Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2017 June 2

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June 2[edit]

Windows virtual machine[edit]

How exactly do you run a Windows XP virtual machine on Windows 7? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:C48C:89F3:D39F:6C61 (talk) 08:15, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

One way is to use Bochs - I've run Windows 8, Windows 7 and XP as vms on XP. Why virtualise XP under XP? Benchmarking, so I could see just how slow the later versions of Windows were, compared to XP. Using the same method, I have Slackware running under W10. --TrogWoolley (talk) 09:13, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Or VirtualBox. You will need some Windows XP install media (a CD-ROM or a an .iso file). First you install the VM software, then you set up your VM instance, then you just install XP on it just like you would for a metal machine. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 12:30, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
VirtualBox was the first thing I thought of too since it's free and fairly easy to set up. I found a Microsoft VHD pack with an XP image that should work. After you download & extract the VHD file, you can make a new VM in VirtualBox and when it asks you for the VHD info, point it to the Windows XP VHD. Random character sequence (talk) 15:51, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Virtual PC runs on Windows 7 and supports Windows XP as a guest. RudolfRed (talk) 16:32, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
I think I actually figured out how to solve the problem without resorting to virtualization, but thanks anyway! 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:68C1:51CC:3DC8:E141 (talk) 00:08, 4 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

.apk¬1[edit]

1)[edit]

I’ve managed to find and download “Word”, “Excel”, “OneNote” and “PowerPoint”, also able to use them (Word and Excel) without internet access to an extent. “PowerPoint.apk” is not used yet. My question is, “Could the saved file(s) be used by the PC’s designated “MS Office” applications after they are transferred?”

116.58.204.169 (talk) 19:01, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

2)[edit]

I’m unable to find “MS Outlook” (important), “Access”, “Frontpage”, “Publisher”… Could someone direct them to me in the “Google Play Store” please? My browsing method is limited, so a glance before download is required…

116.58.204.169 (talk) 19:01, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Outlook is easily located in the Google Play Store. Just search for "Outlook" and it's the first thing in the list.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.outlook
ApLundell (talk) 16:20, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

.apk¬2[edit]

What software should I use to access “hotmail.com” or “live.com” mail? 116.58.204.169 (talk) 19:01, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

There are a lot of email programs for Android.
Outlook should work, but there are many others. Search the play store for "Email" and you'll see many of them. ApLundell (talk) 16:21, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Smart phone 'charging method'[edit]

When I’m charging my “Smart phone”, what should I do?

1) Take it to the last point (15% my phone limit) than recharge it:

a) by switching the phone “off” than recharge it to:

i) 90% (this is the time when the phone shows green light)

ii) 100%.

b) by keeping the phone “on” than recharge it to (a)’s (i) or (ii).

P.S: My phone’s battery is of non-removable type, what is the best way to keep it well for over 5 years or so?

116.58.204.169 (talk) 19:01, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Likely a Lithium-ion battery inside. Read Memory_effect#Age_and_use.E2.80.94normal_end-of-life. --Kharon (talk) 01:01, 3 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Unlike other rechargeable devices, which seem to just keep charging the battery forever, mobile phones seem to have figured out how to do it right. So, I'd just trust the software to charge it optimally for battery life. StuRat (talk) 22:10, 3 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

If you want to maximise battery lifespan, you should generally avoid too many deep discharges and also avoid a full charge. 15% is actually a little low, 25% is more normally recommended although if you really want to maximise lifespan you should store it (i.e. don't use it) at this charge state and probably at a low temperature (above freezing though). The occasional full discharge isn't going to destroy your battery though and can be advantageous in helping your phone calibrate the % left. Your phone may or may not have the option to reduce maximum charging from 100%. Turning off the phone while charging may also have a small benefit in increasing lifespan although probably not that significantly and it may also make the % less calibration less accurate.

You shouldn't assume that the phone is always going to maximise lifespan of the battery. Yes designers do take it into account but they have to counter that with that the consumer expects from the phone and lifespan is only one factor (and actually probably a small one, particularly over a period of 5 years). For example, most phones (unlike some laptops) still use the battery when connected to power, so it has to regular charge the battery to keep it at 100%. It does come to a complete stop at 100% because not doing so not only reduces life span but could damage the battery in such a way to increase the risk of the infamous venting with flames. (By comparison, smart NiMH chargers do trickle charge after reaching 100% not because they want to damage the lifespan, but because this is better for NiMH batteries, this isn't a design flaw.)

However regularly topping up to 100% is not good for the life span, since as mentioned, you don't actually want the battery to spend a lot of time at 100%. But they still do it because consumers expect if they leave their phone on the charger for a long time, it will be 100% when they disconnect, not 85% because it reached 100% and then stopped charging and the owner then watched a few Youtube videos. And reducing the maximum voltage from 4.2V (or whatever) to 4.1V will often offer a resonable increase in lifespan with only a small capacity loss but few designers do this because they want the maximum safe capacity from the battery as consumers notice battery life a lot more easily than lifespan.

Note in any case 5 years is a long time and even treating the battery well you should expect a substanial reduction in battery life after 5 years.

Nil Einne (talk) 08:29, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Some Hybrid vehicles keep the traction battery (in LiOn or NiMH technology) charged between 40 to 90 percent all time for extending the life time. Not a mistake you to do so. Aware handling the old NiCd-batteries this way to memory effect. Only turn off the phone when it is not charging. --Hans Haase (有问题吗) 08:40, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

You're mistaken, there's no harm in turning off the phone when it is charging. The only possible negative effect (other than the fact your phone is off so you won't get calls etc) is as I indicated above namely depending on the design of the capacity measurement system, it may reduce its accuracy (i.e. the percentage left may be less reliable) but it won't affect the battery life span, it may actually have a small positive effect.

Also I would again be extremely cautious about assuming what a device does is always to do with extending the lifespan. For starters, NiMH and the various lithium ion technologies are fairly different. More importantly 90% sounds a little high compared to common recommendations for optimal lifespan for many lithium ion chemistries. They most likely keep it this high because again the consumer doesn't want it to be too low and additionally if you're trying to keep it at 40% to 75%, this is a much smaller target range and implies more frequent charging which may affect other parts of the vehicle. However only those familiar with whatever vehicle you are referring and the specific cells involved would be able to say for sure. (And actually 30% is usually considered an acceptable SoC to maximise lifespan. I wouldn't be surprised if 40% is chosen either because 30% is too low causing other negative effects the consumer may notice, or because if it allowed to reach that low there's a higher chance it will drop a fair amount lower.)

P.S. I primarily came back to mention that the other big difference between NiMH and lithium ion is that you can't have a dumb lithium ion charger unless you want the infamous venting with flames. Hence lithium ion charging is always fairly "smart" whereas it isn't uncommon NiMH charging is dumb, and even when it's smart it can still be a bit poorly designed. Designers unsurprisingly tend to pay more attention to what they're doing when one resonably possible outcome is fire, and there are also a lot of fairly simple chips for smart lithium ion charging. (Admitedly there are still some cost cutting decisions, e.g. multiple cell usage without individual cell control.)

Nil Einne (talk) 09:31, 5 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Sony Xperia Alarm Ringtone[edit]

The phone uses this particular audio (Alarm Xperia) for alarm purpose only. I require two downloadable link of stated audio, one for “PC”’s purpose and the other for “Smart phone”’s purpose. Could you help please?

Note: I’m unsure of the following i.e., one ‘‘file type’’ could be used for both enquoted machines…

116.58.204.169 (talk) 19:01, 2 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]