Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2006 October 20

=October 20=

Using Microsoft DNS server to block sites?
I'm trying to get two things I have done before and combine them, but it's not going too well!

Using Windows Server 2003's DNS server, is it possible to configure an external domain name to resolve to an internal IP? Similar to adding the name to a hosts file to block ads - except on a sitewide basis.

I'm not able to find where this can be added - all that I can think of is that under forward lookup zone, I add a new zone "blockedsite.domain.com" and set it to point to a local IP. I need to be careful as I don't want to block "domain.com" or "www.domain.com", just the subdomain. It needs to be all attempts to access this address, either via the web or otherwise.

This is a third party business I am doing this for so I can't just install extra software. The server is Windows 2000 Server Professional with SP4.

Is there a better way of doing this? Am I missing something obvious? Thanks for any help! -- Chuq 03:08, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Auto Redirect File in IE
I remember that there was some system file which had a list of URLs which will automatically redirect in IE (e.g. about:blank redirects to some system file). What file is this? Mo-Al 03:11, 20 October 2006 (UTC)
 * it's the Hosts file and it's not just for IE --⁪froth T C  17:19, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

Downloading torrents when they are blocked
i used to download torrents from my university lab. but somehow the administrator blocked torrent traffic and i am unable to download. is there anyway i can bypass the firewalls? (i ain't downloadin porn !)


 * If using a different port (default is usually 6881) or proxy doesn't work, you're out of luck. --Wirbelwind 03:38, 20 October 2006 (UTC)


 * whats wrong with downloading porn? provided its not copyrighted of course. thats why i stick to amateur Modesty84 17:16, 20 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Most Universities don't allow the downloading of certain materials, including pornography. That said, the easiest way is to change ports or attempt to mask it somehow.  Note that I don't know how to do these, but if you are caught, you could face punishment for flouting regulations.   x42bn6  Talk 19:31, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Compression techniques
What is the difference between the various video compression formats?How about the efficiency of DIVX being better than that of MPG??


 * Use google. I have found this and this from top results in one search. Main points are that some video codecs strive for best quality other for smallest size or fastest encoding or fastest decoding. There are also issues with hardware support (DVD players that support only MPEG2 are more common than those that support both DivX and MPEG2) or open source vs closed source. In short there are a lot of differences. And "efficiency" is very vague term to use here as it can refer to several mutually exclusive parameters. Shinhan 10:47, 20 October 2006 (UTC)


 * For example, efficiency could mean creating the smallest possible file or using the least amount of CPU time. These two would tend to vary inversely, as it takes more CPU time to compress and decompress an extremely compact format. StuRat 12:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Visual basic question
How would I add a counter in VB, so for every time a button is clicked, a number goes up by one, which displays in a label? Also, how do I make it only go up if criteria is fulfilled?

Many Thanks, --86.142.85.213 18:41, 20 October 2006 (UTC)


 * This sounds like homework. In VB.net you can declare the counter variable as static or in VB6 you can use a global variable, or store it in the button control's Tag property. I don't remember if VB6 has the static modifier for variable declarations other than arrays. And I'm sure you could figure out conditional statements. 138.162.140.45 19:55, 20 October 2006 (UTC) Eric

are you using vb.net? first at the top of the code below public class whatever type

private count as int

find out the name of the label you want to be updating. it is good practice to name it lblxxxx, an example of a good name would be lblCounter. now double click the button in design mode. this will bring up the event for the button being clicked. type

count = count + 1

lblCounter.text = count.ToString

the good thing about vb.net is that its not case sensitive. so dont worry about a case. if you want it to only increment upon a ceartin condition you are goign to need an if statement in your button event... change the code to

if (argument here) then

count = count + 1

lblCounter.text = count.ToString

else

msgbox("Criteria not fufilled")

endif

as far as the argument goes, say you want it only to increment if the button has been pressed less than 5 times... the line would like this

if count<5 then

hope ive been helpful, sorry if ur not using vb.net --Modesty84 00:48, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

OEM vs Rebranded Graphics Adapters
I want to buy the new ATI Radeon X1950 XTX video card, however I don't understand why there are so many different brands (e.g. MSI/Diamond/Sapphire/etc.) offering the same ATI video card at varying prices. The box's hardware contents are identical in most cases. Is it different packaged software? Basically, what's the advantage/disadvantage (if any) of buying the ATI OEM box vs other branded boxes? 138.162.140.45 19:42, 20 October 2006 (UTC)Eric


 * The biggest difference between the two is warantee. An OEM version of computer hardware is made for computer makers. They are typically sold at cheaper, wholesale rates but there is no guarantee by the maker (at least for indivuals). Thus if the card goes bad, the maker will have no responsibility in replacing it. Branded cards are usually backed by some warantee of a year or so. In my experience, I have never had much of a problem with OEM hardware. —Mitaphane talk 00:37, 21 October 2006 (UTC)


 * I'm not sure if he means OEM in the actual sense. I think he just means what's the benefit of buying an ATI brand graphics card versus a 3rd party ATI graphics card with the same specs. --Wirbelwind ヴィルヴィルヴィント (talk) 07:20, 21 October 2006 (UTC)


 * Yes, that's what I meant, thanks. User KSmrq below helped a lot.


 * The premise is in error. Use of a given graphics chip is not the same as using the same card, nor the same components. For example, cooling may differ. Also, some manufacturers subject their components (including the graphics chip) and finished card to more rigorous quality control tests. In fact, some test to be sure the card is capable of substantial overclocking. --KSmrqT 12:40, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

A Computer Memory question
Can anyone please explain to me what exactly 1 GB (2 x 512) Memory means? I understand the gigabyte part, it is the (2 X 512) that has me confused. Thank you in advance for your help!


 * It means that the 1GB is made up of two 512MB DIMMS. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:45, 20 October 2006 (UTC)


 * most computers today come with 4 dimms or 4 memory slots. a 1GB (1x1024) stick is better because it only takes up 1 slot, leavign you 3 more slots if you want to upgrade. (2 x 512) is definitely not bad because it leaves you 2 slots for upgrade. the size of your memory is important, however you will want to look at the speed of it too. as a general rule, DDR ram is good, DDR2 ram is much better. however i believe its not backwards compatible, meaning that if you have a motherboard built for DDR2, DDR ram will not work, and i think vice versa. --Modesty84 00:47, 21 October 2006 (UTC)


 * Eh, that's not really true. To start, 1 gigabytes is 1024 megabytes. Thus, 2 sticks of 512 megabyte sticks is 1024 megabytes, or 1 gigabyte. And I don't know about most computers today coming with 4 memory slots, because most computers are probably like Dells and other pre-built packaged computers, which probably only has 2 slots to save cost. And also, 1 stick being better because it only takes up 1 slot is again not true. There is dual channel configurations with matched ram (meaning they were made at the factory in the same batch, thus more identical than two different batches), which makes accessing RAM faster. I'm not sure about exactly why dual channel is better, but I do know that x86 processors store even and odd addresses on different portions. And another thing, I believe they're now SIMMs and not DIMMs, in the newer computers. --Wirbelwind ヴィルヴィルヴィント (talk) 07:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)