Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2013 April 30

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April 30

Dual opamps

Hello Sirs! Could you please enlighten me a bit on a few things here - I have a preamp that uses dip socketed mono opamps per each channel (lefr right - two opamps) that is they are mono opamps per each channel , so my concern is , is it ok to put a dual to mono opamp in there although it only needs one of them per channel, will the other just be idling or something without breaking anything or creating any problems? Thanks !! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.35.7.130 (talk) 12:29, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

It is a good idea to properly terminate or bias unused leads as per the spec sheet. Here [1] is a reasonable example of terminating an unused op amp. Dmcq (talk) 17:21, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

GameCube/Wii regional lockout

Hello. So I know this: Both the Wii and Gamecube are regionally locked, There exists a "Freeloader" lockout disabling apparatus for the GC, The Wii is backwards compatible with all GC games and most of its accessories. So is it possible to play a Japanese GC game on a North American Wii, using the freeloader? If so, is it restricted to certain firmware versions or earlier models? Thanks, --JadeGuardian (talk) 18:54, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

The Wii is notorious for not supporting mods (and the official Game Boy Player - really too bad!) for the GC. Providing a link to the exploit you are interested in could help, but all I can say is it would probably be a better idea to check out a modchip for your Wii that would unlock it. As for the firmware, I don't think the Wii firmware has been updated in a while so if you are getting a new modchip then it will probably work (remember to always read the infomation for any hack carefully before you buy/download it!!! This applies to any electronics!), but for the GC mod I don't know. My guess would be that it would only work on very old versions of the Wii firmware. There are ways to downgrade, but getting an exploit for the Wii rather than the GC would be a lot less complicated and (In my opinion) safer. Hope that helps! --Yellow1996 (talk) 23:41, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

I don't have an answer on if it allows getting around regions, but a modchip is no longer required for the Wii. Everything can be done through an SD card and the system software. There are GC loaders for modded Wiis, but I haven't researched region issues. It does allow playing out-of-region Wii games. 38.111.64.107 (talk) 13:59, 1 May 2013 (UTC)

Oh, okay. I wasn't aware of that, thanks 38.111.64.107! (I've been a little out of the hacking loop...) :) In that case I guess you'll need to find one of those SD-based hacks that does support region-free GC loading, if such a thing exists (probably does.) If not, the modchip idea would probably still work - I believe some of the newer ones are very easy to install, too. --Yellow1996 (talk) 01:49, 2 May 2013 (UTC)

Kill javascript running in Firefox

Can you kill js (without killing Firefox) specifically? (This is not about disabling it). OsmanRF34 (talk) 19:59, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

You can use some ad blocker to prevent a particular js file from loading. Ruslik_Zero 02:37, 1 May 2013 (UTC)

You can kill firefox, re-start it and allow it to restore your session, but disable JS in-between. :) ¦ Reisio (talk) 03:12, 1 May 2013 (UTC)

JS doesn't run as as a separate process from Firefox. The closest thing you can do is disable javascript from specific sources, and reload the page. NoScript does this. --Wirbelwind(ヴィルヴェルヴィント) 06:55, 1 May 2013 (UTC)

It is possible with windows because of WINAPI.Firefox (checked dor 3.6) use(d)? some basic javascipt part of windows API.You might not find a separate thread for each javasript program.

In UNIX all is files in Windows / OS/2, all is handles (more than files with unix). There is probably a directory that group all related javacript API actions.Then you can can create a basic C/C++ program for closing the handles you want. I think the WINAPI provides functions to deals with handles, so it should be easy.

The handles created by WINAPI might not be documented so you may have to look in internals windows functionement.

You may crash the process but don't forget that most of the time, firefox open a pop-up prompting killing the .js app or let it runing.You need to use this only if it doesn't open.2A02:8422:1191:6E00:56E6:FCFF:FEDB:2BBA (talk) 13:10, 1 May 2013 (UTC)

Updating SSD firmware

Is there any way to update a drive's firmware if I can't install it into a computer? A Macbook Air doesn't have any native SATA ports. And I can't update firmware if I place the SSD into a external USB 3.0 enclosure, correct? --Navstar (talk) 22:09, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

Yes, with a disk enclosure you can do it. OsmanRF34 (talk) 22:22, 30 April 2013 (UTC)