Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 February 4

= February 4 =

Removing automatic web padding
When I design my web layout with CSS and use a "container" with code example: .container { background-image:url(Bodybackground.jpg); background-repeat:repeat-y; background-position:center; padding:0px; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; width:689px; height:750px }

there is always a 5-10 px padding/gap at the top of the browser. I tries using margin-top:0; but there is still that padding. Does anyone know how to get rid of it? Jamesino 01:42, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * (note: i had to clean up the formatting, it looked ugly) Try with  And check with different browsers (internet explorer, firefox.. opera? safari? konqueror? asdfdsa!!?!?) Hope it helps --216.244.232.1 03:26, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes, it worked =). Thank you also for cleaning up the code. Jamesino 04:25, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

AOL DISK
If i put my aol disk in my computer and install aol and than take it out will aol be uninstalled?will i be able to change the logo on my main page on my computer computer for aol. will the logo be hidden?will i have to put it back in to make it run?Crocadog 02:40, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * For your first question, no. The AOL installer copies files from the CD onto the hard drive, so after installing, whatever you do with the CD won't really matter very much. I do not comprehend your other questions. Splintercellguy 03:02, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Don't use AOL. --⁪froth T 06:02, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * When you install AOL from the CD, it is then on your hard disk. After that, as User:Splintercellguy says, if you remove the CD you will still have AOL on your machine. If you mean "home page", I don't know, I don't use AOL. If you mean desktop, Windows can change that without AOL. As for the last question, once you have install AOL, the CD is not needed anymore for anything. 68.39.174.238 15:20, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

WM9 VCM Codec for Mac
Does anyone know where I can download the WM9 VCM codec for OS X? Thanks. --Philosofinch 02:55, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Not sure what you mean by WM9 VCM, but VLC can play the Windows Media 9 (aka WMV3) codec. --h2g2bob 08:00, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Adding RSS feeds to HTML files
How can I add RSS feeds in XML format into my HTML file? I want my html file to display feeds from http://www.cricinfo.com/rss/livescores.xml. Thanks, 64.178.105.172 03:01, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Use a link tag into the HEAD section of the HTML. The tag should be like this


 * That is detected by IE and Firefox, and lights up the RSS button. --h2g2bob 07:57, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * The "link rel" answer above, i think, will just promote the feed to your users. If you want to show these feeds on your pages, merging them with your content, then you might find RSSxpress Lite useful, see http://rssxpress.ukoln.ac.uk/lite/ . Its a simple way of placing an RSS feed onto your own websites with a single line of JavaScript. This is a basic version that i just made up on their website:

If you wish to hack away at the code of your web pages more, there are many other ways to present RSS or Atom feeds within your html content. These are explained clearly in a book called "Developing Feeds with RSS and Atom" by Ben Hammersley, published by O'Reilly.

Invert mouse Y-axis within Windows XP
I've recently purchased the PC version of the game Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones and would like to invert my mouse Y-axis for camera movement in third-person view so that moving the mouse forward is tilting down, and moving the mouse backward is tilting up. For some strange reason, the developers decided not to include an option for doing so—the first game I've come across that don't. There is a setting "Camera free look inverted", but this seems to only affect camera movement in first-person view and not third-person. I'm trying to find a way to "natively" invert my mouse Y-axis within Windows itself, and hoping this will affect the game as well. Is there any freeware utility or registry setting available that can be used to achieve this? I'm using Windows XP and have a Logitech MouseMan Dual Optical mouse. Thanks. —Xhantar Talk
 * You're definately going to either go through an option in your mouse drivers (or use custom drivers). Key-remapping applications are unable to affect DirectInput and the windows messaging queue that microsoft is pushing nowadays. I see you have a Logitech mouse. Any chance you have Logitech MouseWare installed? If you do (get it here), here's a solution that logitech, google, and archive.org seem hell-bent on erasing for some reason o_O


 * Re: setting orientation on each axis independently? Posted Nov 26, 2004 by Ashley Ings I've managed to set the orientation for the up/down axis.
 * Once you've installed MouseWare and configure you mouse, go into the registry.
 * Now depending on what kind of mouse you have cordless or hard wired you should have and entry under: Under hkey_local_machinesystemCurrentControlSetServiceL8042pr2Parameters I have installed a cordless mouse so the next key is CordlessOptical20000
 * Under this key there is an entry that set what kind of mouse you have called: DeviceModel. If you set this to TrackMan4 and start up the mouse configuration ,from the control panel or the SystemTray (right on the taskbar) you will see a new tab called 'Orientation'. With this you can reverse the Y axis by dragging in the direction you desire. So to give you the complete reg entry for my installtion of a cordless optical mouse it was:
 * There will be a similar one explaining your DeviceModel if you use the MouseWare install:
 * hkey_local_machinesystemCurrentControlSetServiceL8042pr2ParametersCordlessOptical20000DeviceModel
 * Hope it helps - Ashley 26th Nov 2004


 * Also apparently this guy has written a mouse driver to invert the y axis, but you'll have to get it from him directly --⁪froth T 06:09, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Aaah, that's great. Yep, I do have MouseWare installed. I'll give it a shot. Hopefully I won't end up with a completely disoriented mouse going around in circles and stuff :) Must...play...this...game... preferably after getting some wikisleep. Thanks again! —Xhantar Talk 07:55, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Hate to burst your bubble but you just installed StarForce :( Sucks to be your computer --⁪froth T 09:27, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * I haven't had any apparent problems caused by the StarForce drivers myself (touch wood), but know it's a mission getting rid of them. Thanks for the info. —Xhantar Talk 17:16, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * All this hassel for just that? A simple remap in xorg.conf will work in Linux just fine... sigh... --antilivedT 11:36, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

IE 7.0 Pro
Is it true the there are different and better versions of IE 7.0 like IE 7.0 Pro? If so, what are they?
 * There certainly are different versions of IE7 available, such as for different computer architectures and different versions of the Windows operating system, although their feature sets do not differ much, if at all. Whether a particular version of IE7 is "better" than another is subjective, and mostly depends on how (or what for) it will be used. Software updates are regularly released by Microsoft that mostly improve the software it's updating in some fashion—mostly for security reasons (see here), but again, the feature set usually remains the same. For additional features, there are add-ons available for download. Internet Explorer 7+, released with Windows Vista, has/will have some significant additions. I'm not aware of anything called "Internet Explorer 7 Pro". Hope this helps. (Note: Please remember to sign your posts by typing four tildes, like so: ) —Xhantar Talk 05:00, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * The Vista version of IE7 is no longer called IE7+, since it'd be pretty hard to differentiate between "IE7 for Vista" and "IE7 or later". --Pidgeot (t) (c) (e) 11:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Yep, internet explorer is free (gratis); there's no "pro" version --⁪froth T 09:29, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

IE 8
Is there a IE 8 or later, where can you download it; is there a FIREFOX 3.0 or later?
 * The most recent release of IE is 7.0 (downloadable here). Firefox 2.0 is the latest version of Firefox for public use (available here); while early builds of what will become 3.0 exist, they're really only intended for development and testing, not for consumer use. BryanG(talk) 04:51, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Yep. That being said, you get get the alpha builds here --⁪froth T 06:16, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Trillian Astra
I assume that the new Trillian Astra will not be free, and will require a fee like Trillian Pro does now. I looked around, both on Wikipedia and on Cerulean Studio's websites, but I couldn't find confirmation either way. I really hope it will be free, and I was wondering if anyone has found a definitive answer to my question of whether Astra will be free or not. Thanks for any help. --71.117.43.121 04:36, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * A comment left by "Chris Brainard" here suggests upgrading from Trillian 3.1 Pro will cost $30. There is also some discussion regarding Astra's expected cost here. It might be possible that current, registered (paid) users of Trillian Pro or older versions will be able to upgrade to Astra for free. If that's the case, it might make more sense to buy an older version now, while still available and assuming that an older version will cost less than buying Astra. Sorry I couldn't give a definite answer, though. —Xhantar Talk 05:24, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks for finding that; it basically confirmed what I thought. I appreciate your help by digging through those forums. --71.117.43.121 05:34, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

On a side note, if I was to sign up for alpha testing and was selected as a tester, does anyone know what my responsibilities would be? Would I have to regularly write reports on performance and stuff like that? If it turns out Astra will require a fee to use, will I not be able to use the alpha or beta version if I don't pay for it? Sorry about the question overload, and thanks for any help. --71.117.43.121 05:09, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * You'd be expected to regularly report on bugs or requested features. If you stopped reporting, they could stop giving you updated versions to test. And no they couldn't keep you from still using early builds after the for-fee version is released unless they "time bomb" the code so it refuses to work after a certain date (or after a certain amount of time without an update). But if they offer any live content that could easily be restricted --⁪froth T 09:21, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Shrinking desktop icons
My desktop icons appear to have shrunk overnight, suddenly being quite small (text size, not icon size). THe address bar in IE is also tiny. Any help? Thanks,--Rambutan (talk) 07:26, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * If everything is small, you've probably increased the resolution the display is set as. Right click the desktop and pick properties for Display Properties, and there should be a resolution option there. --h2g2bob 07:53, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Ah, but in that case, text would have been shrunk as well. I'd say click your desktop, choose properties, and change your theme/layout settings. --Kjoonlee 17:22, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

recycle bin
can anybody say how to get back things which were deleted from the recycle bin? is there any way? my brother accidentally deleted an important file of mine. i need it. can somebody say how? thank u very much
 * Open the Recycle Bin by clicking the icon on the desktop. Find the file he deleted and double-click it to restore it to the location that it was when it was deleted. If there are tons of files in the recycle bin and you're having trouble finding what you're looking for, sort the list by Date Deleted and it should be somewhere near the end --⁪froth T 09:18, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Undeletion --Spoon! 10:42, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

recycle bin 2
thanks to whoever answered my previous question under the title "recycle bin" but i think he or she misunderstood my question. i had some files in my computer. my brother deleted those files and also EMPTIED the recycle bin. those files are now not even present in recycle bin. is there any way to get them back? thank u.


 * There is software on the market that can recover files that have been deleted from the recycle bin. One called 'win undelete' offers a free trial. I have never used any of this software before but I understand they can be quite good at recovering work like this. I understand Hard-drives don't just write/re-write over the same area of the drive and so deleted files can be recovered because they are in a portion of the hard-drive that is 'unseeable in the os' but has not had the files overwritten by other data, obviously eventually the hard-drive will need that space for something else and then it will be overwritten. ny156uk 11:28, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * I've tested http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.html a while ago and it was good, try that. ST47 Talk 12:31, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * this product is excellent. It might be really expensive though; I got it -er- free --⁪froth T 18:23, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Ah yes it is very expensive --⁪froth T 22:13, 7 February 2007 (UTC)
 * You could try PhotoRec (which, despite its name, can recover more than photos). Note, however, that the more you use your computer before trying to recover the files, the harder it becomes to recover them (the computer doesn't try to avoid writing over them, after all, they have been deleted...). And, the obligatory suggestion to prevent this happening next time: make backups. --cesarb 15:50, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

Computer related - networking
I have 2 computers in my home.I have Windows XP oopreating system in both. I have a broadband connection in one system. I would like to share my internet connection to the second system ? how can i achieve it. Please give me a simple way. Please give idea regarding IP address ,, etc
 * A router would do the trick. Computerjoe 's talk 13:45, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Router definitely would be the easiest way, connect the broadband and your computers to the router and off you go. The other way of course, if you can't afford a router or whatever is to simply use a cross over cable and use internet shearing wizard. It isn't that hard to get going but if you do that, you must have the PC with the internet connection turned on even if you only want to use the internet on the other computer, with a router, either computer can use the internet independently. Vespine 21:43, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Non-Microsoft Desktop Search software for XP users
The Microsoft XP search bug is driving me crazy. Is there any software available (to buy or free) that allows me to search for files on my computer containing a given string.

E.g Working exactly like one would expect the XP search to work.

I know there are some registry changes you can make to XP service pack 2 to make it work properly, but it is a pain to do this every time i install XP on my computer.

All i need is some software that, say, would find files that contain a string if it was in the source code of an html/text/php file on my computer.

I have tried searching for such software on the internet but, due to the nature of my search query it is tricky to get good results.

My ideal software would be able to find files that contain a string such as "$monk" if it were in a file amongst the text such as "funky punk$monkfoobar doobar".

If such software doesn't exist, anyone who writes this simple application could strike it rich. I'd pay at least $40 for a download.


 * I'm pretty sure Google Desktop does the job. There's probably others too, in fact, here is a list. - Akamad 12:57, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, i have tried the Google desktop search but it didn't scan all file types i needed. But, the list looks very handy, so that's much appreciated.

Just to keep you all updated... After going through the list, i have finally found something that can search for and pick up a string of php code within the source of an html page: The victor is: Likasoft Archivarius 3000

However, it took quite a lot digging around the settings and checking-of-boxes to get the application to index the markup of my html pages - almost the same hassle as altering XP's registry.

I also downloaded Copernic Desktop Search which i hope will be able to do it, i'm still waiting for it to index my files.

On spending all this time trying to replicate the kinds of search that is standard in Dreamweaver tells me that there is still a market for a "Web Designer's Simple Desktop Search Tool" for XP - that simply does what the Windows 2000 Microsoft search used to do - nothing more, nothing less. I guess, though, if you tried to pitch the idea to an investor they'd laugh at you - "Why re-invent the wheel, chortle, titter". I say, please re-invent it, mine's gone wobbly! Ronnystalker 16:13, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Vista relentlessly indexes every plaintext file on your computer; vista's search probably could have found it --⁪froth T 18:25, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

grep. Nice and simple. --antilivedT 11:33, 7 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Yes, grep of course over all else --⁪froth T 22:12, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

thanks for the grep suggestion. I'm not sure if it works on xp, but I learned about findstr as it was mentioned on the grep wikipage. Ronnystalker 21:41, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Windows Live messenger problem
I've just updated from MSN 7.5 to WLM, but the window crashes and whites out when I try and sign into my account, other accounts work on it and my account works on other peoples WLM, it seems that only my account has a problem with this WLM. I've reduced the number of groups I have on my contact list and it hasn't made any difference, I've also re-installed the program,none of this has an effect. Any advice will be greatly appreiciated,

Howso-Mchowsoson 13:59, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * You could try to uninstall WLM using Add/Remove Programs, and then also delete any files that might have been left over in the WLM installation folder (typically, for WLM 8.1, this should be C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger) before re-installing. To be safe, though, rather move the entire C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\ folder elsewhere instead of deleting it, in case you need to put it back later.
 * I rather suspect, though, that something went wrong with the user-specific data stored on your PC by WLM for your specific user account, given the fact that you say it only happens when you try to login on your computer. Certain data, like the accounts you use on WLM, are linked to your Windows user account. Try creating a new Windows user account and see if you can login to WLM using your usual WLM username, but under the new Windows account. If using Windows XP, you can create new accounts by going to Control Panel, User Accounts.
 * If this does not help, you're really desperate, and willing to potentially screw up WLM entirely, try moving the  folder and its contents elsewhere (where " " is the username with which you logon to Windows, without the   and  ), and reinstalling again. WLM should re-create the folder, and hopefully also a working copy of whatever might be causing your problem.
 * Good luck! —Xhantar Talk 20:26, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Searching for locking/ releasing mouse & keyboard codes
Hi all,I am having some difficulties in finding suitable codes (in Java) for locking/ releasing mouse and keyboard of student PC from teacher PC connected in a network, So I was wondering if anyone could provide me with the required codes, or suggest some websites where I could get some help regarding this topic,I am using WindowsXP as operating system. Many thanks.Sara
 * Don't try to do this, it will be trivial for the students to bypass, and it's not a very good idea in the first place. Get rid of Windows, run a server in the corner, and buy a bunch of $150 thin clients to run off the server. Use KDE and the students won't know the difference, and they won't be able to do anything to the server except write documents and stuff to their home directory. --⁪froth T 18:29, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Sorry, I forgot to mention that I am a Computer Engineering student doing my senior project on Instructor Control PC,where I am stuck in the lock/release part.Sara
 * I don't pagree with the advice above I've used Dameware Mini Remote in a support capacity and it certunally is not trivial to bypass, but with that you have to have the desktop remotely connected to your workstation, so you'd have all of your students' desktops on your system, which would probably not be practial. I've done a quick google on keyboard input lock software and came up with this list, maybe there is something there you could use? Vespine 21:25, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

If the student has physical access to the system he can do anything he darn well wants to it --⁪froth
 * I'm really not sure why you are under that impression, where I work we have quite a secure user environment on a windows XP network, maybe you just haven't seen it implemented effectively. I work for a financial institution where insecure user environments would easily equal unimaginable amounts of money in theft and fraud, we don't use too many fancy tricks, most is native XP, trust me it is quite possible. Vespine 22:54, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * If you have physical access to the CD drive you can put in an XP install disk and boot into XP safe mode, and the "key lock" wouldn't even initialize. One step further, if the student puts in a linux livecd then he has absolute and completely unrestricted access to any component of the computer. If you try to lock out the BIOS configuration so it will boot from the hard disk before the CD rom drive, it's easy to just short out the CMOS chip holding the config data (maybe not practical in a lab setting but definitely practical in an office at a financial institution). Take out the CD-ROM drive altogether and the hard drive can still be removed and dumped, or slaved to a secondary drive that has linux installed. (I've personally seen this done in the back of a lab when the tech wasn't looking) Now control over the machine isn't nearly as grave as control over the network, but it's still unrestricted access to absolutely everything unencrypted on the computer, and it's trivial to use ophcrack or something to get the administrator's password from windows. I suspect at a bank or whatever what they would do is keep all information on the server and do what I suggested- have a bunch of dumb clients who auth to the server and image themselves on boot. The thing you have to realize is that while the computer may be secure while you're running Windows in your restricted account, there's nothing at all running to protect it while you're not running windows --⁪froth T 23:29, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * I think we're really looking at the problem from two different angles. I'm seeing the issue as simply stopping a user from starting a test five minutes before everyone else while people are getting ready and sitting down, you are trying to stop students hacking apart a box and shorting the BIOS chip and cracking the whole network. Granted at my financial institution all the really sensitive information is on servers but the clients here are not nearly dumb. If I connect to a client PC and lock out their inputs, user's will NOT be able to bypass them short of rebooting the PC and starting with Live CD or something like you suggested. I'm not too worried about THAT because if that happens, people will get sacked, it's not hard to work out WHO rebooted the PC, similarly I'd trust students not to completely hack apart lab boxes given even a small amount of physical security, assigned workstations, user IDs etc, PC boxes can be locked, most boxes have tamper switches, CD boot can be disabled etc.. Vespine 06:21, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
 * I just wanted to make it clear how dangerous physical access can be. --⁪froth T 17:43, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks guys. Sara

Computer Science/Information Technology
≥Kuganathan 15:00, 4 February 2007 (UTC)kuganathan What is meant by "Intelligent Clothing" ? Where can i get detailed reference on this subject?


 * The article intelligent clothing gives a basic definition of the term.213.249.232.179 15:45, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Minimizing computer power consumption but leaving the computer on...?
I recently tested my Computers and Monitors power consumption and found that the computers drew around 130 to 150 watts while the monitors drew from 35 watts for the LCD to 50 watts to 72 watts for the CRTs. In total the power consumption for all computers and monitors is about 670 watts (1300 Powerup!). What is the best Powerdown setting under Windows XP to minimize consumption and yet leave the systems on so that Web cams, Email, security monitor and other computer dependent equipment will still function properly but at minimum Electricity cost? -- Barringa 16:54, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * There's really nothing you can do if you want to still use email and stuff. If you have a newer Intel processor you might be able to set it to dynamically adjust performance to reduce power consumption. And you could always lower the brightness of your monitors. And if you calculate that your PSUs are drawing way more power than they need you can replace them (although it'll be expensive) --⁪froth T 18:34, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
 * The amount of power being consumed by each monitor, especially the LCD, is around a 60 watt porch bulb while the computer power consumption is compariable to flood lamps so even though the PSUs are rated from 450 to 650 watts they are drawing far less than their rating. -- Barringa 02:53, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Actually that existed ages before the "new" technology of the "new" Intel stuff. Cool `n Quiet anyone? Speedstep anyone? On Linux it automatically lowers the processor speed when in low load, not sure and never seen it bappening in Windows though. --antilivedT 10:53, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
 * The hardware has to support it --⁪froth T 17:42, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes I am observing that on the exact same computer in dual boot condition. --antilivedT 11:31, 7 February 2007 (UTC)
 * I believe Vista supports it with their new creepily-extensive ACPI driver library, but on XP you need a OEM power manager from the manufacturer --⁪froth T 22:11, 7 February 2007 (UTC)