Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 May 25

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May 25

Cannot copy file onto flash drive

I have a 1GB flash drive and I'm trying to copy some files onto the drive. I click and I get a Windows error message saying the "directory or file cannot be created." What can I do? --Blue387 08:54, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

You could try to reformat it first, so the filesystem is recreated. Keep in mind that this will wipe all data from the flashdrive (well, strictly speaking most data could be recovered until it is overwritten, but for practical purposes...) JH-man 09:20, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Also, maybe first check whether ~the flashdisk simply isn't FULL? JH-man 09:32, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Check you can use the drive on another machine to ensure the drive does work and it's not some problem intrinsic to the computer you're using. If the drive appears faulty try reformatting, though this may not work, or may just be a temporary fix. It's also possible that there's simply not room on the drive for the file (the file could be too big or there may be too much other stuff on the drive) - check file sizes and ensure there's room. --jjron 09:44, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

I have only used up 349MB, I'll try the reformat and get back to you. --Blue387 09:47, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Check that the disk isn't write-protected. This may be in the form of a "switch" on the flash drive itself with a picture of a lock or something. Rfwoolf 09:51, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Make sure the directory name doesn't use crazy symbols. Some file systems can't use some characters. --h2g2bob (talk) 22:46, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

I formatted the flash drive and it works now. Thanks! --Blue387 07

04, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

DVD format

What is the difference between DVD-R DVD+R DVD-RW DVD+rw??59.92.243.156

-R and +R are write-once while -RW and +RW are rewritable, for one. Our articles on DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW outline some of the technical differences. — Matt Eason ^{(Talk • Contribs)} 10:54, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

+ and - refer to different formats. You want to make sure that if your drive only does one or the other that they match up with the right formats. --140.247.240.232 19:06, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Another excel macro question

I'd like to create a macro that looks at each row in a spreadsheet and if column W has "XXXXXX" in that row then the macro must take whatever is in column V and put it into column U. This is what I did:

Sub Macro1()

   For Row = 2 To 125
       Set curCell = Cells(Row, 23)
       If curCell.Value = "XXXXXX" Then
           Set curCell = Cells(Row, 22)
           Selection.Copy
           Set curCell = Cells(Row, 21)
           Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlPasteValues, Operation:=xlNone, SkipBlanks _
           :=False, Transpose:=False
       End If
   Next Row

End Sub

The macro seems to be copying and pasting whichever cell was selected before I run it onto itself. Help? Zain Ebrahim 11:48, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

try this:

------------------------------------------------------------------

For Row = 2 To 125

myrange = "W" & Row

Range(myrange).Select

If ActiveCell.Value = "XXXXXX" Then

ActiveCell.Offset(0, -2) = ActiveCell.Offset(0, -1)

End If

Next Row

-------------------------------------------------------------------

By explicitly selecting the cell you want to look at through Range(myrange).Select you put the focus on the field that you are wanting to compare, and you can manipulate other cells around it through the activecell.offset function. Offset(0,-2) is 0 rows, -2 columns, so if you were on column W then OffSet(0,-2) is the same row on column U. --Czmtzc 12:39, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

It worked. Macros are great. Thanks a lot. Zain Ebrahim 13:26, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

You shouldn't need a macro...It should just be (inside U's formula)... =if(w1="XXXXX",V1," ") Unless you explicitly want to remove the value of V of course. Then just copy the formula down for as many rows as you need. ny156uk 16:48, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Check out the VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions as well, as they do things similar to what you are trying to do. --140.247.240.232 17:55, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Whenever I'm working on macros in excel, I keep an extra button handy, and for things like that I will 'record' the macro on the extra button and just copy over the code. It's useful because VBA in excel has a lot of operators and commands and things that are specific to excel. - 24.68.64.122 19:56, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Installing Vista

I'm using Windows XP and I have another partion with Ubuntu. I'd like to install Windows Vista over Ubuntu so I can use Vista but still have XP because I know there's compatibility issues with Vista. When I start the installation for Vista will it be aware of the Ubuntu partion to overrite? and secondly, how do I set up the boot strap loader as I only have experience with the loaders such as Lilo and GRUB. --Kiltman67 23:20, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Vista will probably try to overwrite ubuntu and XP. The best way to do this might be to install a small version of linux, like Puppy Linux, and use that to anchor GRUB, and load XP and Vista with grub. The standard way to do that is XP->Ubuntu though, so I don't know how well installing windows after GRUB would work, Windows isn't very friendly. You might want to ask on Ubuntuforums.com -- Phoeba Wright^OBJECTION! 23:50, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Do the partitioning inside Ubuntu (resizing ext3 or NTFS partitions etc.), install Vista, then use the liveCD or the alternate CD to install grub back using grub-install. --antilived^{T | C | G} 00:28, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Just to clarify, I want a Dualboot system with XP and Vista, but no Ubuntu. Sorry for any confusion. --Kiltman67 00:53, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Read what I said. The linux is just there to give you a way to use and manage GRUB. -- Phoeba Wright^OBJECTION! 02:13, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for making that clearer. Will the partioning tools that come with the Vista installation be able to see the Linux partition even when the OS (at least XP, can't say for sure with Vista) can't? --Kiltman67 03:53, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Actually if you don't want Ubuntu anymore you can do fixmbr in XP recovery console and then install Vista, which will detect XP and put it into NTLDR. And yes, you can always delete a partition, even if you don't have read support on it. --antilived^{T | C | G} 05:04, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

How do I get to the Recovery Console? I'm presuming it's an option in the boot menu when you press F8 but please tell me if I'm wrong. --Kiltman67 15:04, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

I have a related question that isn't really different enough to warrant a whole new question. After installing Vista I know I can access the contents of the XP partition, but will Vista add all the software in there to the start menu as it is in XP or do I need to do that myself, and if so is there an easy way to do it rather then adding shortcuts for everything one by one. --Kiltman67 17:03, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

You put in the XP CD, let it load all its stuff, then there will be an option for recover console. And no, Vista, or any other OS for that matter, will not automatically add the software that you've installed. Putting shortcuts to pre-installed software are not recommended and you will need to throw a few hours just to install all the software again (and doing this every 3 months is really annoying, that's why I made the switch to Ubuntu).--antilived^{T | C | G} 22:43, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

When you say put the XP CD in and let it load its stuff do you mean booting from it? --Kiltman67 23:01, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes, like what you do when you want to install XP. Just don't select install and select recovery console instead. --antilived^{T | C | G} 10:33, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

I tried it and when it asked for the Administrative password it told me my password was wrong. There's only one account other than the guest and so obviously it's the Administrator, but it wouldn't accept the password. Any ideas what could be going wrong? --Kiltman67 01:11, 29 May 2007 (UTC)