Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2009 April 26

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April 26

Download flash video

Hey guyz! I go to a web site. I click on a flash thing or a video clip. It downloads on my computer for a little time and then it plays. Yhong is, I want (want it soooo baaad) to save it on my system to be able to play it when I'm offline. There gotta be a Guru out there who knows how I can do that 'cause I tried right-clicking to do the "save target as...." But it's always deactivated!!!! So please help me Thanks for your time —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.247.4.68 (talk) 11:03, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

There are a lot of Firefox plugins that help download flash videos. I use FlashGot, it is pretty easy (when it detects flash content on the page, a little icon shows up that lets you just click to download the FLV file). Then you just need a FLV player (there are lots of FLV codecs out there that you can install so that your player of choice can view them). --98.217.14.211 (talk) 14:45, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

There is also stuff like Orbit Downloader which is not free but supports RTMP and works with multiple browsers Nil Einne (talk) 11:20, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

free forum without ads - Is this legit?

[1] It seems too good to be true. How do they make their money then? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.227.112.112 (talk) 12:03, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I wouldn't think so considering they have ads on their homepage...  GARDEN  12:14, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Maybe they're using the typical Dot-com company strategy of 1999 and trying to expand like mad by giving maximum services away for free, and then monetize the users later by adding ads. Tempshill (talk) 14:52, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Or possibly by selling value-added services additional to the free service (like how LiveJournal fails to make money). --Maltelauridsbrigge (talk) 16:10, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

It might also be a cheap way to collect content and boost their Google pagerank score in order that they can host for-money services on the same host. Running a bunch of low-traffic phpBB sites isn't all that expensive. It's possible that they are harvesting email addresses for spammers - or hosting some horrible malware - it's hard to know. SteveBaker (talk) 22:14, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Wikipedia has no ads; is it then not legit? – 74  03:14, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Note it says "no banners or pop ups". This does not correspond to "no ads". They could still run text ads. Another point is that your forum may disappear at anytime without notice. F (talk) 05:15, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

WTF Windows Activation

Resolved

Alright, i'm trying to activate windows but every time i try to call the number to activate it, a bunch of "The number you have reached is unavailable" and "your call did not go through" messages come up. I'd activate it over the internet, but i cant install the drivers for my ethernet card until i activate windows. NEITHER number works. Can someone help/confirm what i'm saying???  Buffered Input Output 13:09, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

A few more details might help. 1. What version of Windows? 2. What are the phone numbers you're calling, and where did you obtain them? 3. I am surprised that you can't install Ethernet drivers until Windows is activated. Normally after a Windows installation you have 30 days to activate before it gets disabled (per this link.) Are you past the 30 days? Tempshill (talk) 14:50, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Also where do you live? I could give you the Microsoft activation phone numbers for Iceland but you probably don't want to call them if you live in Antartica. Bear in mind if you are trying to call them via a mobile or a VOIP line this may not be possible particularly if it's a toll free number. I'd try a normal land line. Edit: If I'm right about who you are I believe you live in the US in which case I suggest you try 1-888-571-2048 Nil Einne (talk) 11:23, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

If it comes to the worst, slipstream the network driver into the Windows install disc using nLite or the like. Or you can download something off thepiratebay. F (talk) 05:19, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

FRACK ME! I forgot a 1 in front of the number. Sorry for wasting your time. ;)  Buffered Input Output 12:48, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

XP death with monitor off

I've got an XP machine whose power control panel is set to turn the monitor off after the computer hasn't been used for a while. Problem is, sometimes the monitor never comes back on. Banging on the keyboard and mouse doesn't do anything, and nor does Control-Alt-Delete; and I no longer see the machine on the LAN from other machines; so I assume there has been some kind of BSOD or other catastrophic failure. I have to power down the machine and power it on, wincing as I do so. I don't get any catastrophic failures when I'm actually using the computer - it seemingly only happens when the monitor is shut off. Drivers are up to date for stuff like the wireless PCI card.

Any ideas on how to start to diagnose this problem? Thanks in advance - Tempshill (talk) 15:04, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Disable the monitor off feature so that you can see the mode of failure. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 15:35, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I'm trying this, but my assumption has been that the failure is tied to the act of powering off the monitor. Sort of like a Heisenbug. Tempshill (talk) 15:38, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Have you tried pushing the power button and seeing if it turns itself off? Also are you sure the machine isn't going to some kind of sleep mode? Make sure you turn this off in Windows and in the bios Nil Einne (talk) 11:34, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Pushing the power button (once, briefly) does nothing. I'll try turning off sleep modes - though I'm even having trouble doing that because the user account doesn't have access, and the admin account's sleep setting doesn't seem to cause the user account to sleep. Tempshill (talk) 15:38, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

I suspect there is some process running on your computer (possibly a virus) which gradually takes up more and more resources until it locks up the computer. This probably takes many hours to happen, by which time the monitor has powered down. So, in other words, it's likely just a coincidence. StuRat (talk) 13:36, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

Internet Explorer pop-ups in Yahoo Browser

I use the Yahoo Browser(for security reasons), but since Internet Explorer is also installed on my computer, I sometimes have pop-ups opening in that browser. The Yahoo popup blocker doesn't seem to be able to stop them. Is there any way to ensure these are blocked as well, short of uninstalling Internet Explorer? 69.224.37.48 (talk) 15:33, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

I've heard of a Google browser but never of a Yahoo browser. I still have one Windows computer, and it still has Internet Explorer; whether I browse with Firefox or Opera, Internet Explorer never appears. So you might wish to install a third browser. -- Hoary (talk) 15:49, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Are you talking about the Yahoo toolbar? There is no Yahoo browser. Or, possibly you may have an Internet Explorer version that is "branded" with the Yahoo logo - Comcast does this, for example. Why not try the Firefox browser instead? It's got popup blockers. Tempshill (talk) 16:35, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

The browser I use says "AT&T Yahoo Browser" in the top bar. 69.224.37.48 (talk) 17:48, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

The browser you are using is Internet Explorer, it's just been rebranded by your ISP (AT&T.) Whenever it opens popup windows, it's just doing it in an IE window that isn't relabeled. Also, you can not uninstall IE from a windows machine, it is part of the operating system. You may, however, be able to get rid of the extra software packages your ISP installed on your machine. Then (for security reasons) I'd recommend checking your browser version (help --> about) and maybe upgrading to IE8, or firefox, or opera. Taggart.BBS (talk) 18:23, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

[simultaneous post] That sounds very much like a copy of IE branded by your ISP - if you hit Help -> About, you will probably get an IE version number (if that is the case, I can think of no "security reasons" for using it). What's probably happening is that whatever mechanism the popups are using to dodge the popup blocker is creating Windows where the branding is absent (or less obvious).

The other possibility is that you have some kind of adware installed that is opening IE Windows whether you're browsing or not. Try installing Ad-Aware or Spybot Search & Destroy to see if they can find anything. (Pet peeve: they'll probably find lots of tracking cookies and imply that these are "threats"; that's a very different kind of threat than actually spyware, and I wish the designers of these tools would make that clearer!) - IMSoP (talk) 18:29, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Actually there is a Yahoo Browser which is not a branded Internet Explorer - it was installed on my mum's old PC. It is distributed if you sign up for a BT Yahoo account and installed automatically off the supplied CD unless you choose not to. BT did a deal with Yahoo in the early days of them providing ISP services and so I presume AT&T went down the same path. The program can be identified in the Task Manager as "ybrowser.exe" along with a whole lot of other Yahoo crapware.

Anyway, I noticed that in my mum's installation it did not change the program associated with .html, .htm, and some other internet file types. In the control panel, take a look at the Folder Settings and see if any are still associated with IE. Astronaut (talk) 03:19, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Paypal account (with no associated credit card)

Resolved

I have money in a paypal account, but it is not associated with a credit card, can you tell me if I can:

• Send money to other account
• buy online stuff (on stores that support paypal)

Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.241.118.253 (talk) 15:50, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

It doesn't need a credit card. There is a section where you can associate it directly to your bank account. You can send money like that.--KageTora (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 19:28, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

You can use money in a PayPal account to purchase from many online sites. -- kainaw™ 23:22, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Even if that paypal account is not associated with a credit card first? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.241.124.178 (talk) 00:38, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Yes. Here's a scenario: You have $10 in PayPal. You want to buy something for $8 off EBay. No problem. However, if you want to purchase something for $12 off EBay, you need to add $2 to PayPal to cover the difference. There are many ways to do that - one of which is debiting a credit card. -- kainaw™ 01:05, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Thanks a lot Kainaw (the IP was me on other PC) Thanks SF007 (talk) 09:07, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

DVD Burner

What is an excellent dvd-burner that can burn dual layer DVDs under $60? I've been shopping around newegg.com but I don't really know what are the good brands. And one that supports changing the book type of a DVD+R/DL to a DVD-ROM (preferably but optional)? Thanks. --71.117.47.111 (talk) 19:23, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

If you're already familiar with newegg, why not browse all the comments? I find them very useful in deciding on a brand. Tempshill (talk) 15:39, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

The reviews at cdfreaks and cdrlabs generally make note of book type support, as well as burn quality, etc. - mako 21:00, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

Disabling a Hotmail Account

Is there any way to delete/disable a hotmail account, because I have been inundated with Spam (as usual with hotmail) and friends of mine (who never listened to my request to change my MSN to my new one) are getting annoyed that every now and then my account logs itself in and asks them to look at party pictures or some crap. Also, is it possible to delete a Facebook account, because I am getting sick of friend requests from people I never met and people leaving silly messages like 'I just ate a cheeseburger I got for free LOL' etc. etc. --KageTora (영호 (影虎)) (talk) 19:27, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Re Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/deactivate.php. It doesn't actually delete your data, though; just hides it. You need to contact Facebook directly for it to be permanently deleted. — Matt Eason ^{(Talk • Contribs)} 20:53, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

To fix the Hotmail/MSN "logs itself in" problem, simply change your Hotmail password. At somepoint your login details have been captured (usually from a "Do you want us to check your address book to see if your friends use us? If so give us your Hotmail details...") so changing your password is the simplest way to stop them logging in as you to send spam messages. I'm afraid I can't help on the account deletion part though, but if it's not in the Hotmail options, then you'd probably need to contact them. ZX81 ^talk 22:22, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

According to the Hotmail web page, the account will be "inactivated" if you don't log in for 270 days. Any incoming mail will be returned as undeliverable, and existing messages will be deleted. After 90 more days the account "may" be permanently deleted. Arakunem^Talk 20:32, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

mac disc recovery after format

I've just reformatted a hard drive from my Macbook Air, but I didn't use the "secure delete" function - which overwrites the stuff so it can't be recovered. Could someone recommend a piece of software used for recovering the files that were on it? The disc hasn't been used at all since it was formatted. It was in five partitions, now it is in one. It's Mac OS X (Journaled).78.33.187.178 (talk) 19:43, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

It's not an easy task. Google "Undelete OS X" and you'll find a lot of supposed approaches but everything labeled with large disclaimers about how unlikely it is to be able to reconstruct things. --98.217.14.211 (talk) 14:38, 27 April 2009 (UTC)