Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 June 20

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June 20

Booting off of USB on a Macbook Pro

Here's my situation: I have a 512 Mb USB2 memory key with DSL (Damn Small Linux) on it. I copied it over to the key bit by bit from the iso of DSL. The key mounts under OSX and all of the files are usable, but how do I boot to it? I have boot camp installed, if that matters.--67.181.167.227 01:35, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Restart and hold down the option key and select it from the menu.

Is there any way to get an Xbox to run with an LCD PC monitor without anything in between?

Is there any way to get an Xbox to run with an LCD PC monitor without anything in between -- by using a composite-to-VGA converter, component adapter, something like that? Preferably with the ability to convert 1920x1080 or 1280x720 to this particular monitor's native resolution of 1680x1050.202.10.86.63 09:13, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

I've used a VGA to composite adapter to output my laptop to a TV (as a second monitor). I don't see any reason why the reverse wouldn't work. The xbox running at a lower resolution may cause an out of range error on the LCD and not display anything. On another note, I tried running an xbox through a TV tuner, but the lag was very noticable, so I wouldn't recommend that.--GTPoompt(talk) 15:23, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

I run a PS2 fine with a TV tuner. Just have to use DScaler or registry edits. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 19:22, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Computer clock

I have been having trouble with my computer clock for a while now. I boot up the computer, log in and the clock is usually set to something way off the real time, and sometimes the day is wrong as well. My current computer clock shows 4:34AM, but I know that it is around 8pm-ish. I try resynchronising my computer clock with Microsoft's "time.microsoft.com" server and the NSA time server, but it tells me it encounters an error when synchronising with the server. Any ideas what might be going wrong? –Sebi ~ 09:34, 20 June 2007 (UTC) P.S. My local time is +10 hours.

That usually means the CMOS battery is weak. Replacing the battery should be enough to fix the problem. At least the ntpd commonly used on Linux refuses to synchronize when the clock is too far off the real time; I don't know if the Windows builtin NTP daemon has the same safeguards, but it probably has. --cesarb 09:40, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Ahh, I sometimes get "CHKSUM battery failed - press F1 to continue" or similar when I boot up. Thanks for your help, –Sebi ~ 09:50, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Recording sound on my computer

How do I record sound off youtube using my computer? --124.181.44.233 13:47, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

If your computer is fairly new, and you have Windows, then the program that comes with your PC, Sound Recorder will do it. Neil ╦ 15:15, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

You could download the clip, then use VLC to transcode the audio. Splintercellguy 17:15, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

A question I need to ask...

My modem can play video DVDs like movies, episodes of shows, and others. But when I put in a blank DVD that has stuff I recorded on TV or dubbed on TV, it wouldn't detect it. What can I do to upgrade the modem to detecting a recorded/dubbed TV DVD without a problem? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sirdrink13309622 (talk • contribs)

First, see modem. Old DVD players will not play recordable DVDs. --Kainaw ^(talk) 14:46, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Some players don't want to play DVDs whose contents are burned in contrary to DVD-Video format, like simply placing the clips on the root of the DVD. Splintercellguy 17:14, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

What did you use to create the DVDs that don't work on your computer? -- JSBillings 18:06, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Text-only browsing

For the summer vacations, I bought a mobile internet card for my laptop. I'm paying by the megabyte, and would like to minimize expenses. I'm using Firefox 2.0.0.4, Windows Xp. So I unchecked "Load images automatically" and "Enable java" it the "Tools|Options|Content" dialog. However, Flash animations (and images) are still downloaded. There is a "Manage file types" button in the same dialog, but the button that I would like to press for SPL and SWF objects, "Remove action", is grayed and inacessible; I only have the options of specifying which program to open the file in, or to save it to disk, which implies that it will be downloaded whichever alternative I chose. So my questions are:

1. How can I convince Firefox to ignore Flash animations?
2. Does anyone have additional advice about minimizing the amount of data transferred?
3. Is anyone aware of a utility program that I can install, to monitor how much data that is transferred? There is a tool in the software that came with the card, but I would like to experiment using my broadband connection, before starting to spend $$$ on the mobile card.

I have installed the Adblock-plus plugin, which alleviates the Flash problem somewhat, but far from totally. And yes, I have tried Lynx, but found the user interface too limited for my needs. Thanks for any advice. --NorwegianBlue ^talk 18:00, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

You can use the flashblock or NoScript extension to configure when and where to load flash objects. -- JSBillings 18:08, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

There are some text-only browsers, made for either people with visual impairments who use screen readers or for those with low-end computers. However, only a portion of sites support this. Many require that you have Flash or ActiveX or Java enabled to use the site properly. Also, a few sites have a "Text only" interface you can select. For example, here's a text-only, ad-free weather forecast site: [1] (Except for a few icons, such as for the Moon phase). I suggest you build a Favorites/Bookmark list of these text-only sites and use them exclusively. StuRat 18:31, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

There is a plugin to Firefox that allows you to totally disable flash or any other plugin (not addon, MR Tech is good for that), I can't remember its name. It even will report to the server that your browser does not have flash capabilities, but a single click will re-enable flash functionality. (it disables flash everywhere in the firefox executable instance). I've mentioned it on here before and am running it currently but I can't remember its name. Root⁴(one) 19:37, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

You could try Opera Mini (you'd only need a J2ME runtime for your computer). It's designed to be used in slow metered connections like that, and uses Opera's proxy to compress/optimize/etc. the page before it's sent to your computer. --cesarb 22:48, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

(Now writing from mobile connection): Thank you all for your advice. I ended up with turning off images and java as stated, plus using Adblock plus and Flashblock. I also found an applet at http://delphi.about.com, called Network Traffic Monitor, written by Zarko Gajic, which allowed me to do some testing before leaving. I'll check out Opera Mini when I'm back. Thanks again. --NorwegianBlue ^talk 21:41, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

IE shortcut icon from website

OK, so putting a shortcut to the Elmo page on the Sesame Street website onto the desktop, for the young folks to click on. Most of the time, it has Elmo's face as the icon. Sometimes it has just the generic IE6 icon, and they can't recognize it. i didn't specify any icon in the "properties/change icon" box. ?? what gives? Gzuckier 18:01, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure what caused this, but you can change the icon yourself. In Windows 98 you right click on the current icon, select "Properties", go to the "Shortcut" tab, then pick the "Change Icon" button. If you do this on a computer which has the icon, this will tell you where to find it. You can then copy the good icon to the same location on the other computers and select it. You might have a problem with the directory not existing or you not having write access to it or even the disk being full. StuRat 18:13, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

The icon comes from the favicon file on the website. Our article does not directly address the use on the desktop, however it does mention that sometimes the graphic will be lost if the browser cache is emptied; I'd guess that is what is making Elmo go away. The disk cache (IE calls this "Temporary Internet Files"), will delete old files to make room for new ones, so if Elmo hasn't been tickled for awhile (sorry), he will disappear. To make him stick around permanently, you'd need to make a local copy of the icon file, then assign the local file to the desktop URL shortcut. --LarryMac | Talk 19:12, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

ah so. esoteric knowledge. thanks. Gzuckier 17:02, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

Here's my continuation of the question...

Here's the explanation: I use Maxell DVD-R discs with a gold-like label with an SP mode storage of 2 hours. They can record TV and have movies and episodes of shows burned onto them. My computer is an HP vs17e with an HP modem. It detects blank DVDs with movies and episodes of shows burned onto them, but doesn't detect blank DVDs with recorded stuff from TV. What do I thoroughly need to solve the situation?

Mmm... Something like that happened to me on one of my drives whenever the CD/DVD session isn't closed. I had to borrow another computer with Easy CD Creator to close it before it would read on mine. Perhaps your TiVo or DVR or whatever you're using creates multiple sessions and the same thing is happening? --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 19:17, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

css/html question

I wanted to add an image in a certain spot on my webpage, and I did so by adding this to the style sheet:

td#navbar ul:after{content: url("image.gif")}

and it worked great and went right where I wanted it to go. Now I'm hoping to resize it, and the first thing I tried was

td#navbar ul:after{content: url("image.gif"); width:166px}

and no amount of fooling around can get that to work. Does anyone know why? Should it work? Is there another way to make it work? Obviously I can resize my image file or go back and put it into the html manually without css, but I don't want to do any of that and I'm now curious as to why this wouldn't work. Thanks :: Registrar 18:45, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Be careful using the :before and :after pseudoclasses - they won't work in any version of Internet Explorer. More info here. — Matt Eason ^{(Talk • Contribs)} 18:56, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

gahh, good point. Thanks Registrar 19:06, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

UK phone numbers

hi,

is there anyone with the phone number 01234 567890? or 01234 01234? etc?

another thing...can you kind of 'personalise' your HOME phone no. , like number plates, in any way, i know you change it sometimes, ie for security reasons or if your moving house but still local, but can you just go to BT and ask to change it to something else?

thanks, --84.67.217.53 19:49, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

01234 is the dialing code for Bedford. 01234 567 890 is used as a placeholder number on loads of websites, so I don't envy whoever has it (if anyone does). Ofcom does withhold certain numbers for use in fiction, but it's not among those. — Matt Eason ^{(Talk • Contribs)} 20:02, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

More info - apparently 01234 567890 was referred to as the 'golden' Bedford number within Oftel, and was protected for some time (source). The latest information I can find is that Oftel decided to open up the 01234 56 block in August 2002 (source). — Matt Eason ^{(Talk • Contribs)} 20:12, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Phone them and find out?? 213.48.15.234 10:05, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

Regarding buying personalised phone numbers, there may be some companies that do it - i know with BT it's basically you get what you're given. If you use SkypeOut you can choose your own phone number (for a few quid a year), but most of the good ones are gone, and they're fairly limited. Also, there are plenty of companies who will bind an 0845 number of your choice to your standard line, so you might be lucky and get a good one there. -Benbread 16:38, 21 June 2007 (UTC)