Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2008 February 7

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February 7

Verizon Cell Phone accounts

My wife is having an affair with another man. I am able to watch her cell phone records and email including her work but cannot watch incoming calls to her work. I would like to be able to look at phone calls made from his cell phone that would tell me if he was still in contact with her. He has a Verizon acct. I would also like to check his email, to see if she may have another acct that I don't know about. He has AOL. Aside froom ethical or legal is either or possible? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.88.216.58 (talk) 00:58, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Oh yes, ethics and legality... mere trifles! I'd have an affair too if I was married to a paranoid control freak. --24.249.108.133 (talk) 00:20, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

How to select marker bits for data communication?

Hi friends!, I have posted it under Science and computing section too. Since this type of question isn't common in this discussion room, I'm unaware of where to ask.ok I'm doing a master project in SDR using vlsi-fpga. Well, now the main issue is that I use some predefined values infront of the data stream. Data from codec is 32-bits(Lch&Rch). I place few bits as marker in front of this audio data to denote the reciver the starting point of my data since data has to be exactly placed in lch and rch of the codec. a single bit reversal or mis-match causes serious noise.Now what happens is that data bits sometimes happen to be the marker value and mimic the marker. So the reciver when tuned on, considers that data bits as marker and starts processing from that point.so next to this action, all info becomes useless. No matter it helps if i increase the marker bits!. Simply it adds overhead only!...Is there anyway tat using a special marker can help in receiving the data without these problems?...Any other new ideas if you think, please suggest me...Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by Balan rajan (talk • contribs) 06:54, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

You need a framing protocol, for instance HDLC. See Bit stuffing for the basic solution to the "data as marker" problem. Morana (talk) 07:45, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Looking for Team Fortress 2 sprays

Does anyone know where I can download the animated goatse and meatspin sprays for TF2? --90.242.167.38 (talk) 11:14, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

No, because we'd rather you not do so. I normally do not judge, but in the case of people like you I do. Considered yourself judged somewhat. Not that it changes anything. Have fun! (Hate to say it, but there is a way to download a tag by looking at it in game and entering a console command). 206.252.74.48 (talk) 15:21, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

That sounds like a good way to get yourself banned from a TF2 servers. APL (talk) 03:59, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

Depends on which servers you play on.. a 25-minute-long ear-piercing shriek played over the voice chat would be unremarkable at a 4chan TF2 server. Try looking at fpsbanana for your sprays :D\=< (talk) 12:36, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

I want to visit Windows XP land

So I can roll down the hills. Where?

BTW, why did someone almost instantly delete my question the first time I tried posting it? http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Computing&diff=189507204&oldid=189507089

66.91.224.203 (talk) 11:23, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Bliss (image) tells us that it's in Napa County, California, east of Sonoma Valley. Also your question probably got deleted due to an edit conflict or something. TheGreatZorko (talk) 11:27, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

No I deleted it because I thought it was a pisstake - I now realise that the editor meant the hills you can see on the windows XP desktop.... --Fredrick day (talk) 12:07, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

PCMCIA card ?

What is another name for a pmcia card? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.159.128.45 (talk) 13:42, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Do you mean pcmcia? -- kainaw™ 13:45, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Cardbus card. Slightly different, upwards-compatible technical standards. See our article. Atlant (talk) 18:23, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

PC Card, according to the article. —BradV 21:33, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Scheduled Task

As a scheduled task, how do i change the time that a (Windows XP SP2) computer waits to bring up the screensaver? --Shanedidona (talk) 13:55, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Right click on the desktop -> choose Properties from the pop-up menu, and select the screen saver tab. 's there. --Ouro (blah blah) 14:13, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

i know how to do that, but i want the waiting time for the screensaver to automatuically change at night and in the morning, every day --Shanedidona (talk) 21:19, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Write a program to change the value HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveTimeOut in the registry. The value is in seconds. —BradV 21:36, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

You can do that with a .reg file, find one for something else and use it as an example :D\=< (talk) 16:12, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

I am not trying to demean you but please make sure you back up your documents and stuff before messing with the registry. Kushal^t 16:44, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

Thanks :-) registry backup is always a good policy. --Shanedidona (talk) 13:59, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Second NIC card for Mac G5 Tower?

Anyone know of a Mac compatible PCI NIC card for a G5 Tower? I tried buying a cheapie NIC from a big box retailer, but Leopard Server's System Profiler couldn't see it and it didn't have any Mac drivers. The only one Apple offers is PCI Express based, which this G5 doesn't have. --24.249.108.133 (talk) 16:17, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Audio effects plugins

I'm just getting into audio editing and recording (specifically for a theatre production), and was wondering if someone could help me out. I need to create an effect in which it seems as if sound is traveling from the two back channels to the two front channels (right and left stay even throughout). I want to create the illusion that a train is coming from the right and left channel on stage and is moving into the audience via the back channels, with the train coming to a stop seemingly in front of the audience. I've already recorded the train approaching and stopping, but I'd really like to find a plugin or guide to create this effect. I have Audacity, ACID 6 and WaveLab 5. Thanks in advance, -Mysekurity 19:41, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Ok, well the essential effect is using the pan control. This will make the sound 'move' from left to right or via versa by shifting its perception in the stereo field. However, you are trying to achieve a surround sound effect from the back of the auditorium to the front. This can be achieved depending on your Speaker management software/hardware at the theatre and the way the speakers are set up. I would recommend speaking to the venue technician about how to shift the audio from the rear up to the front fills.

For a simple solution, have some left wired speakers at the rear of the auditorium, some right wired near the front. Bounce your sound effect into a mono mix but still as a stereo file, then pan it from your left speakers ( rear ) to your right speakers ( front ) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.139.90.67 (talk) 15:18, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for the reply. The hardware logistics are being carried out by the venue; I just have to worry about the audio files (there are four channels on this particular stage--two on stage, two in the audience.) I found out how to do this in ACID: by using an FX Automation envelope for the pan, I was able to constrain the movement to the vertical direction, and drag to suit my needs. I just have one more big project that's bugging me. I need to create the effect of being pulled out of a dreamlike state, and want to feature a voice that is distorted and warped (much like in many films or Stewie in Petergeist) with a good deal of background noise. Can you recommend a plugin or settings effect to apply to the voice to create this effect? I'm thinking something along the lines of a slow flange or time distortion, though I could of course combine several to create the intended effect. -Mysekurity 08:17, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

A great classic effect is the backwards reverb. Record your vocals, then reverse them. Apply a reverb/delay ( not too long or it will sound muddy ) and then reverse the sound again. This will provide you with a scary 'wooshing' up to the words, like a ghost. You could then apply more normal reverb, subtle chorus effects can make it sound weird, and yes, a flange will help distort 'reality' 86.139.90.67 (talk) 12:43, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Do you have a favorite reverb or flanging plugin? I'm working with WaveLab, ACID, and SoundForge, and have access to Nuendo, Soundtrack Pro, and Soundbooth/Audition, so the program shouldn't be an issue. Anything I've missed? Thanks again, Mysekurity 20:53, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

• Hmmmm, i just use my outboard fx unit and the plugins available within Pro Tools ( dverb ) but any should do the job. Some can alter the tone quite dramtically, but nothing a bit of EQ cant fix :) 86.139.90.67 (talk) 23:36, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Can I do a tempo envelope on any of those? e.g. I want to have a sound start at normal speed, then slow it down (with or without warping). I'm thinking Nuendo might be best for that, but I'm not really familiar with it. Any suggestions? -Mysekurity 18:00, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

Ipod to Itunes

How do i get the songs on my ipod on my mac??? can anyone recommend a free software? pleeeeeease? i'm going crazy trying to find a good one.--Yamanbaiia^{(free hugs!)} 21:38, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Look up online how to use terminal to show hidden files. the music files are hidden in invisible system files on your iPod. Ilikefood (talk) 21:59, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Once you find the directory the iPod is mounted under, the command ls -al will show you the hidden files in that directory. —BradV 22:32, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Thanks a lot! --Yamanbaiia^{(free hugs!)} 01:10, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

That's what I would call "a really ugly way of doing it" (I know, I tried doing it that way once. It was made a little easier by the fact that if you opened the folder, then opened the music files, Itunes would automatically make a copy in its own music folder with a more descriptive filename.) Try getting a program called "Senuti". It's free and does exactly what you want to do (and, yes, is written for Mac OS X). Confusing Manifestation(Say hi!) 02:50, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia and my unfortunate IP exchange

I’ve got a bit of a problem. When I opened Wikipedia this morning (I was not logged in) there was a message alert. I have used my IP address a few times, but only when I forget to log in so I was surprised that I would have a message. As it happens the message was a warning for this disgusting bit of vandalism that was committed way back in October. None of my other IP edits were listed in user contributions. User talk:71.112.82.245 is evidently a different IP address than I had a day ago. It also appears that I’ve inherited the IP address of someone else. Looking back over the accidental IP edits I’ve made to User:S.dedalus/About me it appears that my IP has changed at other times as well. Anyway, I’m going to ask the person who helps me maintain this computer if he changed anything lately, but how could this have happened? I use a DSL modem if that helps. --S.dedalus (talk) 22:16, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

It seems that you do not have a static IP address. There might be some cons on having a static IP address.

I know the system draws a lot of criticism for collateral damage; however, in your case, you have been able to log in. I am pretty sure that you are not limited in any way by which IP address you use, once you log in.

Your IP address is not visible to users or administrators without proper clearance. This is one of the advantages of creating an account in the first place. Kushal^t 22:23, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, if you don't pay Verizon for a static IP, they won't give you one - you'll get a new IP every N days (where N varies by ISP and sometimes by how the ISP feels about the traffic you do). It's an inevitable corollary of that dynamism that no-one (well, no-one who knows what they're talking about) will assume that, just because your IP was once used by a miscreant that you must therefor be that same miscreant. That's why we rarely block IPs for more than 24 hours. So you have nothing to worry about. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 22:30, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

You are not the only one. Recently someone complained about this in my talk page for a warning I did back in 2006. We used to have a bot that cleaned old ip talk pages after some time, but apparently it was disabled. That would be a good solution for this, but I cannot remember why it is not done anymore. Not deleting the talk page, just cleaning it up is enough. -- ReyBrujo (talk) 22:46, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Ahh, I see. So that’s why we still have so many IP vandals on the loose. Thanks, that’s a relief. I was afraid I’d become a zombie computer or something. :) --S.dedalus (talk) 23:02, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

RPC server time sync thingy

hello

ive tried to sync my computer time with the online one (control panel > date and time > internet time) by clicking on the 'update now' button.....but it says it cant as it cant connect to the RPC server....i need to get my computer time right as MSN messenger wont work if its wrong......help!

• windows XP normal edition
• in eastern England (if that makes any difference with regards the server thingy)

thanks,--The world tour (talk) 22:24, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

I don't understand why MSN Messenger will not work if your clock is set wrongly. Try editing it manually to a reasonable current date and time. Kushal^t 02:51, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

Alternatively In the mean time, you can use Pidgin (software) as other Wikipedians toll away to answer your question. Kushal^t 02:52, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

There are few different servers you can use if time.windows.com isn't working. You can use the NTP pool at pool.ntp.org, or one of the NIST servers [1]. If all else fails, try Googling UK time, or use this: 18:35, 4 June 2024 UTC [refresh], which is when you last reloaded the page. --Phirazo 04:56, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

I suspect that the original poster was really talking about the RPC service. You can see the list of available services by going to Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services. You might try looking at the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) item there and trying to start it. (However, on my computer those options are disabled, so I don't know if that's normally possible.) Various search results suggest the RPC service gets disabled as a result of a virus infection. So my best guess is to get help investigating your computer for viruses. --Bavi H (talk) 06:27, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

what is YTIMG?

What is YTIMG.com? It seems that YouTube recently started using YTIMG. Does anyone know about it? Kushal^t 22:29, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Sounds like some sort of hosting server address. It is owned by Google according to its Whois entry, which makes sense (since Google owns YouTube). The name looks to me like an acronym for YouTube IMG or something like that—I wouldn't be surprised if it makes something easier for them to split up various functions done by YouTube into different servers with different DNS entries. Though it is a little odd. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 23:25, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Well, I think Yahoo! uses yimg.com (blasted Geocities advertisements!), so it might be more common than originally thought. x42bn6 Talk Mess 23:34, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, I remember they did something like that. Not the same server, but probably the same idea. --98.217.18.109 (talk) 00:51, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you very much. Regards, Kushal^t 01:38, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

I would still like to know why Google did this ... there is only one Google.com (well, there are addresses like gmodules.com and so on) I am not sure why Google or anyone else does that. Kushal^t 01:42, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

Don't forget (ugh) iGoogle :D\=< (talk) 12:33, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

I don't have anything against iGoogle as long as I can have the traditional google page (I don't really mind the ribbon.) Kushal^t 16:46, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

The reason big websites (Google, Yahoo, et al) do this is to make their web pages load faster. If you'd like a more technical answer to the question "why", I'll refer you to this site (#2 is particularly relevant): http://developer.yahoo.com/performance/rules.html#cdn

VGA to Component hooked up to a 1080p television

I bought a VGA-to-component cable recently and hooked it up to my laptop. I was able to get a (not very good) picture from it at 1280x1024x32. I took a photo and uploaded it. The background (I had my laptop temporarily set at 800x600 I think) should be a black to blue gradient from the top to middle, and the bottom half is white/grey clouds. Obviously the color is off, and the picture is shifted. The green area you see on the right is inaccessible to the mouse pointer, an equivalent piece on the left is not visible, and the whole thing is shifted up by a few dozen pixels with junk in its place at the bottom. Is it possible to get an image (even if it's not 1920x1080) using this cable, or am I trying to fit a square peg in a round hole? My display drivers (nvidia) on my laptop have additional frequency settings like "front porch" and "back porch", but I have neither as I live in an apartment. Any ideas? --Silvaran (talk) 23:54, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Well, be aware from the beginning that VGA has a max resolution of something like 720x480 so you're not going to get anything close to maximum resolution there. Front and back porch don't refer to things in your apartment—see Front porch, Back porch. No clue if adjusting those will help. The color shifting is weird, though I've seen similar things with VGA converters that had something wrong with them (in my case it was clearly an analog problem—the LCD projector was outputting everything in hot pink except its own menu—and finally we realized it was the converter that was doing it). --98.217.18.109 (talk) 01:39, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

VGA connector is the appropriate article there, not VGA. Graphics cards using the VGA connector with resolutions like 800x600, 1024x768, and above have been around for a long time. --tcsetattr (talk / contribs) 07:23, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

You can't just get a VGA to component cable and expect it to work. You will need to find out what component refresh rate your tv will accept. Most likly your PC will need to output 24 or 25Hz on the VGA, which it probably can't do anyway.--Dacium (talk) 06:24, 9 February 2008 (UTC)