Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2011 March 30

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March 30

Core Duo processor

Some programs and operating systems say they will only work on a Intel Core 2 or newer. My laptop uses a Core Duo processor. Can it handle these programs? Is there a diagram of the full line of Intel processors? --T H F S W (T · C · E) 01:31, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Despite similar names, a Core Duo is a much older and "weaker" type of CPU than a Core 2. It also lacks certain critical architecture features. If the software specification is correct, and does actually require the Core 2, then the Core Duo will not do the trick. Core 2 includes SSE4 and supports the x86_64 instruction set, and some software might require these features - in other words, will not run or will crash if you use a Core Duo. Other software may simply be suggesting the Core 2 for its higher performance; a Core Duo may under-perform and adversely affect your experience, but will still run the software. (We can't know which is the case without more specific details from you). We do have a comprehensive listing of all Intel microprocessors, and we have an entire list of lists of Intel topics and CPU types. Read the Intel Core 2 article; and don't let the confusing Intel brand-names get to you: Core Duo and Core 2 are not the same at all. Nimur (talk) 04:58, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Computes reset during boot.

When I try to start my computer, the computer reset before it enters on windows, it happens on safe mode too. The computer reset and then start to boot again, just to boot again. Happens in the windows xp logo loading bar, before it and even if I choose safe mode. But it doenst happens while on boot setup (making the test right now, 5 minutes on boot setup without a reset).

What can be the problem? 201.78.136.48 (talk) 01:43, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Sounds like it might be the operating system. If so, you need to find some way to boot from another device. Does it have dual-boot partitions ? If so, try the other one. If not, then you're down to booting from the CD/DVD drive, or USB pen drive (if boot from there is supported), or even a floppy disk. Of course, you will need a boot disk or pen drive to do this. Once you're able to get it to boot, then you'll have the opportunity to fix your original boot partition. Of course, all of this is quite complex, so a computer geek or repair shop might be in order. StuRat (talk) 05:15, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Try using a Live CD. If that works, then you know it is not a hardware fault. I had a similar problem (using WinXP), except it would boot in safe mode, and I eventually found it was due to a defective driver. When the driver was deactivated, it booted up OK. 92.15.1.33 (talk) 15:48, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Going on vacation, need gmail autonotification

Is there a setting where gmail will automatically tell people that e-mail me that I'll be on leave for 13 days?--Lenticel ^(talk) 06:25, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

"Settings" (top right next to your gmail address) then on the "General" tab you'll find the "Out of office autoreply" settings near the bottom of the page. Roger (talk) 07:12, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Yup found it, thanks  :) --Lenticel ^(talk) 07:15, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Be a bit careful with these. They might be read as "I'll be away from my house for the next week or so, and so anyone wishing to break in can do so without my being there".--Phil Holmes (talk) 07:56, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Well, only if you have local burglars listed among your contacts. But do remember to check the box that says "Only send a response to people in my Contacts" otherwise all the spam (and all the other out-of-office autoreplies) gets your message too.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 09:18, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

You also want to be careful if you have signed up for any email discussion lists. You can annoy a lot of people really quickly if every post to the list is followed by a "Sorry, I'm out of the office ..." response from you. (Probably the best way to handle that is to remove any mailing list posting addresses from Contacts and tick the setting Shantavira mentioned.) -- 140.142.20.229 (talk) 16:16, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

What if I send you a message, after you set autoreply, and set the autoreply myself? Will be messages be bouncing to and fro until we come back from vacation? 212.169.177.145 (talk) 19:15, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

I think auto replies only get sent once to each contact. I think there are other "processes" in place to prevent out of control nested looping situations like that. Vespine (talk) 00:52, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

The Vaction responder setting in Gmail says "If a contact sends you several messages, this automated reply will be sent at most once every 4 days." I assume other e-mail clients do something similar. --Bavi H (talk) 00:51, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

There exists an email header keyword, Auto-Submitted that indicates whether an email was automatically generated or not. Hopefully, vacation autoresponders will (a) set that header, and (b) not autorespond to something with that header set. Paul (Stansifer) 17:19, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

ms PICTURE IT

HELP!! I WILL BUY ANY PROGRAM THAT CAN OPEN/READ MY 50 CD'S OF PICTURES. THEY WERE MADE WITH MICROSOFT 'PICTURE IT, 1.0' FORMAT '.MIX'. Currently using win7. One idea, buy old computer with win95 and install PICTURE IT. Anything else? Thanks, Mike — Preceding unsigned comment added by DIVER0247 (talk • contribs) 17:32, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Apparently Microsoft Word will read them (you should be able to drag a whole CD-worth from Windows Explorer and drop them on a fresh Word document) and you "save as webpage" to get it to emit them as JPGs. -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 17:36, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

According to this, you can run Picture It on Windows 7 by settings Windows 98 compatibility mode in the file properties. They used Picture It 2001 (5.0), but it's worth a try with 1.0. You could also download a free PC emulator such as VirtualBox and run Windows 95 on that, instead of buying another machine. -- BenRG (talk) 17:54, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

And there's a lesson here: Don't put important things in a proprietary format or you can be held hostage by the owner of the format. StuRat (talk) 03:43, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

I know for sure that Picture It runs in XP without compatibility mode. If you really have to, you can dual-boot into XP or Win95 or even use a virtual to run Win95. No need, in this day and age, for another computer. Sandman30s (talk) 11:38, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006, which is free from Microsoft, is supposedly able to open .mix files and convert them into JPEG or PDF files. You might need to run it in Windows XP Mode, though. 118.96.163.209 (talk) 15:23, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Hi. Please avoid typing in ALL CAPS, as it is considered the online equivalent of shouting. Thank you. Rocketshiporion♫ 03:11, 4 April 2011 (UTC)

Wireless Sky TV

Is it possible to have a second sky TV box in a second room with sky any room, but to connect the second box wirelessly and with the capacity to change channel separately from the original one.

If it is possible, what exactly would I need to buy.

Lucas 83 19:08, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

I don't think there is any way to decode satellite signals through a wireless connection. In theory it should be possible, but in practice all the equipment I've seen needs a co-axial cable to the decoder (box) then the decoded signal can be sent wirelessly to a TV. I would suggest that your best option would be a quad LNB (£10) at your satellite dish, and run a twin co-axial cable to a second SKY box which is then completely independent of the first box. Do you need the subscription channels in the other room(s)? Dbfirs 21:42, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

I would need the subscription channels and unfortunately I thought that what you said was true that a cable from dish to second box would have to be run through. It's possible, just requires lots of upheaval in the flat. Cheers anyway. Lucas 83 23:19, 30 March 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lukerees83 (talk • contribs)

Sky's page on multiroom suggests they supply an additional Sky decoder box (and presumably a duplicate subscription card). If you were to combine that with Dbfirs' suggestion above - ie. fit a quad LNB on your dish and run another pair of coax cables from the quad LNB to the second box - you should then have the ability to watch (and record/pause) different things from that in the living room. Unfortunately, I don't know of a way to this wirelessly. The bigger problem though might be Sky's view on you changing your installation in this way (you are in effect creating two subscriptions for the price of one). Astronaut (talk) 06:01, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

Yes, safest to stay with Sky if you need their subscription channels. I think Sky regard the equipment as your property, but if you are relying on them for maintenance, then it is best not to make alterations. I've modified my own Sky installation, but only after I cancelled my contract with them. If you don't need more than two subscription channels at one time, then there are other options. You could purchase a wireless transmitter to relay a chosen channel from one room to another, and most such devices allow you to change channels from the other room. I've found these devices to be rather unreliable over time, but perhaps they have improved since I last used them. They can also interfere with wireless internet. Dbfirs 13:20, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

php

Resolved

I have the following php script which lists the files in a directory. How can I make it list in order of their modified date, newest first?

Extended content

<? $Directory = opendir("."); while($entryName = readdir($Directory)) { $dirArray[] = $entryName; } closedir($Directory); $indexCount = count($dirArray); sort($dirArray); print("<TABLE border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0 class=whitelinks>\n"); for($index=0; $index < $indexCount; $index++) { if (substr("$dirArray[$index]", 0, 1) != "."){ print("<TR><TD><a href=\"$dirArray[$index]\">$dirArray[$index]</a></td>"); print("</TR>\n"); } } print("</TABLE>\n"); ?>

I made a few modifications. Commenting included. The trick is to make an array of the file modification dates, then sort those in a way that keeps the original index associations, which are identical to the directory array indices. Then instead for a for/next loop, you use a foreach loop to iterate over the file modification array in the order it has been sorted in, but use that index to call the directory array. Hope that makes sense!

Extended content

<? $Directory = opendir("."); while($entryName = readdir($Directory)) { $dirArray[] = $entryName; $dirFilemod[] = filemtime($entryName); //make array of file mod times } closedir($Directory); $indexCount= count($dirArray); arsort($dirFilemod); //sort the file mod times in reverse order (newest first), but maintain their original keys print("<TABLE border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0 class=whitelinks>\n"); foreach($dirFilemod as $index=>$val) { //instead of using a for/next loop, use a foreach loop, running it over the file mod array in the sorted order if (substr("$dirArray[$index]", 0, 1) != "."){ print("<TR><TD><a href=\"$dirArray[$index]\">$dirArray[$index]</a></td>"); print("</TR>\n"); } } print("</TABLE>\n"); ?>

--Mr.98 (talk) 00:54, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

Thanks! 82.43.90.38 (talk) 11:56, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

Apple Keynote: "Reapply Master to Selection" if object has been deleted?

Hello,

I have another question on Keynote by Apple.

I know that I can make - for instances - Text Boxes in the Master Slide, and then choose Format->Define as Text Placeholder.

This way I automatically obtain a text box that I can move, change, resize, colour or even remove from one individual slide. I can also do "Reapply Master to Selection" if I want to go back to the default setting from the Master Slide.

But what I have simply removed that object? Is there any way I can "get it back"? Just copying it from another slide does not do the trick, it seems to lose any connection with the Text Box in the Master Slide.

Or am I missing something?

Many thanks, Evilbu (talk)

I don't think so. What I do in that situation is just copy the things I want, create a new slide, paste things back in. --Mr.98 (talk) 22:04, 30 March 2011 (UTC)