Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2012 February 9

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February 9

Help (compter reboots after 20-25 minutes)

My PC works like dream when i do stuffs like surfing , watching movie etc but whenever i play any game it restarts after 20-25 min and keeps restarting with very soft beep (teep..) untill i switch it off for 15-20 min. i have cleaned the cabinet, reinstalled windows stil the probelm persists. all of my cpu fans are working 117.224.246.44 (talk) 06:55, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Open the case carefully and clean it inside as well. Do the fans work particularly loudly? Do they usually work (as opposed to only working when the computer's under a full load)? Is the ventilation around the case sufficient?

Does the problem persist with any game, or maybe just with some of them? Do these games have a common denominator to them (to the best of your knowledge)? --Ouro (blah blah) 07:05, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

yeah one of my fan which i brought recently works a little loud but i dont think it is a heating issue because i once tried playing games with CPU cabinet open. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.224.246.44 (talk) 07:33, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

That can actually make the problem worse, not better, since it won't get very good airflow that way. RudolfRed (talk) 07:53, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Cleaned the cabinet again.... Still no improvement 117.224.43.60 (talk) 08:50, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Has it always been this way? If not, can you recollect any specific event after which the situation had worsened? --Ouro (blah blah) 11:08, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

This problem is occurring from last weak and i cant recall any specific event :( 117.225.24.139 (talk) 12:31, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

I agree with Ouro, knowing whether or not this problem persists with any game would be helpful. For example, if your computer crashes when you play a game like Battlefield 3, but it doesn't care if you play Plants vs. Zombies or a simple flash game in your browser, then it helps narrow down the possible causes. It could be that your computer only crashes when it accesses a second stick of RAM (which it might only need to do for demanding applications) that isn't properly seated or has gone bad. It could also be that these games cause your GPU to overheat because its fan has stopped working. You really need more specific information in order to diagnose the problem. Lhcii (talk) 18:29, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Use one of those "system monitor" (maybe something is built into windows) utilities to check the cpu and gpu temperatures. The fan isn't the whole issue. Just a few days ago someone here had a cpu overheating because one of the heat sink clips was bent and the heat sink wasn't making good thermal contact with the cpu. You might also have something like flaky RAM. Try pulling the ram modules out of the board, cleaning the contacts with an eraser, and putting them back in, making sure to seat them firmly. 67.117.145.9 (talk) 19:46, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

While opening the case alone may not solve an overheating program, opening the case and pointing a box fan at the guts on HI certainly will help. Try that. Obviously this is rather annoying as a permanent solution, but will tell you if overheating is the issue. From the symptoms, it does sound like the graphics processor might be overheating. StuRat (talk) 04:57, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

I added to the title to make it useful. StuRat (talk) 05:00, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Try CPUz and GPUz, they can make log files for you to look at to see whether anything was causing a problem or overheating just before the PC shuts down. You should also check and make sure that any BIOS settings for monitoring temperatures and fan speeds are enabled, I have a beep set if my CPU goes over 60 C, just in case something else fails to tell me of any problem that might be there. Chaosdruid (talk) 09:18, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Trying to install GAP in Gimp

I just downloaded the Gimp Animation Package to use with Gimp, but I can't install it. The problem is that I cannot find the folder that's supposed to launch the setup (Gimp-GAP-2.6.0-Setup2.exe.). I downloaded the file from here, btw: ftp://ftp.gimp.org/pub/gimp/plug-ins/v2.6/gap/ 70.29.244.213 (talk) 09:10, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

F3 --190.60.93.218 (talk) 17:09, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Why is my question not appearing on the page? 70.29.244.213 (talk) 18:15, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Seems like this forum thread (http://www.gimptalk.com/index.php?/topic/28397-gimp-gap-260-for-windows/) is discussing the same issue you are having. There is a link to the Gimp-GAP-2.6.0-Setup2.exe you mention in the opening post. However, it seems that the 2.6.0 version isn't stable and they suggest that you download the 2.4.0 version, for which they also provide a link. I didn't read through the whole thread, looks to me like you'll find some helpful information in there though. Lhcii (talk) 21:48, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Would this computer be ok for my purpose?

I am looking to purchase a smallish, portable laptop to take to class to take notes using, preferably the 2010 versions of, MS Word, Powerpoint and Adobe Reader. Would an old Mac with the following specs be ok? I will be transferring these notes from the PowerBook to my Windows 7 main PC laptop at home.

Apple Mac PowerBook 12" PowerPC G4, OSX 10.5.8, 1.33 GHz, 512 MB RAM, BUS Speed: 167 Mhz.

Thanks, Acceptable (talk) 09:51, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Does the 2010 version of Office work on a PPC? The 2011 version says it will only work on Intel (in the system requirements section here). In addition, laptop batteries degrade with age - my 5 year old laptop's battery now only sustains the machine for a minute or two. Replacing the battery on the mac would probably obviate the savings you're looking for in buying such an old machine. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 11:15, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

(ec) Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 is probably the version of Office you will want. If its minimum required specification is anything like Office 2010, I doubt it will run acceptably on a 1.33 GHz, 512 MB RAM system. You can checkout the system requirements for Word 2011 and Powerpoint 2011. Astronaut (talk) 11:16, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

First requirement on the list: "A Mac computer with an Intel processor". A PowerPC G4 is not an Intel processor. It won't work. --Mr.98 (talk) 14:20, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

I'm sure you could make it work, but all of PPC, Mac, and hardware that old are asking for trouble. A similar vintage non-Apple computer for the same price will get you significantly more impressive hardware. ¦ Reisio (talk) 14:16, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Agreed. It also doesn't help that the newer versions of Office run like crap on even new versions of the Mac. I would recommend using the iWork Suite instead, from personal experience. You can export to MS Office formats if you need to and can read them all. Office for Mac is a buggy, crashy, slow program. --Mr.98 (talk) 14:20, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Hits on webpages

thepeerage.com gives one of my pages as a reference. I suspect as a result that page gets a lot of hits. How can I tell how many, preferably using cPanelX? Kittybrewster ☎ 12:56, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

You need to be able to read the access logs of the (virtual, perhaps) webserver instance that services your website. Either your hosting provider will have installed their own log analysis package or you'd download the logs and run an analyser (e.g. awstats) on them yourself. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 13:13, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Thank you. Success. Kittybrewster ☎ 14:30, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Grabbing frames of video

Resolved

How can I gram frames of video, (no I don't need a programm that asks to specific frame) I want to have half of the frames of all frames.. I found a programm called Video to image converter, It provides me exatcly what I want. the bad thing is that It doesn't support Matroska files (mkv). (PS: I remember I had a program similar who supported mkv files, but I'm not having good results with google, I just don't type the right keywords) --190.60.93.218 (talk) 14:23, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

DVDVideoSoft's website (http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/guides/free-video-to-jpg-converter.htm) lists the video file formats that they support in the footer. This includes .mp4, so I suggest that you convert the file into .mp4 first (http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/convert_mkv_to_mp4_for_xbox_360.cfm) and then use your program on the newly converted file. Lhcii (talk) 19:42, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

ROfl it's funny you got the answer.. after Deep scanning my hard drive (because i was desesperate) I found a program called freevideotojpgconverter ohh yes! =) I'm so happy lol. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.60.93.218 (talk) 19:48, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Why does the keyboard not match what it produces?

I am at a library. The key to the right of : says " above ' but produces @, and the key that says @ produces ". Also, the key that produces my signature (~) gives me ¬ instead. The key that should give me | gives me ~. Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 14:42, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

I expect the OS is configured for a different keyboard then is actually present on the computer. Perhaps a UK keyboard when it's a US one. Nil Einne (talk) 14:52, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

(ec) Sounds like the keyboard defined for that PC is a UK English keyboard. Go to 'Regional and language' settings in the control panel and make sure it has the correct keyboard and language settings. Astronaut (talk) 14:54, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

I talked to one of the librarians and he said they're getting new machines soon.Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 15:27, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Seems like a drastic solution to a 2 minute fix in Windows. Astronaut (talk) 18:04, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

_{You're computers are damaged? oh don't worry send them to me! If they're so useless for you! 190.60.93.218 (talk) 19:50, 9 February 2012 (UTC)}

Which key produces which character is configurable in software. Which marking is physically printed on which key isn't. It would therefore be quite difficult to always ensure a full 1-to-1 correspondence between the two. JIP | Talk 21:21, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Our article on Keyboard layouts show the different language keyboard layouts – which should back-up what has been said above. Changing the language keyboard layout should be an option available even to a library users. It should not be an admin only option. If you're blocked and can't change it, ask the librarian for the phone number of their IT support and create hell with them. If you can fix it yourself – do let the librarian know what a little smart-arse you are. He will then owe-you-one if you get any overdue fines etc. Depending on what version of windoz their using, you what need to find is the Language bar, third option along. Hope you find this is useful.--Aspro (talk) 22:25, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Replying to Astronaut: the librarian saw no point in getting IT to do anything to computers that are being replaced. It's apparently not as simple as it sounds.Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 23:50, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Could you not fix it yourself? As I said, it's a 2 minute job. Astronaut (talk) 11:49, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Let's not jump to conclusions: the computers are not being replaced because the keyboard doesn't work. They probably are being replaced and no one is willing to invest any second on them anymore. Add to it that most people are helpless even when it comes down to simple fixes and that not averyone has an admin password at hand. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.36.33.29 (talk) 13:33, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

You want everyone and his brother at a library to be able to make changes? The person I asked read what was here and only said they weren't going to bother the IT people when there were upgrades planned.Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 19:09, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

A couple points:

1) They probably don't allow customers to change the keyboard layout, as that would result in practical jokers leaving it set to Japanese, etc.

2) If they are unwilling to fix it, I suggest just labeling the keyboard to match what it produces. I find that cutting off the sticky part of Post-It notes and placing them directly above the keys in question works for the top row (assuming a suitable gap between them and the function keys). This type of label can easily be removed, in case they reuse the keyboards with the new computers. StuRat (talk) 19:30, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Vchimpanzee,  read and learn from Astronaut. Forget what the librarian has said. People, some of them foreigners, wonder into a library (as do mischievous school kids) and should they want to send an email back to friends and relativities in their home country – change the keyboard layout to what they are familiar with – but don't change it back before they leave! It would be daft not to allow their many users to do this. Travel the world and you will find many internet cafe's in cosmopolitan areas with keyboards set to different languages – (have you ever travelled out-side the US?). If their clientèle can change it – then so can YOU. As for the Librarian: Remember those times when everything was written on long scrolls of parchment? Well, this video clip shows a librarian of those times try to grasp new book technology. [1]. Watch, then see if you can make the connection with modern times. --Aspro (talk) 19:38, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

You can cycle through the various installed keyboard layouts by pressing ⇧ Shift+Ctrl. Repeat until the right characters appear when typing a key. — Edokter (talk) — 19:46, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Thank you. If I manage to end up on the same computer next time I am there, I will try those last two ideas. If someone else is on it, I won't.Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 20:29, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

And I am here. Let me see what happens.Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 14:35, 15 February 2012 (UTC)

There must be more to it than ⇧ Shift+Ctrl. That's not doing anything. On the other hand, the video was captioned, so I was able to appreciate it with no sound. Thanks for that. They would expect me to provide my own headphones.Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 14:45, 15 February 2012 (UTC)

Well the default for Windows 7 seems to be left shift+alt to me. However rather then fooling around with shortcut keys, I would have first tried the control panel which for whatever reason you don't seem to have done. I take it the language bar is not floating or docked on the taskbar (should show up as a a EN or whatever code for the language and/or a keyboard). Nil Einne (talk) 22:24, 15 February 2012 (UTC)

I explored other options but they didn't work either. But it's a library and the control panel is off limits.Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 23:34, 15 February 2012 (UTC)

Simple question I hope

Resolved

Whenever I download any PDF from an online source (which is like five times a day) instead of opening it saves and I have to go find it in the download folder and open it. I could swear it used to open without this extra step. I imagine it's a settings issue but I don't know if the setting is in my computer or the browser I use or the PDF program I run. I am on a Macmini running Snow Leopard I think. I have Adobe Acrobat Professional 8 and I use Firefox. Thanks.--108.14.197.46 (talk) 19:50, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Firefox gives you the option to always handle files of the same type the same way. At some point you must have chosen the 'Save as' option rather than the 'Run' option and also told Firefox to always save files of the same type (PDF). In order to change this setting and restore the way it handles PDF's to the default, navigate to Tools>Options in Firefox, then click the 'Applications' tab. There should be a few listings on the left side for 'Adobe Acrobat Document', you need to change the drop-down on the right to 'Use Adobe Acrobat' or 'Always ask'. Note that I am giving you these instructions from version 10.0 of Firefox on Windows XP, so there may be disparity in the instructions. Lhcii (talk) 20:10, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Done. It works. Will save me lots of time (over time). Thanks!--108.14.197.46 (talk) 21:03, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Telling if a company is legit

How can I tell if this company is legit? Charter Global. They sent me a recruitment email and the job looks interesting but I do not want to get scammed. 68.232.119.30 (talk) 21:33, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Nothing I have found looks particularly scammey. Suggest you email them back and ask them how they found you -which is a reasonable question to ask- and say your interested. Being wary is wise but at the same time it might by legit. I think you (we) need more information before you (we) can make that judgment.--Aspro (talk) 22:07, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

If you're being wary, how do you even know the mail came from them? Isn't it still the case that it's trivial to send a mail purporting to come from someone else? I suppose if the return mail is to a checkable domain name then at least you know where you are replying to... 86.183.2.20 (talk) 22:28, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

If they really are trying to recruit you, there's no reason they should be asking for money or credit card numbers. If they ask for those, it's definitely a scam. What could be trickier is if they say they want to do a background check, so ask for your social security number, birth date, etc., which could also be used for identity theft. I'd be rather suspicious if they ask for that info before they meet with you in person. StuRat (talk) 04:49, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Reply directly to charter Global, through their web page if you are interested. Also check past versions of their web-page through archive.org, that will get you an idea of the organization that they are. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.36.33.29 (talk) 13:36, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

ActiveX in IE9 / Win 7

Hello!, under what circumstances does IE 9 prompt for websites to run ActiveX (assuming default security settings)? I have Flash installed, and that seems to run on any website without prompting. Yet when I go to http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/browser/activexfiltering/Default.html I am prompted "This webpage wants to run the following add-on: 'Windows Media Player' from 'Microsoft Corporation'". However, when I look at the list of installed add-ons, Windows Media Player is already there, installed and enabled, just like Flash, and even appears in the list of add-ons that can "run without permission". Why am I prompted in one case but not the other? What is the difference?

Furthermore, if a website wanted to run a brand new ActiveX that I did not even have installed, then what would happen? Presumably big red warnings and alarms? For fairly obvious reasons I do not want to seek out websites with unknown ActiveX content to test this...

I would be extremely grateful if anyone could shed any light on this. I cannot find any useful explanation in Microsoft help. 86.183.2.20 (talk) 22:25, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

How to remove screwdriver head from Milwaukee Shockwave socket set?

I have a Milwaukee Shockwave screwdriver and drill bit set, and I have a small screwdriver head stuck in the hex socket that fits into a drill chuck or screwdriver body - it seems to be locked in there, and I can't figure out how to remove it - any ideas? THanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.76.48.158 (talk) 22:34, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

These are good tools. Rather than ask here (where you’ll get suggestions like -dip it into liquid nitrogen and it will simply contract and drop out) contact Milwaukee direct. After all, you have paid a premium for quality and thus your entitled to after-sales service that a Chinese back-street work-shop wont give you. See here:[2]--Aspro (talk) 22:50, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Thank you - I will call them tomorrow, but they are closed right now - I wondered whether there was something obvious I was missing, like twisting the chuck or something. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.76.48.158 (talk) 22:53, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

OK - got it - you just have to REALLY pull them - there is a strong magnet in the base. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.76.48.158 (talk) 23:24, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Resolved

Help with Regular Expression (Syntax Searching) Please?

Hello, I'm using a custom word filter, and it uses Regular Expressions.

I'd like to filter out (match) "angst" regardless of type case, or if a 'y' is added after it to become 'angsty.' So that whether it is AnGsTyfjdL or anything else it will still get matched and filtered. Going to do this for a bunch of meaningless adhoms. Hopefully this example will be enough to teach me what I need for all of them. Thank you very much. --68.117.130.106 (talk) 23:30, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

what tool will you be using for the search? If it's grep, you can do "grep -i -e angst -e angsty". The -i makes it ignore case and each -e is a pattern to search for. RudolfRed (talk) 23:45, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

(?i)angsty|angst     -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 23:46, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

I'm not using Grep, but doing -i did work. Thanks a lot. --68.117.130.106 (talk) 02:20, 10 February 2012 (UTC)