Computing desk
< February 4	<< Jan \| February \| Mar >>	February 6 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

February 5

Really irritating CD Problem

I bought a Rosetta Stone language program for a bit over a hundred bucks. I installed it without problems, used it two or three times, and then didn't use it for a month. I just put the cd (unscratched - I'm not risking wasting that money) back into the computer, and it calls up an autoplay screen that gives me a number of options (install, run, register, info.) If I click run, it loads loudly for a bit and then tells me to "Please insert the correct CD-ROM, select OK and restart application." The thing is, this IS the correct CD. It's the "application" cd, and I've used it before to run the program. It isn't as if the computer and cd aren't communicating, because the autoplay came up, and I was even, in the course of trying to fix this, able to uninstall and reinstall the program from the cd. I've tried restarting my computer and ejecting the cd several times. I've tried opening it from the program saved on my harddrive. I just don't understand what the problem could be. It's a little bit irritating. How could a functional, completely unscathed cd, fail to recognize itself? Any suggestions? Should I turn my computer in for repairs? Sashafklein 02:09, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If all other CDs work fine, then it's a problem with this program. I'd suggest giving the software author a ring and seeing what they say. --h2g2bob 02:21, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Your computer is alright, it's probably some SafeDisc issue. I believe Rosetta Stone uses SafeDisc 2.9? Contact technical support for your product. Splintercellguy 02:31, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If it changes anything, my cd drive isn't quite perfect. I can't, for instance, play an audio cd at regular speed. It goes really slowly and crackily. I can, however, save it to the computer and then play it just fine. I didn't mention that, because I didn't think it would've contributed to the cd basically ignoring itself. Sashafklein 02:43, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

While tech support will probably take time to ship out new CDs, (and possibly even ask you to return your existing product), it might be easier to download them through torrents or such, which should be completely legal, as long as you're using a bought and paid for liscense.

You mentioned that your CD drive had issues, it may the reason that SafeDisc is not working properly. SafeDisc I believe relies on reading bad sectors on the CD, and if your CD can't do this properly it may have a problem. Splintercellguy 03:46, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, downloading it from a torrent still technically isn't legal, because you're probably uploading it to someone illegally at the same time. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 04:09, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's illegal regardless of whether you own the license, and not because you're also uploading. Being an ubernode only targets you for takedown by the company's lawyers --⁪froth^T 04:13, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Use Alcohol 120% to override the safedisc. :) --Wo o ty Woot? contribs 06:57, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Or Daemon Tools for a much better (and free) alternative --⁪froth^T 17:39, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks guys. I've tried daemon tools, but when I select the cd drive to mount it, it instead explores the drive for ISO or whatever files. I can't get the program to actually select the DRIVE as opposed to something on the CD. I might just torrent this. That sounds right. Thanks for all the advice. Sashafklein 18:04, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

DAEMON Tools works on ISOs and other CD/DVD image formats. So, take an image of your CD (if you can) and mount. Splintercellguy 07:37, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

UPS service under Windows XP...?

How to reinstall the Windows XP UPS service? Whenever I try to start it the error message says it can't find the file. -- Barringa 02:58, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps run "sfc /scannow" (copy and paste without quotes to the Run dialog box)? Splintercellguy 03:50, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

CRO and Signal Generator connections for OPAMP as INVERTING AMPLIFIER(IC741)

I've soldered a circuit that uses an opamp(IC741) as an inverting amplifier.The feed back resistor is 10K ohms and the input is given at pin 2 through a resistor of 2.2Kohms.Now i want to give an input signal of 1 volt and 200Hz frequency to the circuit using one channel of the CRO and the Signal Generator.Also i want to observe the output waveform using channel 2 of the CRO(output is at pin 6).Howevr i am unsure of the connections to be made as far as the CRO probes and signal generator is concerned.Can anyone help??59.183.87.29 07:19, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Are you running this from two equal-but-opposite power supplies (so, for example, +/- 15 volts or +/- 9 volts)? The description below will assume this.

Connect all the grounds ("reference") points together: the circuit under test, the signal generator, and the oscilloscope.

Connect the output of the signal generator to the far end of the 2.2K resistor (the end away from the op-amp).

Connect one 'scope probe to that same point.

Connect the other 'scope probe to the output pin of the '741.

Et voila!

If you're running the '741 from a single power supply ("single-ended operation"), you'll need an isolating capacitor (of an appropriate electrical value) between the signal generator and the input to the op-amp. You may also want to switch the 'scope to "AC coupling", although the DC level coming out of the op-amp is also a point of interest.

Point of interest: Generally speaking, you can't directly probe the non-inverting input of the op-amp without dsrupting the operation of the circuit. In your particular example, the resistor values are low enough to allow you to do it, but the observed voltage will always seem to be 0 (ground)! In fact, there are microvolts of signal there, but you almost certainly won't be able to see the signal on your 'scope.

Atlant 17:20, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sweet!! yes i was using a dual 15V supply and it worked perfectly.many thanks

sap

Hello friend How to u use f4 help and f1 help in report .

Hello can you tell us a bit more? At the moment I can only guess that you'd press the F1 or F4 function key. --h2g2bob 19:35, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Financial RSS - a source for the full story

I'm doing some (amateur) investigations in various fields (machine learning, financial modelling). (Yes, these are rather mighty challenges for an amateur). Anyway, does anyone know of a machine-readable (such as RSS) source of financial/company news (I want the full story, rather than teaser and link, without any "gunk" such as ads and navbars)? Also a source of machine-readable stock prices. Since this is only for research, it doesn't matter which market (even which country - although I'd prefer the news to be in English so I could understand it too). --대조 | Talk 18:04, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Free domain?

My website is currently hosted on 50megs.com, but they're very restricted on the scripting and other functions their hosting in their free package includes. I found another hosting service that has everything I want, but there's a catch. It will only work if I get a domain name to direct there.

Now, I can transfer my current domain to the new hosting service, but I'd like to have a backup of the entire site online and ready to use, just in case something goes wrong. Can anyone recommend a place where I can get a free domain main (with a relatively short URL) that doesn't require me to jump to all sorts of hoops to have it activated? - Mgm|^(talk) 18:19, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The only free domain services I know of are [1] and one using the .co.nl extension (don't have a link though - some Googling might find it). I know that the .tk service only shows another website but with frames and also advertises, so you'll need to use a free host elsewhere and then use .tk to 'funnel' the site. RevenDS 19:26, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps I misunderstand, but it seems that DynDNS fits the description. --Tardis 19:28, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There's also http://freedomain.co.nr/, which gives you *.co.nr for free, no adverts. --h2g2bob 19:32, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

They require a single small image button. A lot less invasive than frames, banners and all that. I'll look into this one.

Thanks for the suggestions. - Mgm|^(talk) 21:41, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Excel

Do you know of any Excel (sofware or server) for a web site so that multiple users can edit the Excel sheet at the same time; I would like if it was secure and password-protected.

What about Google Documents (formerly known as Writely? Duomillia 21:02, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Is there anything else to put on a web site, something that is by Microsoft?

Not yet, I don't think. --24.147.86.187 02:06, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Web Hosting

Does anybody know of a good web hosting with a lot of features? 68.193.147.179 20:55, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

http://bluehost.com is pretty good, cheap, lots of features, and popular. http://godaddy.com also does good webhosting for cheap. Have anything more specific in mind? --140.247.250.175 21:02, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I vote for CrystalTech on the expensive side and DreamHost on the cheap side. Droud 21:17, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ejam is a good webhost. All you have to do is register and make 10 posts. Best of all it's free. Good luck. --71.98.21.95 23:58, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've heard good things about DreamHost (which Droud suggested above), but never needed to buy webhosting yet. --h2g2bob 01:08, 6 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm sure they did this to piss me off but..(sandisk e240 - raphocity

I can't seem to efectivelly transfer music from one to the other. i've done everything in my power to get the damn thing to transfer(checked the mode, instaled updates, hell i even formated the drive) but i still cant transfer. it says it won't accept the filetype. GD.Xiad e n 22:20, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

What is raphocity? Rhapsody? Droud 23:33, 5 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

yhea... sorry, i suck at spelling on a keyboard.Rhapsody Rhapsody Rhapsody Xiad e n 02:23, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Does rhapsody distribute mp3s or some proprietary (probably DRMed) format? --⁪froth^T 18:41, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]