Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2006 October 5

Data base in computers
1]Wat are the Relation,Similiarities and Differences between MS SQL,ORACLE and MS ACCESS?Are these all different types of database?If yes then wat does it mean by saying so?

2]Is there any relation between MS SQL and SQL SERVER 2000?

3]Wat is the difference when we say Relational database, MS SQL,SQL SERVER and MS ACCESS

4]Is Oracle and MS ACCESS or MS SQL some language or is it a software in real that connects the front end of an aaplication or program with the data stored in the memmor,.Or is it a software for storing the data?if it stores data then how can data be modified or retrieved?

waiting for early reply

thank you


 * These questions make no sense. They all sound like homework questions as well... -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 02:43, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * They do make sense... mostly. I suggest you read up on database, relational database management system, SQL, Oracle database and Microsoft Access. That should answer most of your questions. &mdash; QuantumEleven 10:11, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

FTP server on residential nonstatic IP
I sometimes have a need to transfer large files over the internet. With some internet connections its not a problem to set up an ftp server. But i have a regular residential isp (roadrunner cable) and it seems that no other computer can connect to me via my ip address thats not directly connected on the same router. The ftp server is on windows xp and has options to change its listening port. I choose many different values other than the normal one and it still doesnt seem to make it work. If it is not known how to make it work, then why is it not working? Whats blocking it? The router, the isp, something else?--Technic 02:22, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * Guide. You need to forward the port involved in FTP (21 or whatever you set) to the server computer. The router automatically drops connections that are not initiated by the computers behind it unless you do this. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 02:42, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * ahh I think i see whats going on, thanks. Ill try this out later.--199.98.20.227 04:06, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * Any idea how something like aim works? that doesnt need a port forward or does it?


 * You only need ports forwarded if someone else needs to be able to see your computer from the internet. In the AIM case, you can see the AIM server, and the other person using AIM can see the AIM server. Nothing else needs to happen. On the other hand, in the FTP case, someone needs to connect to your computer directly. So you need to tell the gateway to forward certain requests to your computer. (Via port forwarding.) grendel|khan 17:42, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

Disabling McAfee
My computer came with McAfee installed on it, but it's 90 day trial period has expired. Despite me deleting anything matching the McAfee search on my computer, I'm still getting these annoying pop ups a couple times a day asking me to buy it... How do I get rid of these?

Accidently, i hve lost my songs on my mp3 player.when i connect the player into my computer, list of my songs still there but when i want to play on my mp3 player its say NO MP3 FILES!..how do i fix this?and from the windows say's that i got problem with I/O device error..whats does it means??


 * OK, you should have uninstalled (from the Add/Remove Programs control panel) the McAfee software rather than just deleting any file that came up in a search for "McAfee".


 * What kind of MP3 player is it? Are you using a program to transfer the music to the player or are you just dragging the songs onto it? --Canley 07:20, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Online Search
When I search on the Internet, I often find millions of websites as results. So how can I know which websites are the ones I want? How can I search more efficiently on the Internet? How does online searching (I mean, in search engines such as Google) work?

I've heard that search engines counts each word to be searched separately. This means that if I type in the words "video telephone", it won't just show up websites with the words "video telephone". It will also show up websites with just either the word "video" or or the word "telephone". Is that true? If so, then how can I search in the Internet with websites with only both words together, "video telephone", being shown up?

60.241.148.65 03:40, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * If you put quote marks around a phrase, most search engines will look for that exact phrase. So if you just type, Google will search for   and  , but   will search for that whole phrase with the words in that order. See Google's Advanced Search tips for more tips and ideas. --Canley 07:17, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * Often, the trick is to do an initial, coarse search, find a few vaguely relevant articles, and use the most relevant to suggest additional search terms. For example, you are trying to find information about a particular General Powell. So you search for  and  . You find out from one of these links that his first name is "Colin", and then you do a more useful search for   and , or just  , since not all articles on him will mention that he is a general. - Jmabel | Talk 22:03, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

CMOS Password
How does the dos executable for erasing the cmos password work???Also is there a program to create a new partition between existing free space other than the usual delete and make a new partiton?Also is it possible to transfer files between two computers using USB 2.0 ports; if yes then can we daisy chain all the computers in a network using USB?


 * 1) It shouldn't - a DOS executable would not have access to the BIOS
 * Yes, see fdisk (or another disk partitioning programme, the more advanced versions can resize partitions, which I believe is what you want to do). Note that partitioning is inherently risky and you should always back up your data before starting.
 * fdisk can only delete and create new partitions. What you are looking for is a partition editor that can dynamically resize filesystems.  gparted and PartitionMagic are probably your best bets. --WhiteDragon 14:31, 16 October 2006 (UTC)


 * 1) Not really - there are some tricks you can do with a device that pretends to be a USB host to both computers, but it's difficult to set up and certainly won't replace a network. &mdash; QuantumEleven 10:06, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Well i have a dos executable that does just that...so was curious... And I would be really grateful if you could tell me which program resizes extended partitions.( c: is primary, d: e: f: are extended.)


 * IIRC there's some port that you can send data to on the cpu that will interface with the cmos. See here --⁪froth T C  14:18, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

Recover Password
How can we get xp professional sp2 accounts password if we somehow login to the account?


 * No modern operating systems store passwords anywhere on the computer. Of course, dumb users and dumber programs may store passwords here and there, but that is not the question.  A hash of the password is what is stored.  Since hashes are one-way, there is no way to reverse the hash process and get the password.  The common way to "hack" windows is to use Linux on a CD/Floppy and write a new password hash to the harddrive.  Then, reboot into Windows and use the new password. --Kainaw (talk) 13:17, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * While this is true in general, windows uses a mindnumbingly stupid hash algorithm called LM hash, which can be cracked in seconds using a time-memory tradeoff. See Ophcrack. Oskar 14:59, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

/////////partition magic and DM would be helpful to resize the partition

Send packages in VB6
How do you send data (to LAN/internet computers) in VB 6.0? I can't find it anywhere on how to do it?! -Unreg usr


 * Check out Microsoft's MSDN site. Here's the entry for VB's network class. It should have the info (and examples of network programming) there. —Mitaphane talk 01:25, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
 * That link is incorrect, as the user was interested in VB 6.0. The class is for the .NET Framework. You need to use the Winsock OCX control to send/receive. Splintercellguy 06:14, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

Nanostray on Nintendo DS
I have a European copy of this game and on the spine of the box it has a pink/purple triangle where all the other games I own have a green triangle. Is this some kind of colour coding or just a printing error on the packaging?? --Ukdan999 15:58, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * Sounds like you have the special Homosexual Edition, with all the ships wearing drag. :-) StuRat 22:22, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

apple mac or microsoft windows
Which is the better company, apple macintosh or microsoft windows? explain
 * I say microsoft, most PCs are using Windows. Tho I must edmit apple have better design (ipods etc..), but still you can't really compare them.

Trick question? Because you ask which is the better company but then you name two products. - Jmabel | Talk 21:59, 5 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Are you asking whether apple/microsoft is better or are you asking whether windows/mac is better?Taida 22:27, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * It appears to be Apple/Microsoft. Neither Windows or Mac is a company.  I think it is safe to assume that is less dumb to call the companies by their product names than to call either product itself a company. --Kainaw (talk) 00:21, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
 * It is a matter of opinion, there is no real answer. I like Apple products generally a lot more than Microsoft ones. Mac OS X pwns XP :) — X [ Mac Davis ] ( SUPERDESK | Help me improve  )03:41, 6 October 2006 (UTC)


 * See operating system advocacy. This is a very boring topic.  What's better, Chevrolet or Ford?  --Robert Merkel 04:00, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Anything is better than Found On Road Dead. Anyway back to the question depends on what you want to do for gaming I go for Windows. If you want graphic design or such go for a Mac. Whispering(talk/c) 19:55, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

Are you a student? A mac is definately a bad idea for computer science or even engineering students. For artsy or just general students, macs have a reputation for being good with video or image editing though similar products are available on the PC. Anyway, there's no distiction anymore since macs are now on x86 archetecture... it's a matter of whether you want to shell out a lot of extra money just so you can run OSX. Which personally I can't stand (also I think that the macbooks are ugly as el diablo) so I'd never get a mac.. anyway my thinkpad has specs identical to a $2000 macbook (actually my processor is 160mhz faster, same chip) and it cost only $1500. And the thinkpad has always been by far the sexiest laptop :) --⁪froth T C  00:30, 7 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Wasn't the Thinkpad discontinued like 20 years ago? — X [ Mac Davis ] ( SUPERDESK | Help me improve  )09:41, 7 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Oh c'mon, we all know that your thinkpad, although you may be proud, is a flimsy alternative to the MacBook (Pro). — X [ Mac Davis ] ( SUPERDESK | Help me improve  )09:41, 7 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Traditionally black, ThinkPads feature innovations such as the magnesium or titanium composite, TrackPoint pointing device that allows the performance near that of a mouse, ThinkLight, an LED keyboard light put on the top of the LCD screen, solidly constructed full size keyboard (including the fold-out butterfly keyboard on the 701 models), the Active Protection System, a device that detects when a ThinkPad is falling and shuts the hard drive down to prevent damage, biometric fingerprint reader, dual wireless antennae that allow for more stable connections, and the Client Security Solution that allows for industry standard TPM encryption and password management to counter keyloggers. ThinkPads have a reputation for generally being solidly built, dependable, and innovative (ThinkPad which I've never edited) You're right it sounds flimsy I don't know what I was thinking... Here's some trivia from that page "The ThinkPad is widely regarded in the laptop industry and market as having one of the highest-quality laptop computer keyboards available." The thinkpad is the laptop used on the ISS. I have a 2.16ghz core duo, 1GB of memory, and a 128MB mobility radeon x1400 (which is newer than the x1600 used in macbooks). Flimsy and outdated, how didn't I notice? --⁪froth T C  17:55, 7 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Anyway I'm a computer science student and a mac is just not an option for me.. surely you can see that thinkpads are among the highest quality "non macs" at least.. though personally I would say it's better than the macs. I could never go without my trackpoint and thinkpad keyboard --⁪froth T C  17:59, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

Remote desktop
Is there a generic (unbranded) term for software such as Microsoft Terminal Services? I need to refer to it in the computer accessibility article. Right now I have remote desktop, but I see that is just a disambiguation to three branded products. We ought to have an article somewhere on this technology generally, not just on individual products. - Jmabel | Talk 21:57, 5 October 2006 (UTC)


 * Is terminal services a remote desktop product? I.e. a program that lets you control a desktop from another computer in a window, like for instance VNC or microsofts remote desktop product? That kind of software is usually reffered to as either "Remote desktop" or "Desktop sharing" products. Oskar 23:08, 5 October 2006 (UTC)