Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 August 15

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[edit] August 15

[edit] Vista "Run" and "Run as administrator"

I have UAC disabled (of course). But now any time I manually start a new process through the "Run" dialogue, or the New Task option in the task manager, it says "this task will be created with administrator privileges." Now hold on there cowboy, if I wanted cmd to be running with administrator privileges I'd use Ctrl+Shift+Enter. Is there any way to get "Run" to start programs with normal admin-level-but-not-really (the vista equivalent of a 'sudoer' I suppose) privileges? For that matter, am I automatically running everything I click on as an administrator since UAC is disabled? --frotht 04:04, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

Don't quote me on this because I'm not positive, but I assume that yes, everything you do is run as administrator privilages, unless your user has a different configueration. Hopefully someone that's certain can come along and confirm. Rfwoolf 13:27, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
It is possible to keep UAC enabled but have it automatically say "Yes" to all of it's permission request dialogs. Goto Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy > Local Policies > Security Options > "User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode" and then "Elevate without prompting". Reenable UAC and restart and check. 68.39.174.238 21:37, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] 10-Key SPM

Hello. I am trying to fill out an online application as a cashier and I have been asked what my speed in 10-Ket SPM is. The exact question writes, "Please note your speed in 10-Key in SPM:". Could somebody graciously clarify what 10-Key SPM is? Google finds nothing, and other search engines do not either. Thank you. -- Wilhelm Von Hortzweneger Über der Hügel [ 216.178.50.184 04:48, 15 August 2007 (UTC) ]

10-key is a ten key number pad, like is on calculators, your keyboard's numpad, or in this case the number controls on the register. SPM is "S" per minute, I'd assume Sales, or how fast you can ring it up. I'd just be honest and tell them that you don't have any prior 10-key experience. --Lucid 04:56, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

Thank you muchly. --Von Hortzweneger Über der Hügel [ 216.178.50.184 04:58, 15 August 2007 (UTC) ]

Also SPM is an academic certification in malaysia :). But seriously if my last 2 summers of work experience as a cashier is of any value let me tell you that not many sales will be made in one minute unless you're working at CVS or something and they pay in plastic every time. Maybe sales per hour.. but I doubt it. I'd say 's' has to stand for something else and PM as a standard "per minute" is a good enough guess. But "10-key" seems an awkward way to refer to a keypad- do some cashiers work in hexadecimal for extra efficiency or what? I think we're way off track --frotht 05:03, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
Aha I think I might have an answer. 10-key is apparently a typing test and I'm betting SPM stands for Strokes Per Minute! Better change that resume because it's probably not a good idea to advertise the fact that you have no prior experience in typing. --frotht 05:04, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
Froth, 10-key is just a retail way of referring to a numpad. Saying you have prior experience in typing when someone is asking how proficient you are at 10-key is like saying you're a great driver when someone asks how you handle a Harley. The tests on google are just that- tests for 10-key typing, not QWERTY typing we're all used to. --Lucid 05:08, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
Hm ok, well I'm still convinced it's strokes per minute --frotht 06:12, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
You're probably right about that, but it's referring to strokes per minute on a numpad --Lucid 06:13, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] vista in-place upgrade

I hear that vista performs abysmally after an in-place upgrade from XP. File locations are unreliably virtualized to different locations, settings are lost or misplaced, it's a mess. But how about upgrading from one version of vista to another? I'm not talking about the streamlined Anytime Upgrade but rather a full Upgrade installation to ultimate. I know it's possible but messing with windows setup is a big deal and I want to know if vista will weird out on me if I try it --frotht 06:15, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] where to buy .fr domain name?

What's the cheapest registrar to buy a .fr domain name?--Sonjaaa 07:55, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

Europeregistry is reasonable but probably not the cheapest. Djmckee1 - Talk-Sign 09:52, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
To avoid your question, why not buy a .com instead? - Kittybrewster (talk) 10:54, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
Because A) almost all the legible .com names have been taken, and B) some people want their website to be identified as 'French'. But I admit I'm assuming here - the OP might have a different reason, but my point is that as great as a .com is, good luck finding a good one. Rfwoolf 16:37, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Thunderbird folder display

Back in golden times of yore Netscape Mail would display (for each mail folder) both the total number of messages in that folder and the number of unread (in the left-hand panel. The display would look something like:

  • inbox (103/4)
  • work (944/16)
    • project X (16/0)
    • project Y (330/1)
  • private (1/0)

Now Mozilla Thunderbird just displays the total unread, and if none are unread there no number at all after the folder name. Is there an option (or failing that an extension) which restores this welcome behaviour? Thanks. Harmonation 11:29, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

Another sadly lost feature of Netscape Mail is links upthread. —Tamfang 18:22, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] TDEncypt Application

when ever i ask my laptop to hibernate there is a error reported, saying the TDEncypt Application is not functioning properly. why does this problem arise and i tried gaining information about this kind of Error, but i could get nothing. Can you please hepl me out solving this problem.

  • What operating system are you using? Are you sure you got the name right, is it not "TDEncrypt" ? If you're running Windows XP, press Ctrl + Alt + Esc to bring up the task manager, click on Processes, then click on the "Names" tab, and it will show you all the currently running process - see if you can find anything called "TDEncypt" or "DEncypt" or "Encypt" etc. If you find it it will give you a little more information about the process, and you can try end the process, and then try your hibernation. I would also do a search for it. Click Start -> Search, and type "Encypt" (you can leave off the TD because Windows will still find it - in fact you can even do a search for "ypt" or "enc"). This might leave more clues that you can use to try to find out what the process is, what it does, and when it is run. Rfwoolf 16:34, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

i tried this i could not find anything like that nor did i find it in when i did 'alt' 'crlt' 'esc'. i dont no what to do!!! help!!1

How exactly do you get the error? Does a dialog box come up with it? 68.39.174.238 21:39, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

There is no info on TDENCYPT on the web. A clue may be that I ceased getting an error for tdencypt when i removed my logitech s510 cordless keyboard

[edit] ChartXL by Harvard Graphics

I am looking for charting software, specifically stock charting software. I am looking for something that is easy to use with pre-made templates. The built-in stock charting options in excel are good but of no comparison to the best charts available thru subscription or for free over the internet which are copyrighted (i.e. yahoo/finance beta & bigcharts.com). I know that ChartXL has a few options but I cannot get samples or examples of what their software offers. Any ideas? --Gungnir 19:47, 15 August 2007 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by John Bragdon (talk • contribs)

[edit] Can't enter BIOS

On reboot, I get in order: no signal, then a screen with it telling me the hardware configuration (Core 2 Duo, hard drives, optical drives, etc) then it boots to windows. I've tried tapping F1 and F2 but have not got into the BIOS, and it seems like there's no way to do so. Motherboard is a MSI P6N SLI Platinum. Should I just keep tapping random buttons, or have I missed something? -Wooty [Woot?] [Spam! Spam! Wonderful spam!] 20:22, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

According to the manual I found ([1]), you press DEL to enter BIOS setup. --LarryMac | Talk 21:35, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
Thanks! Looked for it but couldn't find it. -Wooty [Woot?] [Spam! Spam! Wonderful spam!] 22:42, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
I'm pretty sure all MSIs (or all recent ones) are Del to enter the BIOS. Pity it hasn't been standardized by someone. 68.39.174.238 21:40, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Maximum size for iPod?

Is there a theoretical maximum size for an iPod or other digital audio player? So far as I understand it an ipod is basically a hard disk with an amplifier. Does this mean the maximum size would be dictated by whatever size the largest portable hard disk would be? I realise this is an open ended question - portability depends on the person doing the carrying - but obviously in commercial terms the kind of weight carried by an infantryman (45 pounds theoretical maximum of 88 pounds according to this) would not count as portable. According to this boomboxes could weigh up to 30 pounds. Stroika 22:59, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

I think you misunderstand the general use of the expression "theoretical limit". You're sort of right, the theoretical limit to TODAY'S iPod would be how big you can make a hard disk. The theoretical limit to the size of a hard disk is how dense they can get the medium. But an iPod doesn't rely on a hard disk, theoretically it can use any memory, so the theoretical limit to a magnetic spinning platter hard disk isn't the theoretical limit to an iPod's size. When someone comes up with denser memory then a hard disk, no doubt they'll stick it in an iPod or whatever is around at the time. I would say, there is no theoretical limit to the size of an iPod. Vespine 23:45, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
I guess I don't understand your question because there is no limit to how big you could make anything. One could make an mp3 player the size of a freight train, but what would be the point? -- Diletante 01:50, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

If we want to keep things able to fit in a backpack or cargo pants pocket, you could easily take a standard 3.5" HDD and then just tack a processor, memory, screen and controls for the MP3 player bit. This could be done by hand if you're good with hardware and messing with linux to run it, and could be done now, and build a decent MP3 player with 500GB of storage for only a few hundred dollars. If we're going with boom box sized components, this gets much easier- 50$ speakers from Logitech, make a box for the PC, and have 8 of those 500GB drives in RAID0, for 4TB of storage, good sound, and basically a portable computer. --Lucid 02:01, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for that Lucid. Very informative. And the fact this HDD would be in motion, jogging up and down wouldn't be a problem? What is stopping Apple producing a 500 GB iPod? Simply a design imperative that it has to fit into a shirt pocket? What's the largest capacity using technology currently available that could be achieved to make a DAP that could fit in your shirt pocket (that's 4.5 inches for those who keep tank divisions - or freight trains - in custom made shirts ;-))? Stroika 05:22, 16 August 2007 (UTC)
I'm not so sure about jogging with it. Modern computers should be fine with the hard drive being jiggled a bit, since the music is probably in RAM anyway, but I wouldn't go out running with it spinning full speed. A 500GB hard drive is stuff made for desktop PCs, it probably takes a bit more effort to make one that can take the jogging and stuff, as hard drives are rather delicate machines (A book I once read described a hard drive's precision, to scale, as being somewhat like the Sears Tower laid down on it's side, a few inches off the surface, and circling the planet every three seconds.) but I'm not sure what that entails. There's really nothing keeping anyone from building something about the size of a GBA or original Game Boy that would store and play 500GB of music, but it probably wouldn't be the best for music on the go. Personally, I'd go with flash memory if I wanted to make an MP3 player, but there's definitely the technology out there to make something with that much storage. As to apple, they like all their products looking sleek, and something bulky like this (you have to consider it would be around the size of AppleTV or Mac Mini, which are fully fledged PCs) would probably not be up their aisle. --Lucid 06:26, 16 August 2007 (UTC)
OK so I won't go jogging with my iRucksack (note to Steve Jobs, I got that name first). I thought that flash drives were prohibitvely expensive at larger capacities? But that's all my questions answered now. Thank you. Stroika 09:01, 16 August 2007 (UTC)
Please remember that there are, basically, two different "streams" of iPods: the hard-drive based iPods and the Flash ROM-based iPods (currently, the "Nanos"). Right now, price is the constraint for the Flash ROM iPods. For the hard-drive iPods, it's physical size. People actually have taken their hard drive-based iPods apart and hooked them to much more capacious drives, but those drives aren't in the 1.8" form-factor that is required to re-assemble the iPod; these mega iPods are used as stationary music players. (Surely the software has some upper bound on capacity, but I've never read what it is; I'd imagine it's still "large" compared to modern disk drives.)
Atlant 12:15, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] What is the data-link protocol used between the routers on the Internet

I think that the heading is sufficient, however if you would like more surrounding text. I am familiar with TCP/IP on Ethernet on a LAN, and I know that we use PPP whe we are attaching to the Internet (ISP), but I cannot find anything authoritative as to what is used under TCP/IP when going between routers on the Internet 64.214.121.138 23:32, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

I would imagine they use the cheapest practical technology of the time, right now I think that's that's gigabit ethernet. I guess its not very authoritative, but the third paragraph in Internet_exchange_point has some good info, it says that 95% of isp exchanges use ethernet.. -- Diletante 02:07, 16 August 2007 (UTC)
Diletante's answer is quite correct for peering (where two or more ISPs have equipment in the same exchange building) and for datacenters and colos. But for long distance communications we have to go into the wacky world of Telcos. Long distance internet connections used to be IP on frame relay (or ATM) on a copper (and later optical) T-carrier. Now they're switching (or switched) to IP on Packet over SONET/SDH on SONET on Optical Carrier (e.g XO Communications' backbone is OC-192 (ref)) on an optical fiber physical layer. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 13:13, 16 August 2007 (UTC)