00:55, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have an even better solution: Use Linux with Compiz/Beryl. Linux is not as hard as it sounds or looks like and by doing that you get a faster computer with even more eyecandies. I use Ubuntu + Beryl (instructions here and will not upgrade to vista unless games starts to require DX10. --antilived^{T | C | G} 03:00, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Printing Problem

How do I print out a page on tigerwoods.com? 68.193.147.179 20:59, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I just opened up that site and clicked on Gallery and printed that page succesfully by clicking once on my Print Icon. CasualWikiUser 21:04, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I want to print out, "TIGER WOODS CHRONOLOGY" but it only shows a picture of the first page. 68.193.147.179 23:19, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

iPod Vs. USB flash drive

Something I learned recently has left me puzzled. A 64 gigabyte USB flash drive costs about $4999.99 [27]. An 80 gigabyte iPod, which is only slightly larger and is able to store files (and do much more than a USB flash drive), only costs $349 [28]. Where does this price discrepancy come from?--the ninth bright shiner ^talk 23:53, 13 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Probably from the fact that the iPod doesn't use flash memory. It has a (very small) hard disk drive instead (OK, some versions of iPod use flash, but they have a lot less than 80 gigabytes). --cesarb 00:20, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting...so what makes flash memory more expensive than hard drives?--the ninth bright shiner ^talk 00:36, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The above is correct, 64GB is on the bleeding edge as far as flash drives are concerned, at the same time 80GB is not much anymore for a hard disk. You always pay a heavy premium for the latest technology and you can't hang a 80GB iPod off your keychain;) Another example is with processors, the slowest processor may only be 20% cheaper then the one above it while the fastest can be almost twice as expensive as the one beneath it, even though the difference between both is only 0.2Ghz. As to what makes it more expensive, take your pick, i think mainly it's just harder to make. The memory in hard disks are magnetic platters, the memory in flash drives is in integrated circuits which are a lot more complex then magnetic platters.Vespine 00:45, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I see! Thanks for the info, it all makes sense now!--the ninth bright shiner ^talk 00:51, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

And hard drives have moving parts, which means it has a pretty good chance of failing, especially with lots of movement inside pants pockets. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 02:07, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

ETOX flash memory has a well-known failure mechanism as well. I think typical flash cells have an expected life of around 10 k - 100 k erase/write cycles. -- mattb @ 2007-02-14T06:57Z

February 14

Strange sound from cpu

Hi everybody..I have a problem.Well its not a problem but maybe a bug.I have windows XP and windows 2000.I have a 915 mercury motherboard with pentium 2.66Ghz and 256MB ram. Whenever I boot windows 2000, I hear a strange sound inside my cpu(NOT SURE WHERE ITS FROM).This sound only exists until logon screen.This problem doesn't persist in windows XP.I suspect it's my harddisk.Please help out guys..Thanks in advance

in the world wide different web sites which position wikipedia web

Can you describe the sound? Droud 13:47, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If you feel happy to do so, try opening your computer case to hear where the sound comes from. This may void your warranty, if you still have one. I'd guess it's a fan, a hard drive or a CD drive. --h2g2bob 14:13, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Regional locking

Can a Computer DVD or CD be regionally locked?--Honeymane_{Heghlu meH QaQ jajvam} 13:59, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, but it doesn't matter. The DVD encryption has been broken for ages. VLC supports playing of DVDs on Linux in this way, so can play any region DVDs. --h2g2bob 14:18, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

new Windows Vista typefaces... Calibri?

Can I legally download and use Calibri (font) on my Win2k or WinXP from somewhere, or do I have to actually purchase Vista or Office Vista if I only want to use the new font?--Sonjaaa 15:01, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]