Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 May 6

= May 6 =

Clearing Internet Explorer Cache?
I am running system X on Apple Mac G4 power book and wonder how to clear the cache on Explorer. It's easy on Safari, but I cannot see a way to do it on Explorer. Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks.--88.111.80.198 09:36, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Asuming it's simmilar to the Windows version you go to Tools -> Internet Options. There should be a section for "Temporary internet files" and a delete button there. Not that it's any of my business, but why use IE on the Mac though? Microsoft stopped developing the Mac version after version 5 or so I think, so it's hoplessly outdated. Unless some of your favourite sites absolutely do not work in either Safari, Opera or FireFox (I belive all of them have ways to get around silly old "you need internet explorer" scripts) it seems odd to still be using it in this day and age. --Sherool (talk) 09:56, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Bypass your cache may also be of help. --h2g2bob (talk) 13:35, 6 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Thanks h2, (if I may be so familiar), this looks useful. Regards--88.111.80.198 15:14, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

Better MySpace Blog RSS
Hello. I've been importing my MySpace blog into my Facebook notes, but when the entries get to Facebook only the first few lines show up in the notes. I know next to nothing about RSS, but it appears to me that this occurs because only the first few lines show up in the actual feed. This has been fine for me; anyone on Facebook who wanted to read the note could just click on the link to the MySpace blog. But I've decided that I'd like to make some of my MySpace blog entries only visible to friends (my Facebook notes already are). I'm willing to let these entries stay public until Facebook imports them and then make them private, but that would only be effective if the full entry got imported; otherwise my Facebook friends without MySpace profiles would get the first few lines in Facebook but not be able to access the full entry at MySpace.

Would there be a way to import the full text of my MySpace blog entries into Facebook? Is there a way to make a better RSS feed? Am I completely wrong about the problem? If push comes to shove, in the future I could just copy the text of my MySpace entries and put them on Facebook manually, but I'd like to maintain the timestamps on my earlier entries. --Maxamegalon2000 15:20, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

Securing a wireless network
I'd just like to preface this question with an immense apology for asking it - I'm convinced it must've been asked in the past, and a sufficient answer been supplied, but various searches using Google yielded no relevant results. I've found an article on wikiHow that explains how to secure my home wireless network, but it speaks far too technically - I'm a bit of a dunce when it comes to computers. I've also tried using the Windows XP set-up wizard, however this appears to involve the use of USB memory sticks, and the PC the modem is connected to is quite old, and doesn't seem to recognise the memory stick. I'm just really looking for the most important things to do, explained in idiot-proof language. Thanks, Icthyos 15:21, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * What you want to do is to access your router configuration, go into its wireless section, and give it a WEP/WPA password. Specifying brand will help me give you specific instructions. Splintercellguy 15:55, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * The router is a Buffalo AirStation G54. I tried to find reference to it on the PC by searching for both buffalo, and airstation, but nothing actually came up. Isn't that...surprising? I definitely remember having to "activate" the router somehow when I first connected it, but I think it just involved going on a section of the AirStation website. Icthyos 16:22, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Typically you configure these access points by connecting to their configuration interface with your browser. (This seems a little strange at first: normally you think of "the network" as being a way to connect your computer to somebody else's computer, e.g. your web browser to somebody else's web server.  Normally, you think of routers and wireless access points as being just "part of the network".  But they've got little miniature computers in them, of course, and often these little miniature computers are also running little miniature web servers, just so that you can connect to them and configure them.)


 * I did a web search on "Buffalo AirStation G54 WEP key", and some of the hits I found (especially this one at IT Week) suggested that yours does indeed use this web-browser-accessible technique. There's also an indication that they have their own security and/or set-up protocol called "AOSS".  It looks like if you run the AOSS software (downloadable from their website?), and push a little red button on the base station for three seconds, the software finds the base station and helps you configure it. —Steve Summit (talk) 17:52, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the help - I managed to get it done using the Buffalo website. The hard manual that came with the router was not helpful. I've disabled the SSID broadcast (should I change the SSID from the default, to something meaningless, or does that not matter?), but had to settle for WEP encryption, since that was all that supported by some of my wireless devices. Oh well, I feel better! Thanks again, Icthyos 21:43, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Ah, good. Adding the WEP key, as you have done, is the most important part.  It's not perfect (it is breakable), but it will protect you well from casual intruders, who won't bother to try to crack your WEP-protected base station when there's such easy pickings among all your neighbors whose wireless networks are wide open.  (Don't worry about your SSID; that's not nearly so important.) —Steve Summit (talk) 01:34, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

For a while, all the kids computers kept latching on to the neighbours, rather than my secure network. I had to go in and manually close them out. I still think the computers are doing it when I'm not looking.. :) --Zeizmic 11:50, 7 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Bad news: WEP can be broken in a matter of minutes with the right tools. --h2g2bob (talk) 11:57, 7 May 2007 (UTC)


 * I know that, but I think you overstate the threat. (In particular, it's only high-traffic networks that can be broken so quickly.) —Steve Summit (talk) 12:26, 7 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Yeah, I was a bit miffed to discover that after I had it all set up. It's my Nintendo DS that can only support WEP - if I buy the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, which only Nintendo products can connect to, then I could, in theory, upgrade the wireless network's encryption to WPA, and only have to worry about rogue Wiis connecting via the Nintendo connection... Icthyos 15:35, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Which DSLR
Canon EOS 400D or Nikon d40x? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Colinjr (talk • contribs) 16:14, 6 May 2007 (UTC).


 * I went for a Pentax K100 personally and it has been fantastic so far. The site (http://www.dpreview.com/) has very detailed and excellent reviews. Canon review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_eos400d.asp) and Nikon review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d40x.asp), hope this helps. ny156uk 19:47, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

Keep in mind that choosing a serious SLR camera is mostly about choosing a set of lenses---there is typically no point in buying an SLR if you're not going to invest in two or three good quality lenses. You will have to choose between the manufacturer's own lines (e.g. Canon, Nikon) or the third party manufacturers (Sigma, Tamron etc) which make lenses in mounts suitable for several different bodies. Investigate the lines of lenses, and choose the body accordingly. You can upgrade the body later, but the bulk of your investment will be in high quality glass, which should serve you well for many many years.

PDF Compression quality loss?
Hi, I have a 8.5x14 graphic that I am putting on an USB to bring to a place to get printed. If I save it as a PDF file, will the quality be reduced? I am looking to get it printed with 200 DPI. Thanks. Jamesino 17:01, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

What program are you generating the PDF from? The answer depends on the resolution of your image 'as-is' in your program, and then the settings used to generate the PDF from within the program - your program (or PDF generator) may give you options on image compression and in your case you would want a higher-quality image compression. Rfwoolf 19:16, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

It's recommended that graphics sent for print should be saved in .tiff format. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_file_formats shows the comparisons of the file formats for images & graphics. Also, standard resolution for printing is 300+ DPI. The .pdf format is used for text rather than images, so it isn't a recommended format. Medusa 4:36pm PST 7 May 2007

Large equations in Latex
Hi! I have a really big equation which spans a several lines. I am trying to typeset it using Latex but I am unable to. I have tried using \begin{equation}, eqnarray, align, multline, split etc. but all of the them seem to work for multi-euqations and not multi-line equation. Please help! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 129.69.36.89 (talk) 17:36, 6 May 2007 (UTC).
 * The basic problem is that there is a \left( very early in the equation and it is closed on the last line. Using any template, whenever I change the line using "\\", latex gives the error that \left( is not closed.--129.69.36.89 17:54, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * I suggest 1) posting this question on the math desk, since there are a lot of LaTeX weenies over there, and 2) posting the shortest version of your input that gives the error so others can give it a try. --TotoBaggins 18:10, 6 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Hmm.. Thanks... then I am heading to the Math section.--129.69.36.89 19:39, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

LAN configuration
I'm trying to set up a wireless LAN at home using a Belkin Wireless-G (802.11g) router with ADSL 2 modem. My laptop has an Intel PROSet 3945ABG WiFi chipset and associated software, and I simply cannot get Windows to recognise it as a LAN adapter. Letting Windows run the wireless network by Windows Zero leads to countless error messages, and I vastly prefer the Intel software... if only I could get it to behave like a LAN adaptor.

Things get easier when I connect directly to the router with a yellow LAN cable, but this defies the purpose of wireless LAN :-(. My other machine is wireless equipped with a Belkin USB Wireless-G adapter that easily identifies as a LAN adaptor.

What on earth do I need to do here? Have tried everything. Please crosspost to my talkpage (I have no watchlist). JFW | T@lk  19:26, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

RCT3
Hi there, has anyone got an answer to my troubles. I installed rollercoaster tycoon 3 on my computer but when i try to play it, it comes up with C+++ visual thing and i don't know how to fix it. I think i've got all new stuff. I'm operating on windows vista.Wiki.user 20:00, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * What's the specific error message? Vague solutions would be to run under compatibility mode and run as Administrator. Splintercellguy 20:35, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

Google Toolbar
Hello. Google Toolbar enables a user to type a search term or phrase in the web address bar. If lucky, Google Toolbar will load the most relevant website. If not as lucky, Google Toolbar will redirect the user to the Google search engine with hits. I uninstalled Google Toolbar because of errors that prevented me from accessing Internet Explorer. Now, I can still type in a search term or phrase in the web address bar and have Google redirect me to their search engine with hits. Is it an unclean uninstallation or something else? --Mayfare 20:44, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * The program is probably fully uninstalled, but its change to the default search engine is still there. To modify this option in IE7:  -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 21:32, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, but I use Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP Media Centre. --Mayfare 22:32, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Why? IE7 is more secure and whatnot, despite looking completely idiotic. Anyways, in IE6:  -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 22:37, 6 May 2007 (UTC)
 * I know what you mean, I can't figure out why the menu bar (File - Edit - View - Favorites - etc) isn't ABOVE the address bar - instead it's below it and I've never succeeded in getting it to be above it. Just makes more sense to me - or my other excuse is that it's pretty much a standard to have the menu bar on the top. Those geniuses in Microsoft ... Rfwoolf 13:51, 8 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Yeah, but the added security should still be reason enough to upgrade, especially considering how lackluster it is in IE to begin with. If you don't like the menu style, there's always Firefox and Opera... -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 17:56, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

RAM questions
Recently I installed a second stick of RAM to my computer, and now I have some questions about RAM.

RAM types
Before installing the second stick, I compared what type of RAM it was with my existing stick. However, they seemed to present their respective RAM types differently. One was "DDR DIMM PC3200", and the other was "DDR DIMM 400 MHz". According to DIMM, these are the same types of RAM. My first question is, when installing a second stick, what must be equivalent? Can one be PC3200 (400 MHz) and the other PC2700 (333 MHz), all else being equal? Can one be DIMM and the other SIMM, all else being equal? Can one be DDR and the other DDR2, all else being equal? I assume they both must be DDR and DIMM, but I am less certain about the PCxxxx part.
 * DDR2 and DDR are physically different, and DIMM/SIMM are as well. There is no backwards compatibility. If you install two different types of RAM, they will both run at the lower-speed of the two (e.g. one 3200 stick and one 2700 stick: they will both run at 2700). They will work, but run slower - it is best to match speeds (and get dual channeL) when you can. - Wo o  ty   Woot?   contribs  23:16, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

RAM volumes
My second question is about the volume of RAM on the sticks. Both sticks are 512 MB, but when only the first was installed, my System Properties (Start → Control Panel → Performance and Maintenance → System) said I had 448 MB. After installing the second stick, the System Properties tells me I have 960 MB. Why is there an apparently constant 64 MB of unaccounted RAM? − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 22:50, 6 May 2007 (UTC)
 * I believe that is due to part of the RAM being reserved but I'm not sure. - Wo o  ty   Woot?   contribs  23:18, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Your "missing" 64MB of RAM may be because you have integrated graphics, where the graphics processor uses an allocated portion of the RAM as its memmory, rather than having dedicated graphics memory.


 * The compatibility of the RAM, I am less sure about. I believe that the system will clock to the lowest memory speed - so if you have one stick of PC2700 and one of PC3200, both will run at 333MHz. DDR2 is not backward compatible with DDR. Neither are SIMM and DIMM compatible. →Ollie (talk • contribs) 23:20, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

I do have integrated graphics, that must be it. Thanks guys. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 03:12, 8 May 2007 (UTC)