Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 January 23

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

< Wikipedia:Reference desk | Archives | Computing

Computing desk
< January 22	<< Dec \| January \| Feb >>	January 24 >

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.

1 January 23

[edit] January 23

[edit] Creating duplicate hard links, then making them independent

Under Windows XP, I have a large library of PDFs that I need to edit down by deletion, and I want to keep both the edited and unedited versions on my hard drive. There will be room for both, but there isn't room to store the unedited version a second time. So what I want to do is make a copy of the folder with an identical tree, but where each file is a second hardlink to the same file in the original folder. I know this can be done with

fsutil hardlink create C:\oldfolder\subfolder\file.pdf C:\newfolder\subfolder\file.pdf

The problem is that fsutil only handles one file at a time, and the destination folder must already exist. How can I write a batch file that will find all the subfolders and files of the original folder, create corresponding subfolders in the duplicate folder and then fsutil hardlink all the files? Neon Merlin 00:35, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Why would you store the unedited versions a second time? And why would you want to use multiple hardlinks, they're almost never useful. --⁪froth^T 01:01, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Well, can you think of a better way to make two copies of a folder, with the ability to delete files from one and keep them in the other, but without taking up twice as much space as a single copy? I don't intend to edit the files themselves, only to delete some and keep others (and maybe rename and move a few). Neon Merlin 01:10, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Nope. How many directories are we talking about? I'm not sure if you'd be able to preserve directory structure, but maybe you could change the file handler from acrobat reader or whatever to fsutil, and mass-open all of the pdfs. It would be a lot of Ctrl-A and Enter, but it might work. --⁪froth^T 01:15, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

From a command prompt, do "dir /s /b >file.txt" then use a text editor to convert each line in file.txt into two lines of the form "md C:\newfolder\subfolder\file.pdf\.." and then your " fsutil hardlink create C:\oldfolder\subfolder\file.pdf C:\newfolder\subfolder\file.pdf" (yes it appears possible to make a new folder structure by simply adding \.. to a file which doesn't yet exist). Tested on Win2000. -- SGBailey 11:18, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Memory upgrades

I've never done any memory upgrades except for on $50 beige boxes with 64MB sticks so I'm naturally very nervous about ordering expensive memory on a student budget. I'm looking at this stick. Lenovo told me that it's compatible with my laptop model. But I'm concerned- I already have 1GB of DDR2 memory. Does that mean that I have two 512MB sticks, making an additional 1GB stick incompatible? Or do I just have one 1GB stick, making an upgrade possible? I ran cpu-z and it told me that I had 1GB in one slot and nothing in the other, but I just wanted to double check before I add $155 onto my Windows Vista purchase. --⁪froth^T 00:55, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Why don't you just open up the laptop -- as you'll have to do anyway if/when you install the new stick -- and see? Neon Merlin 01:06, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Last time I opened her up to install a mini-PCI wireless card it took me more than 45 minutes to get the palm rest to fit together with the rest of the computer. It's like folding the top of a box so that half of every piece is below another- except you can't bend the cardboard. In other words, I don't want to open it up unless I have to --⁪froth^T 01:10, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Chances are CPU-Z is right, but it really shouldn't be hard to check yourself, if your laptop is recent (and judging by you having DDR2, it is), getting to/adding the memory should be easy. Its usually just a single panel that you need to unscrew and there it is, should just need to put the memory in to the slot at an angle, and then push it towards the board, there should be a metal clip on each side that snaps it in place. Cyraan 06:14, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Oh I know exactly how to do it; I just don't want to open it up and check because it's a lot of trouble. Anyway, I bought it a couple of hours ago so too late now for any advice --⁪froth^T 06:45, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] acx 100

In a desperate bind here! Linux Fedora Core 6 (2.6.19-1.2895.fc6) on a laptop.

Suppose I have successfully compiled and installed the module for the ACX 100 chip on my D-Link 650. The module loads fine, but in my dmesg it complains that it can't find the firm ware that I have placed in /lib/firmware.

acx: need to load firmware for acx100 chipset with radio ID 11, please provide via firmware hotplug:
acx: either one file only (<c>ombined firmware image file, radio-specific) or two files (radio-less base image file  *plus* separate <r>adio-specific extension file)
requesting firmware image 'tiacx100c11'
acx: firmware image 'tiacx100c11' was not provided. Check your hotplug scripts
requesting firmware image 'tiacx100'
acx: firmware image 'tiacx100' was not provided. Check your hotplug scripts
acx: reset_dev() FAILED

I assume this is because I am not using the new UDEV properly. Can anyone please suggest to me where I should put the firmware files (http://acx100.erley.org/acx_fw/acx1xx.htm) or what to do with UDEV?

("Check your hotplug scripts" --> Where are these?)

Duomillia 02:42, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Cancel this, I figured it out myself... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Duomillia (talk • contribs) 01:22, 31 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Best Portfolio Simulator on the Web

My University's investment club is looking for a good online stock market simulator. Specifically, we would like the ability to create groups on this simulator (so we can see how we rank in the club), and if possible, have the ability to trade various instruments, at least options. Most importantly, this simulator should be free.

So far, I have used the marketwatch simulator and investopedia one (similar to marketwatch). I have also found the wall street journal online one and the Zacks.com one, but both require payment to use. Any ideas on which simulator my club should use? Thanks! ChowderInopa 06:37, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

I have no idea, but our Stock market simulator article links to an external site which lists a bunch of them here Oskar 16:33, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] how to learn data base

$I n s e r t f o r m u l a h e r e$ —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 196.200.116.146 (talk) 13:05, 23 January 2007 (UTC).

Download and install Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express.
Watch this training video series.
Take over the world with your new database skillz.

Droud 13:42, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

First, learn to ask the question properly. Databases cover a broad range of topics and skills. Which database do you want to understand? What operating system? What are your current skills with computers? Assuming you need introductory knowledge, your best bet would be to start with something like Microsoft Access and then understand the concepts of tables, indexes and keys (to store data) and SQL (to query/change data). Sandman30s 14:50, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

If you don't have database software OpenOffice.org Base is the free one --h2g2bob 16:27, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

But it would be pretty hellish to try and learn on. OOo Base is still pretty buggy and slow as dirt. --24.147.86.187 03:17, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bit Stream or Videos of S/W Disasters

I am looking for Videos or bit Streams associated with S/W Failures (Recorded of animated). There is a preponderance of articles and still shots of S/W disasters, but I have been searching for a collection of videos. (e.g., Aircraft, Weapons, Mars Climate Orbiter, Ariane 5 Flight 501, etc.)

Thanks guys.Jakerlx 15:50, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

What exactly is "S/W" in this context? 68.39.174.238 03:01, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

I was wondering that, too. Perhaps "System Wide" failure ? One video that comes to mind is the crash of the V-22 Osprey: [1]. StuRat 08:00, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

Software[2] --82.46.154.93 01:23, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Logging my activity

Hi there. Just wondering; is there any way of loggin my computer activity? That is, when logon, logoff, shutdown, and what files i use/delete? BTW, for windows. Thanks in advance. Cybesystem 16:28, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Well for starters there's the event viewer in windows. Right-click My Computer and select Manage. Open the event viewer from the items on the left --⁪froth^T 20:02, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

You may need to turn on logging for some of the events first - open Local Security Policy in MMC (Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Local Policy) Then go into Local Policies -> Audit Policies, from there turn on what you need (you can set it to log all logons & privelege uses, or only failed ones (which are more likely to be someone up to no good)

Something to bear in mind is that if you set it up to log lots of different events, you should clear the logs fruently (you can save them first). Davidprior 21:14, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Also note that by default, Windows will only store 512K (½MB) of log infos, so if you have it logging so that several events are created within a short span of time, you could end up losing massive amount of information due to the size of your "viewing window". Also, be sure to customize your logging so you don't get infos that are useless to you. It can be next to impossible to get a good idea of what's going on when you're flooded with useless information (EG. TMI and TMI). 68.39.174.238 03:04, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Saving opened tabs

Are there any extensions I can use to save what tabs I have opened in Firefox 2.0? There used to be a software I use in 1.5 but it is not working anymore. Many Thanks. --Computor 18:04, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

This might not be helpful, but you can drag tabs to a bookmarks folder, then open them all up at once/open them at startup automatically. --W o o ty Woot? contribs 18:20, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

I use the Session Saver extension for this purpose. howcheng {chat} 19:29, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Or switch to Opera (Internet suite)! Tab-saving seassions and mouse gestures are included off the bat. But I guess that's not what you're asking for. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 19:35, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Tab Mix Plus [3]--inks ^T 22:11, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Firefox 2.0 does save your tabs... look in your Preferences/Options. --wj32 ^{talk | contribs} 22:32, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

You can also log off or shut off your computer without exiting FireFox first. That way, it thinks you went off by accident and will restore the tabs when you restart it. But having the tab savers would probably be easier. --Captain Wikify ^Argh! 23:33, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

You can also right-click one of the tabs and select "bookmark all tabs" --⁪froth^T 01:14, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

Or just click and hold on the tab and drag it to the space directly above it. It will leave a button that stays there until you right-click it and select delete. It might not work with your theme but it certainly does with the default and Pimpzilla themes. 161.222.160.8 02:51, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Gah, FF is opening blank tabs

when I try to go to [serebiiforums.com]. I get a download screen with "index.php" and it just keeps going and going. Removing the "index.php" file has no effect. Help? 67.169.56.188 22:28, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

What happens when you go there with another browser? And what do you mean by a "download screen"? Do you mean that it's just stuck on loading the page? It sounds like the site itself may be dead; I can't load it personally. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 23:24, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

The downloads window in Firefox. From tools>downloads. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.169.56.188 (talk) 23:44, 23 January 2007 (UTC).

Yeah, it's the site that's broken, not Fx. For some reason Fx sometimes shows the download prompt when it can't load PHP/ASP pages. Matt Eason ^{(Talk • Contribs)} 23:49, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

It could be a MIME type thing, which is decidedly server-side. It's working on Firefox 2.0.0.1 though. If you're using the latest version of Firefox, it could be either that the site is screwy or you have a screwy proxy or something in the way. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 23:56, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

It would be PHP not being correctly installed, which means that the php file is being treated as text and not php. Instead of the php file being run and made into a webpage, you are downloading the source code to the webpage. --h2g2bob 14:57, 24 January 2007 (UTC)