Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2008 October 29

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October 29

about wikipedia

how can i use it more efficiently? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.63.102.42 (talk) 06:58, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

For a start, asking more specific questions will generally inspire more helpful answers. —Bkell (talk) 08:30, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Amongst the vast array of pages at your command on Wikipedia via the search box on the left or by using a search engine like Google there is a page devoted specifically to 'it'. Hope that was more helpful :) Dmcq (talk) 08:48, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Okay I relent, how about phrasing a question like:

How do I phrase queries in the search box so I don't get irrelevant things?

How come Google gets things on Wikipedia which wiki itself doesn't?

Will I get full marks if I copy a article from wiki?

How reliable is wiki when it says somewhere is a hellhole and no-one in their right mind would be seen dead there?

Has wiki been compared for accuracy to other encyclopaedias?

Can I put my personal research into wiki?

Anyway you see the idea Dmcq (talk) 11:24, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

wiki is not the same as Wikipedia. 207.58.235.243 (talk) 16:50, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Look at Wikipedia:Welcome, then the Wikipedia:Tutorial. --h2g2bob (talk) 14:26, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

what is strategic procurement ?

i want to know abt the strategic procurement . What is it and how can one go abt it . What is the essentials of it. How it can benefit an organisation ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ggosain (talk • contribs) 07:05, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Assuming this is as much a homework question as it appears to be, does the glossary of your textbook indicate that another term for "strategic procurement" is strategic sourcing? -- kainaw™ 13:29, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Welcome to the Wikipedia Reference Desk. Your question appears to be a homework question. I apologize if this is a misevaluation, but it is our policy here to not do people's homework for them, but to merely aid them in doing it themselves. Letting someone else do your homework does not help you learn how to solve such problems. Please attempt to solve the problem yourself first. If you need help with a specific part of your homework, feel free to tell us where you are stuck and ask for help. If you need help grasping the concept of a problem, by all means let us know. Thank you. DendodgeTalk^Contribs 15:33, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

I suggest you start at Strategic sourcing and Procurement, then check the external links, references and 'see also' lists at the bottom of each article and go from there. Exxolon (talk) 23:08, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Mac Installation

I am using an iMac, running on 10.4.11, but the system has become corrupted. So I need to re-install. Obviously best to wipe and start over... but on Mac OS I do not know which files I should first back-up. (i.e. The iPhoto library). Naturally I have back-ups of all my working files. Shall appreciate guidance.86.194.251.131 (talk) 09:42, 29 October 2008 (UTC)DT

You should be able to reinstall the OS without wiping the hard-drive, thus saving your required files but replacing the OS. In what way has the system become corrupt? 194.221.133.226 (talk) 11:11, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

I'm curious as to why you think you need to wipe out everything. Dismas|^(talk) 14:31, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Previous experience has shown that just replacing the OS is a stopgap if there is a deeper problem. Better, I feel, to wipe the disk and start over. But I don't (yet) understand OS X, and I can't find any guidance from Apple. So, please folks, what are the essential stored things within the OS (such as the iPhoto library) that I should back-up ?86.194.251.131 (talk) 16:24, 29 October 2008 (UTC)DT

Save your ENTIRE home directory and the home directory of other users and you will be fine, afaik. Kushal (talk) 21:53, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Assuming your applications are well-behaved (and by now, they should be), you need to back up the "Users" folder, and should probably back up the "Library" folder.

However, MacOS (unlike Windows or Linux) is self-contained. A simple re-install (without wiping the hard disk) will completely replace the OS with a new version, while leaving your documents and applications intact. --Carnildo (talk) 23:23, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Many thanks, just what I wanted to know.86.197.148.142 (talk) 15:06, 30 October 2008 (UTC)DT

If you wanted to have OS X wipe itself clean and have all the applications reset their preferences, I am afraid that might not happen if you leave Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/ untouched. Maybe an easier route in this case is to create a new user account and start anew? If you want to back up everything in users and then wipe the hard disk clean, that's another matter. Kushal (talk) 00:53, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

Network printers compatible with PS3

The latest verion of PlayStation 3 system software adds the following "Under [Printer Settings] > [Printer Selection], you can now select printers that support network connectivity" But I can't find either a list of compatible network printers, or details as to which protocol(s) they'd need to support.

I've tried asking Sony through their online support tool

Is there an updated list of compatible printers (expecially network ones) after the 2.50 firmware update? All I can find is (really long URL) with no mention of HP/Network printers that're now supported.

But I didn't have any joy

Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your recent correspondence. Unfortunately we do not have information on future game, download releases or updated compatible printers. For further information on these topics, please visit either of the following websites: Official PlayStation Website at: http://uk.playstation.com/ or The Official PlayStation Forums at: http://community.eu.playstation.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55&langid=4 I hope that this information is helpful, but if you should have any further queries, then please call the Network Gaming Careline on 08702 422 299 (national rate) where a member of our team will be happy to help you further. Please quote your Reference Number: 1176010 Our operating hours are between 8am - 10pm Monday to Friday, and 10am - 6pm Saturday and Sunday. Yours sincerely, Farrukh Mahmood PlayStation Network Gaming Careline Sony Computer Entertainment UK

Does anyone have any ideas as to what's compatible? Cheers, davidprior (talk) 13:53, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

I didn't realize I could use my printer with my PS3. Just tried it. I pointed it to the IP address of my printer and selected PS (postscript) and it prints. I didn't have to install any drivers or anything since PS is a rather generic standard for printers. I know this doesn't answer your question, but thanks for letting me know I could do this. -- kainaw™ 01:25, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

I imagine any postscript compatible printer (with some way to connect to the network, whether over ethernet or an adaptor) would work, I and I'd be willing to guess those are pretty easy to find a list of. I would try whatever printer you are currently using (especially if it has an ethernet port) before going out and buying anything. Good luck! DaRkAgE7_[Talk] 07:16, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

Stacking transparent GIFs using CSS

Say I have some HTML code:

<img src="grass.gif" />
<img src="tree.gif" />
<img src="sprite.gif" />

All the images are the same size (32x32).

How would I go about stacking them without using absolute positioning? All besides the bottom layer have some degree of transparency.

All the images are within a single table cell, 32x32 pixels. I tried using position: relative; top: -32px; but it didn't resize the table cell's height.

Bad CSS would be OK as it's only a mockup. x42bn6 Talk Mess 14:55, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Couldn't you just make one image in Photoshop? If you don't have it, I'll do it for you - just poke me on my talk page. DendodgeTalk^Contribs 15:32, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

That might not be a good answer. He may be generating either the web page or the images on the fly. However, it's still possible that a PHP script could combine the images so that the user only has to download the single combined image APL (talk) 20:05, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Though that can be pretty processor intensive unless you set up a caching system. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 23:06, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Try using a negative margin-top. e.g., position: relative; margin-top: -32px;. In Safari on OSX that resizes the table cell as well. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 22:54, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

If you do not use absolute positioning, there is no HTML/CSS layout that is "stacked". Your only option is to fake it with backgrounds. Make a div with the first image as a background. Inside that, put in a second div with the second image as a background. Inside that, you can just put the third image. Logically, you'll have three images stacked - but HTML/CSS is not a programming language. It is markup. So, you are only suggesting that you want the three images stacked. The browser has the last word on the matter and may decide that since the middle div's background is covering the bottom div's background, there's no need to show the bottom div's background. That's when you head down the nasty road of hacking for one browser, which breaks another one, then you hack for that, which breaks another one... -- kainaw™ 01:21, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

This is incorrect. If you use the method I describe transparent GIFs will stack and the transparency will be cumulative. I tried it and it worked fine. I haven't figured out the order they stack in but it's probably predictable. At least in Safari. I've had problems with IE, Firefox, and Safari all even interpreting how to render absolutely positioned z-ordered elements in exactly the same way, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was some tweaking that needed to be done.--98.217.8.46 (talk) 01:30, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, it worked, negative margins. Thanks. x42bn6 Talk Mess 14:58, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

changing motherboard on dell vostro 1400 laptop

I am Taradas from india. Recently, i had contacted dell support center for changing my motherboard. I would like to insert a new motherboard having NVIDIA 8400 video card for better game performance. Can u please tell me what could be the possible price for changing motherboard, in indian rupees. Or is it possible to change my video card which is a MOBILE INTEL 965 XPRESS CHIP SET FAMILY. Please respond at the earliest......... Remember my laptop is DELL VOSTRO 1400.

I'm not sure such a thing is even possible. Unlike desktop computers, the motherboard on a laptop is proprietary to the particular brand and model of laptop. Dell laptops are supposedly built to order and customers are expected to choose from the small range of options available when placing their order. You could go back to Dell Customer Support but, unless the laptop is faulty in some way, I doubt you will get much help. Astronaut (talk) 17:49, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Yep - I agree. Laptops are simply not designed to be upgraded or modified in any way. There is zero chance of getting what you want. You'll either have to stick with what you have - or buy an engite new computer - but you should strongly consider getting a regular deskside PC instead. If you don't need the portability of a laptop (or if your existing laptop is good enough for 'mobile' use - and you could live with only having fancy graphics when you're at your desk) - then a deskside PC is a vastly better choice. My trusty deskside PC is now over 15 years old and originally ran Windows 3.11 - but since every single part of it has been replaced and/or upgraded perhaps a half dozen or a dozen times, it's as up-to-date as you could possibly wish. (If I'm honest - I probably haven't replaced the power cord!) The Ship of Theseus paradox applies here! Laptops a re a disaster in that regard. The stuff it's equipped with on the day you buy it is the stuff that'll be in it the day it gets hauled off to the landfill. You can maybe increase the amount of RAM - and probably replace the hard drive to get more space - but that's about extent of it. SteveBaker (talk) 18:57, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

BAD_POOL_HEADER BSOD OMGWTFBBQ!!!!

Alright, why the HELL do i keep getting BAD_POOL_HEADER bsods every damn time i start up my computer? What is a BAD_POOL_HEADER! This only happens when the following software is installed: TI-83 Application SDK and TI-83 GRAPHLINK. Yes, i uninstalled them completely (and just for fun deleted anything related to those programs including registry stuff, which i know how to remove, so that's not the problem) and i am still intermittently getting these error messages. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG!!! (PS i know i'm rather profane in this question, i'm just completely fed up with this computer (and myself)) 31306D696E6E69636B6D (talk) 16:43, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Try this (second post). x42bn6 Talk Mess 17:07, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

AHA! i've found the problem. the file TICALC.SYS (my calculator driver) was overwritten by both the SDK and GRAPHLINK, causing errors in the registry concerning version info and such. THIS was the cause. I reinstalled the CORRECT driver from the TI website and now everything works fine. THANK YOU x42bn6! 31306D696E6E69636B6D (talk) 19:10, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

SFRIO600.DLL

Question moved from Talk:Computer virus by Astronaut (talk) 17:10, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

I don't know if this is a virus or something else, or a joke, but it runned itself when I plugged my USB memory into my computer. I have "Show all files" turned on, so I see there are two hidden files: 'SFRIO600.DLL' and 'AUTORUN.INF'. Upon activation it started to run the harddrive. I tried to "Disconnect saffely" (the USB memory), but it couldn't, so I plugged it out (then it showed a message that memory is not present (obviously the virus was requesting it)). I tried to turn of the computer trough menu, it stalled (saving changes to Windows). I tried the power button, it didn't turn off, I didn't want to press and wait, so I flipped the power switch on the power supply. (I write (from a different computer) here about this because virus reporting on the antivirus programs site suck really)

My antivirus program didn't react at all (AVG). Searching the web for 'sfrio600' I found nothing. Searching just 'sfrio' I've found a lunatic site called: 'sfrio.com'

What is this? What to do next? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.101.85.164 (talk) 09:03, 29 October 2008

I couldn't find anything about a sfrio600.dll, but I did find something about a sprio600.dll that said that DLL is used by Rio 600 MP3 players. Do you have a RIO device?Laenir (talk) 19:27, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

I got that virus on some of the computers on University here. That's the trouble with public computers - never know who visitred what and why. Maybe somebody has what you asked... Why? My guess is that 'sfrio.com' has to to with it (the text they wrote points to it). Maybe that's what term 'poisoned site' refers to... if only I knew what 'poisenod site' means... if there actually is such term...

Search for one type of Wikipedia templates

Is this possible?

I've formulated a new WikiProject named WikiProject Haystack, which aims to highlight the most essential in Wikipedia by gathering the most important information into special templates. However, it would have full potential only if such templates could be searched separately. So before I officially propose it I'd like to know - is it possible to sort out such templates in the search-engine. One example would be to add another namespace, such as Essentials:(Article name). If it's impossible, could the search engine be modified to search through templates of a certain category? Mikael Häggström (talk) 17:28, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

The namespaces is hardcoded in, so it would take alterations of the media wiki software to make this possible within the wikipedia software. Other than that, external applications could be made to cross index Special:Whatlinkshere with a search output. Taemyr (talk) 17:51, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Well, perhaps it would be worth to make those alterations in the software. Since several pages might link to each template, and not only the main article, I don't see how the Whatlinkshere would help. Could there perhaps rather be some kind of marker inside each template that search engines (preferably Wikipedia's own one) could snap up? Mikael Häggström (talk) 18:48, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

What links here marks those pages that a given template is transcluded onto. So those pages on Special:WhatLinksHere/Template:AfDM marked with (transclusion) are the articles that are currently up for AfD. Taemyr (talk) 18:56, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

I see. Still, it seems like those templates need to have an additional marker or something like that to separate them from any other templates transcluded into the articles. Mikael Häggström (talk) 05:52, 30 October 2008 (UTC)

should I make an old swap partition fat32 or ntfs?

I have an old computer (666 mhz pentium III w/ 256 mb ram) I installed windows xp on. I wiped and created ntfs for the main partition, but also created a second partition for the swap.

Should my swap partition be formatted fat32 or ntfs?

Thank you!

If you are only using Windows XP and do not plan to dual boot, go ahead and format it as ntfs. Kushal (talk) 21:51, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

it wouldn't be slower? this is a very old machine!

Shouldn't matter. A swap file is a single large file; if it's the only thing on the swap partition, the differences between the formats won't be noticable. --Carnildo (talk) 23:27, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

I'd say its a smart move on your part if you have swap in a separate partition. By the way, I wonder how easy it is to have the home directory under a different partition too ... documents and settings in different partition takes you to PlanetAMD64. I am only suggesting this if your computer has recently been formatted and therefore does not have any documents yet. Defragmenting in my Pentium 4/1.5 GHz, 40 GB hard disk was not that fun. Kushal (talk) 06:51, 30 October 2008 (UTC)

help desk assignment

hi im a student at Institute of Applied Learning and i am currently working on a help desk assignment and i would like to ask a few question about working of a help desk 1.What kind of script do help desk use? 2.What type of problems they encounter? 3.How do they record problems?

Um ... MediaWiki and perhaps a bot for archiving and a bot for signing unsigned posts ?? Why would RD have any special ... uh oh ... is that a homework question? Kushal (talk) 22:18, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Ooh, busted. And... wait a sec, how did that post not trigger the auto-sign bot? flaminglawyer^c 04:35, 30 October 2008 (UTC)

Sinebot is AWOL. --LarryMac | Talk 14:45, 30 October 2008 (UTC)

Help desks answer the phone and help people on the topic they are set up for. Computer help desks are very common, answering questions about how to use programs and what to do about problems like broken computer, frozen screen, cannot log on, internet is slow... There is special problem management software that records details about the reporter, problem, resolution. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 20:33, 30 October 2008 (UTC)