Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2008 December 5

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December 5

Firefox forcing re-enter of password

Using FireFox 3.0.4 on a Mac, whenever I go to change my enwiki preferences FireFox forces me to reenter my password (even when I'm logged in). For example, I can't change my skin without reentering my password; when I try to save the new skin, it tells me my password is too short. I have to go into the User Profile tab under the Change Password section, enter my password once and again for confirmation, click back to the skin tab, save, and only then are my preferences saved. (I do not actually change the password, just retype it). Any other FireFox users have this happen? It does not happen in Safari. Fletcher (talk) 00:00, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

This is a result of FireFox's password autocomplete feature, I believe. It enters your current password in the change password field, so mediawiki thinks you're trying to change to the empty password and gets annoyed. I've never had this problem myself since I don't use autocomplete. Algebraist 01:16, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

This seems to have helped. I did not want to turn off auto-complete; however, I logged out, logged in again and at Firefox's prompt, told it to never remember my password. This created an "exception" to the auto-complete feature. Hopefully the cookie will keep me logged in for 30 days at a time, even if Firefox doesn't remember the password. Thanks for your help, Algebraist. Fletcher (talk) 01:44, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

This happens me. Simply blank all the password fields that Firefox has filled in on your preferences and you're sorted. No need to make an autocomplete exception, since I for one use the autocomplete to speed up log in far more often than i change my preferences. Fribbler (talk) 21:52, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Youtube

I don't like Youtube's new look. How can I view Youtube in its original state? 60.230.180.175 (talk) 01:12, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

One of these maybe? Fletcher (talk) 01:50, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Don't be silly. Please give me a proper answer. I really want to see the original Youtube. It changed very recently and I don't like the change. Please help. 60.230.180.175 (talk) 02:12, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

This might end up being like the old-facebook thing... No one liked it at first, but after a month or two, everyone was OK with it. flaminglawyer^cneverforget 02:23, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

It's kind of a silly question as you can't control how they want their web site to look. But they do let you customize the home page a fair amount if you are logged in, apparently. Go to Add/Remove Modules and Customize Home Page. You can stop some components from showing and move them around a bit as you please. Fletcher (talk) 02:46, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

You might be able to find a userscript for Greasemonkey. I am not sure if any stable script would be up yet, since the changes are so recent ... Sorry, I wish I had better news. Kushal (talk) 02:56, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Please! I hate the new look! It's much more awkward to use with that new look! 60.230.180.175 (talk) 03:34, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Personally, I don't mind the new look. Just that I don't have a "widescreen" (for lack of a proper word in my mind) camera. Kushal (talk) 16:09, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

Complain to them! Not us! --98.217.8.46 (talk) 15:26, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

How do I install winxp

I bought a used IBM Think Center 3Ghz with no o/s.How do I install winxp ? I have the xp disk but the pc doesn't seem to boot up this way, I get a msg of no o/s. I have minimal knowledge of this,should a novice attempt this? Thanks in advance ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` —Preceding unsigned comment added by Oldskooloutlaw (talk • contribs) 02:25, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

(please don't put all those things, it's really annoying) Anyway, back on topic: check your BIOS (when the comp starts up, it should have options like "press F1 for setup"). Make sure the CD drive is the first on the list. Next, make sure your CD drive actually works, and that the CD isn't scratched up or anything. If none of these work, I suggest downloading a DSL Linux iso and burning it onto a disc, and seeing if that is able to boot. flaminglawyer^cneverforget 02:31, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Refrain from staining your pure machine with the vermin that is xp, choose a better OS! --Ouro (blah blah) 06:31, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Or take a look at Comparison of operating systems for a less biased view...! Booglamay (talk) - 12:50, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

When your computer boots, it will probably display a message that you need to press one of the function keys to boot from a CD, or chose boot device. Often, these messages are shown very briefly (like a fraction of a section, so you need to pay close attention). As flaminglawyer suggests, you can also try to modify the boot order in the bios. However, since you consider yourself a novice, I should add that modifying bios settings is one of the riskier things you can do on a PC. You need to write down what the settings were before you make a change, so that you can restore the original settings. The path from being a novice to being more knowledgeable goes through trying out stuff. Note that if your xp cd is an OEM version and has been used before, Microsoft will give you the genuine advantage of not being able to reuse it. --NorwegianBlue ^talk 11:18, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

In SNMPv3, what's the relation between contexts and views?

In SNMPv3's view-based access control model, there are the concepts of "context" and "view". Views are subsets of objects and object instances in a context. Contexts are also themselves subsets of objects and/or object instances. What's the motivation for basing access control decisions in terms of a context and then a view? Why not just define views directly as a subset of all managed objects (and/or object instances)? --173.49.9.141 (talk) 03:19, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

asm/semaphore.h

In the newer Linux kernels, asm/semaphore.h was removed. Many programs require this library. I know that I can simply use an older kernel to build programs, but when I'm building a module, I need to use the current kernel. Is there any online resource to aid in updating code that still uses asm/semaphore.h? I can see that the library moved to linux/semaphore.h. What functions changed? What structs changed? I'd like to have a list that says "search and replace the following to create buildable code". -- kainaw™ 03:54, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

I noticed that when I was building OpenAFS packages. I just wrote a patch that changed all instances of asm/semaphore.h to linux/semaphore.h. There's probably a better way but I was in a hurry. -- JSBillings 22:59, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Is a MacBook Air better than a MacBook Pro?

If I'm considering a Mac laptop, would a MacBook Air be a better choice? Does the fact that it's super thin make it less reliable than a Pro? --Crackthewhip775 (talk) 05:09, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

I don't know that a lot of reliability data exists yet. The Air is thin- if thin is very important to you, it's a good choice. Otherwise, it's less machine for the money. Friday (talk) 05:12, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

There is no 'better' in an absolute sense. Their specs are different, with the Macbook Pro having quite a bit more power (and firewire, an expresscard slot, and an optical drive), and the Air being lighter/thinner. There are also more competitively priced alternatives to the Air from other computer manufacturers. Which is 'better' depends on what exactly you're looking for. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 05:14, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

If portability is your main concern, then the Air is "better". If having more features and greater power is a priority, then the MBP is better. --70.167.58.6 (talk) 06:17, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

If you want an out-and-out opinion from someone who owns Mac products, I'd say, go with the MacBook Pro unless you absolutely need something as ridiculously lightweight as an Air. The regular MacBooks are not all that heavy, and have way better features than the Air. I don't know if the size of the Air makes it less reliable but I wouldn't be surprised if it was more susceptible to damage and problems incurred from being shlepped around all the time. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 15:25, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

The RapidShare servers

What are these RapidShare servers?

Advanced download settings Download via:

• Cogent
• Deutsche Telekom
• GlobalCrossing
• GlobalCrossing #2
• Level(3)
• Level(3) #2
• Level(3) #3
• Level(3) #4
• Teleglobe
• Teleglobe #2
• TeliaSonera
• TeliaSonera #2

Are they server-hosting companies? -- Toytoy (talk) 09:42, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Level 3, Cogent, Deutsche Telekom, Global Crossing, Teleglobe, and TeliaSonera. Level 3 and Global Crossing are classic tier 1 networks, Cogent, TeliaSonera, and Teleglobe are listed as transit free networks in that same article and Deutsche Telekom is listed as a tier 2 network. The labeling has to do with what kind of agreements they have with other networks they connect to. But basically they are (some of) the major companies with provide the networks that make up the internet.--droptone (talk) 12:37, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

MSN Live Messenger

hey guys I had a simple doubt, I dot know if this is possible or not, but I heard its possible to tell which contacts are appearing offline in msn live messenger using some softwares or so. Something to do with the status called idle or something, not very sure, but is it possible to tell anyways if one of my contacts is appearing offline by any chance? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.117.188.90 (talk) 09:56, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

There is no point. You can send them messages whether they appear offline or are actually offline or not. They are appearing offline for a reason. It is a total PITA to be getting loads of messages off people when you are working on something. Some people (like me) login to MSN only to speak to people who can help with their current work, and getting chit-chat messages every five seconds in text-speak can seriously annoy someone who is on a serious project.--KageTora - the RefDesker formerly known as ChokinBako (talk) 19:07, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Picture upload

Where is a free site where one can upload one's photos so that the public at large can access them by clicking on a link, but where it is impossible to download the picture? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.116.175.119 (talk) 16:30, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Nowhere. If you publish something on the internet, it can and will be accessible to anybody with the right tools. Some types of content may be harder to get than others, but pictures are dead simple. --LarryMac | Talk 16:59, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

You could embed them in Flash files. That would not entirely prevent them from either deconstructing the swf or taking a screenshot, but it certainly will stop all but the most motivated.--droptone (talk) 17:16, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

(After edit conflict)

What you want is impossible. Even if you did something complicated like encapsulated the image in a flash file or java program it would still be possible to get it out with the right tools, and lacking the right tools anyone can simply press the "PRNT SCRN" button on their keyboard to copy/paste the entire contents of the screen into MS Paint. APL (talk) 17:18, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

The images on Orkut also are not "downloadable" but can be screen captured. Is it possible for a script running on the browser to temporarily disable the Print Screen keys? Jay (talk) 05:25, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

To put it even more directly: In order for the picture to get from your website to the eyes of the viewer, all of the pixels had to be placed in the frame buffer of the end user's graphics card. Reading back from that buffer (ie doing a screen dump) will recover those pixels NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. So, no - this is impossible without some kind of fancy DRM hardware in the end-user's computer...and even then, he can point a good old-fashioned film camera at his screen and get a copy that way. SteveBaker (talk) 21:47, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

For some related concepts, see analog hole and digital watermarking. - IMSoP (talk) 21:04, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

Device not shown in device manager

I have an external mouse which I have been using for sometime. Lately, my laptop has stopped recognising it to the extent that it wont show up at the device manager. My mouse's perfect as I have used it in other systems. Also, my mouse powers up and I have checked the connected device list under USb Root Hub properties, which says that all the hubs are not drawing any power, even when the LEDs glow in my mouse! (Windows Vista Ult SP0). Thanking you in anticipation, 218.248.70.235 (talk) 17:24, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Welcome to the happy, fun-loving world of Vista!--KageTora - the RefDesker formerly known as ChokinBako (talk) 19:10, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

You could: a) connect said mouse to another port (if possible); b) remove drivers and try to reinstall them (wonder if this is at all possible though); c) upgrade. --Ouro (blah blah) 07:56, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

Besides getting Linux and having it work (Linux is no fun! Windows is fun because it has problems and we have to fix them!), upgrading to Vista Ultimate SP1 through Microsoft/Windows Update may help with your problem -- just a thought. [Belinrahs | 'sup? | what'd I do?] 19:03, 10 December 2008 (UTC)

Estimating Associated Content traffic

How can I estimate how many pageviews I'll get for my Associated Content submissions from search engines and indirect e-mail/Digg/etc. referrals? NeonMerlin 17:38, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

If this is the first time you have done it, it will be almost impossible to predict. One estimate could be about 2 or 3 per day mostly from internet spiders. But if you have proven content, look at the previous results. One clue will be do you have content on a popular topic? Graeme Bartlett (talk) 21:39, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

Mac terminal/Unix: how did I overwrite my directory?

I was trying to move a script file from one directory to another in the Mac Terminal. I used the following command:

sudo mv /opt/local/bin/curlxml.sh /usr/local/bin

I then tried to look inside /usr/local/bin to see if the file was there, but it kept telling me that bin wasn't a directory. I then tried to open it up in a text editor, and /usr/local/bin was the script itself! I had deleted the (huge) contents of /usr/local/bin..!

Now, I guess I was dumb not to do it interactively so that it would warn me, but the manual here says

To move the file into another directory:
  $ mv file dir1

Isn't that what I did?

Please let me know what I did wrong...

Thanks, — Sam 63.138.152.238 (talk) 22:14, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Are you sure you had a /usr/local/bin before you did this? I just looked on my mac, and it looks like the only stuff in /usr/local/bin is stuff I've installed. So I'd not be surprised that it didn't have one out of the box. Friday (talk) 22:39, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

I just did the following, and everything performed as expected:

WirelessW-1930-1:~ user151$ sudo mkdir -p /testing/some/dir
Password:
WirelessW-1930-1:~ user151$ sudo touch /testing/some/dir/a
WirelessW-1930-1:~ user151$ sudo touch /testing/some/dir/b
WirelessW-1930-1:~ user151$ sudo touch /testing/some/dir/c
WirelessW-1930-1:~ user151$ touch foo.foo
WirelessW-1930-1:~ user151$ sudo mv /Users/user151/foo.foo /testing/some/dir/
WirelessW-1930-1:~ user151$ ls -l /testing/some/dir/
total 0
-rw-r--r--  1 root     admin  0 Dec  5 16:42 a
-rw-r--r--  1 root     admin  0 Dec  5 16:42 b
-rw-r--r--  1 root     admin  0 Dec  5 16:42 c
-rw-r--r--  1 user151  staff  0 Dec  5 16:42 foo.foo
WirelessW-1930-1:~ user151$ 

I don't see any evidence of a bug doing what you've described. Friday (talk) 22:45, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

You did a different "mv" command, you had a "/" at the end, signalling that it was a directory. What probably happened (although I can't confirm, since I'm neither at a Mac system or a Linux system at the moment) is that there was no /usr/local/bin before he moved the file, so the mv command was interpreted as "move the file /opt/local/bin/curlxml.sh to the directory /usr/local and name the new file bin". I don't think it would work if there already was /usr/local/bin, so Friday was probably correct in saying that there wasn't any before. 83.250.202.208 (talk) 00:14, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

Hi all, thanks for the replies so far. (a) There was definitely a /usr/local/bin before -- it had several dozen programs I had installed. (b) My command definitely did not include a trailing slash -- I pages back through my terminal to check. (c) Before I performed the move I had a functioning /usr/local/bin folder, afterwards, the only thing with the path '/usr/local/bin' was the useless script I had created. Any other thoughts? Thanks, — Sam 146.115.120.108 (talk) 06:26, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

It's unlikely that mv file dir would remove the directory and replace it with a file, unless you've got 'mv' aliased as something else. The BSD 'mv' command is just not going to do that. Either the /usr/local/bin directory didn't exist before you ran the command, or 'mv' isn't the command you ran. -- JSBillings 16:51, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

It doesn't matter whether you have the trailing slash or not. Friday (talk) 17:06, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

What Friday says is true. Try it yourself with the detailed example he gave above if you don't believe him. - Tbsdy lives (formerly Ta bu shi da yu) ^talk 11:48, 11 December 2008 (UTC)

What's going on here?

Resolved

 – Figured it out.

What's going on with the main page? Is it just something messing up with my browser, or did someone make a uh oh? All the bullets are replaced with the Meta^? logo... It's baffling me right now. –  LATICS  talk  22:40, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Cancel that. Purged the cache and it disappeared. –  LATICS  talk  22:42, 5 December 2008 (UTC)