Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 April 26

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Computing desk
< April 25 << Mar | April | May >> April 27 >
Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.


Contents


[edit] April 26

[edit] Javascript onclick assignment

I'm having some difficulty with something I wrote (PHP is more my thing than Javascript). This script works in Firefox, but not IE or Opera:

function ActionCallback() {
        for (image in imagearray['images']) {
                document.getElementById(checkid_prefix + imagearray['images'][image]['filename']).onclick = function() {
                window.alert('Hi');};
                document.getElementById(radioid_prefix + imagearray['images'][image]['filename']).onclick = function() {
                window.alert('Bye');};
                }
        return true;
        }

Does anyone else see the problem? I've been playing around with IE's script debugger, and it's been driving me crazy (Not nearly as good as Firebug). - RedWordSmith 03:05, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

for ... in ... is new for JavaScript 1.7.[1] Anyone know what version MSIE supports? --h2g2bob
According to the JScript article, JScript 5.7 (released with IE7) approximately corresponds with JavaScript 1.5. — Matt Eason (Talk • Contribs) 11:47, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
Aah, but according to MSDN for...in has been supported since JScript 5.0 (IE5). — Matt Eason (Talk • Contribs) 11:57, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
I'm sure for... in has been supported for quite some time, just not in that form in the Mozilla article. I'm sure
for(prop in document) { document.write(prop+"<br />"); }
works in Internet Explorer 5 and Firefox 1.5, for example. It might be that for... in in this case is also iterating over all the properties of the array (such as length), meaning imagearray['images'][image] will return undefined which will break .getElementById(). I think, anyway. x42bn6 Talk 22:28, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] wierd yellow box that now appears on every wikipedia page

today i have logged on to wikipedia, and every page i go on has a little wierd yellow box saying "early registration for wikimania 2007 is open. the call for particopation is open until april 30." what does this mean?--Lerdthenerd 07:56, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Wikimania is the wikimedia conference held each year, and the yellow box is just a notice. It shows on every page, for everyone. You can learn about WikiMania here: http://wikimania2007.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page gorffy 08:13, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

thanks Gorffy--Lerdthenerd 08:15, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

The Dismiss to the right of it will make it go away - X201 10:40, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Help check over my UNIX shell script?

I'm about to submit my first. The script concerns rotation of log files: a log file will be archived with a suffix of '.1', and increase as more log files are archived until a fixed number of log files are accumulated, at which point the oldest file is pruned. Could anyone critique it and tell me if there is anything wrong with it?

http://freewebs.com/lvlarx/rotator.txt

Thanks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Lvlarx (talk • contribs) 12:18, 26 April 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Computer temperature

Hello, I have hardware doctor and it says that my SYS temp is 51 degrees Celcius and my cpu temp is 45 degres celcius. Is this normal temperature? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Drexalot (talk • contribs) 12:34, 26 April 2007 (UTC).

That's within the normal range ; if anything it's rather cold. Brrr :) -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:41, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
Why would you want it that cold? Can't even cook breakfast on that! 213.48.15.234 13:21, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
As your CPU is within the system and procuding a lot of heat it can hardly be cooler than its surroundings. Something in your numbers is messed up. They are either wrong, or there is some significant heat source right next to your SYS sensor.
It's celsius, so I doubt it's hotter than that in the room. Recury 17:42, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
I think they're saying the inside of the case is hotter than the cpu -- but the cpu is a big hot thing in the middle of the case so should not be cooler. I suspect the numbers are swapped over, which would be quite normal temperatures. Cpu can go up to 60-70 before you need to worry, I think. --h2g2bob 20:26, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Program to print a conversation-view summary of an email folder

The work I do sometimes involves the forensic analysis of large collections of third-party emails (back-and-forth exchanges). In order to gain an overview of the conversations (which sometimes reach positively Byzantine degrees of complexity) I'd like to be able to print a summary of a mail folder, with threads indented. While most current mail clients will display a folder in threaded-view, I don't know of any that will print the folder window (the top-right pane in Firefox, for example). There seems to be no way in Firefox, Evolution, or Outlook 2003 for this to be printed (bar some naff printscreenery).

I've considered doing something like trying to wedge the email archive into something like GNU Mailman (producing nice output like [2]) but that seems like overkill (and will be rather too hard for the nontechnical users I'm trying to help).

Does anyone know of a program or email-client-extension that can do this. XP or Linux would be fine, and while mbox, maildir, live IMAP, and .pst archives are all desirable, I'll take what I can get. Thanks. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 12:39, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] /boot-equivalent for Microsoft Windows?

The BIOS of a computer does not recognize an external drive. Linux on the external drive can be booted by copying its /boot to an internal drive. What is the equivalent method for Microsoft Windows? --Masatran 12:48, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Booting XP is done by NTLDR, which reads boot.ini. NTLDR is really only intended for booting MS OSes, but googling for "NTLDR boot linux" finds lots of tutorials. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 13:03, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
Clarification: I need to boot Microsoft Windows located on the external drive, by copying some small utility to the internal drive. How can I use NTLDR for this purpose? --Masatran 14:20, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
That seems to be the purpose of this tutorial, where the GRUB configuration determines which drive it finally boots to. But I've never tried it, and reading the tutorial rather makes me not want to. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 14:46, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Computer display transfer

Skipping the long details, let's say I'm trying to run a display from a desktop or laptop into a projector and sound system. How should I go about doing this? Price isn't an issue. Thanks.--the ninth bright shiner talk 15:05, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Until recently, most computers put out a VGA output using a very standardised connector and essentially all video projectors accept input using the same connector. Fancier setups interpose an amplifier/signal splitter box so your computer can drive both a CRT monitor and the projector, but you don't need this if you're using your laptop; just put the laptop into "mirror" mode where the laptop display shows the same thing as the projector.
More-modern computers have different video ports such as a DVI port. Most of these can still output "VGA" video through a very inexpensive adapter. Some modern projectors may also accept DVI directly.
Sound is equally easy; get a cable that has an 1/8" stereo miniplug on one end and the appropriate connectors for your sound system (often, RCA connectors) at the other end. The miniplug plugs into your PC's "headphone" jack.
If the sound system and projector are far away, you still may need an amplifier near your PC; such gadgets are available from computer shoppes. Sometimes, the sound system will experience a buzzing due to the existence of a ground loop. If you have a laptop and your presentation isn't too long, try unplugging your laptop from its power supply (so it runs just on its battery). Otherwise, you'll need some audio isolation transformers.
Atlant 15:58, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
As Atlant said, any projector system made in the last 10 years or so should have both a VGA in port and a stereo "headphone" jack. Usually you don't need an adapter for the sound at all; for video it depends on your laptop (many have VGA ports, some have mini-VGA or DVI ports which require $20 adapters, see your computer retailer for those). --24.147.86.187 22:38, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
An alternative way to do the sound is through the S/PDIF port if you have one. This has better quality and only uses RCA cords, and is worth doing if you have a compatible amplifier. Hope this helps

Mix Lord 00:29, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

Recently I've had the join to interface a newish laptop (no VGA, only DVI port) and projector (also no VGA only DVI port) using VGA extension cord. Which meant using two DVI/VGA converters. Since those are pretty small be sure not to forget one when you need it... To connect computer with sound system you will need still more converters, like Atlant said, maybe even RCA to XLR converterters. (The wireless microphone I'm working with requires 3 converters to plug into the mixer) Shinhan 12:23, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
Shinhan, if you'll forgive me, I've added a Wikilink to your reply.
Atlant 15:44, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Ugly Bug Called

I have Smitfraud-C.toolbar888 in my PC and wonder if it is possible to get rid of it. I have tried several commercial 'solutions' (that weren't!) Specifically I would like advice from someone who has experienced the problem and cleared it - permanently - if that's possible. Richard Avery 16:19, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

(http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=9190) is a site that has someone with the same problem. I don't have experience of the bug, but hopefully the link will help. ny156uk 16:36, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Hey, ny156uk, that site looks very encouraging. You could be my friend for life. Very many thanks for your suggestion. Richard Avery 18:19, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

It's the forum for Spybot Search & Destroy, a very well respected scanner for nasties that get onto your computer. Very much worth a download if they still do a free version. --h2g2bob 20:20, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Yes, thanks for your suggestion, unfortunately I have tried this one and though they (Spybot) seem to think it will clear Smitfraud it certainly didn't in my case, although it did clear a couple of other critters that my usual anti-spyware hadn't picked up - so it wasn't a wasted exercise. Thanks h2g2bob for your time and thought.Richard Avery 21:20, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Usually the best way to kill viruses is Hijack this in safe mode, but if you don't feel comfortable messing with your registry and potentially having to reinstall windows, I don't recommend it. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Feba (talk • contribs) 22:06, 26 April 2007 (UTC).
Often, when something like Spybot detects a baddie and tries to remove it, but fails, it was because the baddie was running at the time so could recreate the deleted files and registry entries. Before running Spybot, you first need to use your Task Manager to kill every process that isn't needed to run Spybot. Hopefully Spybot will then succeed. StuRat 23:06, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
Safe Mode job would work too. Splintercellguy 02:03, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

What I love to d-o is from time to time go into the "Addons" in internet explorer and simply disable the ones I don't trust - this doesn't uninstall them, it just disables them. In Internet Explorer 7, click Tools -> Manage Addons -> Enable or Disable Addons... and go through the list disabling the ones you don't want. It is also worth mentioning that sometimes the professional remover programs need you to be in safe mode to work completely. Good luck Rfwoolf 13:14, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

Thanks everybody, I seem to have a heap of stuff to work with here. what a great place this is Richard Avery 19:50, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] changing keyboard layout

I downloaded a program called Keyboard Remapper to change four keys in Windows. Every program I've used so far reads these the way I want them to, except some Flash games which now refuse to read those keys as either the changed or original values. Is there a way to fix this? 172.144.83.53 21:36, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Sounds like the flash games are reading the actual keys and not their values (i.e. looking for "the first letter key" rather than "the q key", which can be remapped). I doubt there is anything you can do except complain to the game designer that that's a poor way to do things, one which doesn't appreciate the user's intentions. --24.147.86.187 22:40, 26 April 2007 (UTC)


[edit] a place do download colors schemes for windows XP

There is a website where i can download colours schemes for windows xp (I am not talking about themes, just colours schemes).
PS: I want colours schemes that don't need more programs to run. Exdeathbr 23:20, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

By themes I guess you mean things like WindowsBlinds but without the programs. Microsoft has some things here: [3]. But for Windows Classic, I'm not quite sure where they are. x42bn6 Talk 23:37, 26 April 2007 (UTC)


I was talking about this: http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4272/imageuo2.jpg , there is a way to change this with non-microsoft programs (you have more options with them) and there is the normal way that you just download a new colour scheme and put in the right folder and you can choose this colour scheme on the list of colour schemes list. My question is where i can find a site that I can download new colour schemes on the second way (that don't need external programs) Exdeathbr 03:20, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ubuntu 7.04 on a Macbook Pro

I'm trying to run Ubuntu 7.04 on my Macbook Pro. Once it boots, it works fine. Getting it to boot is the problem. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. I tried holding down both the c and option keys, and Ubuntu boots about 1 out of 6 times I try it. Any suggestions? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.195.124.101 (talk) 23:47, 26 April 2007 (UTC).

What happens the other 5 out of 6 times? --24.147.86.187 00:48, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
The CD ejects then OS X starts up. Please help people! I'd really appreciate it!--71.195.124.101 01:10, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
But you can still boot the liveCD 1 out of 6 times right? So then what is the problem? --antilivedT | C | G 10:39, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
I want to know why it is happening! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.135.36.225 (talk) 22:35, 27 April 2007 (UTC).
Why are you running the live CD, instead of installing it to the PC? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Feba (talk • contribs) 00:45, 28 April 2007 (UTC).
It's no longer booting into the LiveCD. I can't get it to install! Please help!--71.195.124.101 15:12, 28 April 2007 (UTC)

First off, you need to be MUCH MORE CLEAR in your question, we can't help you if we don't know what's going on. secondly, use ubuntuforums.org -- Phoeba WrightOBJECTION! 01:01, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

this should help you How to install ubuntu on a mac

--Nerdd 21:08, 30 April 2007 (UTC)