Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2008 August 21

= August 21 =

Find in Firefox
The find function works really crappy in Firefox in general, but what's really a big deal for me is that it doesn't work at all to search text in Wikipedia articles when you are in in edit mode. Anyone know a work around/hack/add-on?--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 03:03, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * It seems to work for me. What version are you using? I'm using 2.0 - Akamad (talk) 03:36, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Aha, I'm running a past version; nothing more needs to be said, I'll upgrade.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 04:00, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Upgraded and find function now working in edit mode. Sort of a slap myself on the forehead moment. Thanks.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 04:08, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * That was one of the best features in Firefox version 2! You can change the language too, if the defaulot spelling is annoying. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 09:00, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Yeah it was highlighting everything, turning it off was one of the first things I did. Actually a useful feature. It would be nice if I could toggle it on and off without going to options. Can it be added to the toolbar (there's no option to do so from the toolbar menu in view)?--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 12:13, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

There is a "highlight all" button on the find bar that you get from pressing ctrl-F (not slash) --Random832 (contribs) 17:20, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Embedding SVG in HTML
I want to embed some SVG in HTML. The standards-compliant way is to use the 'object' tag. This requires the use of the attributes 'width' and 'height', however. Why is it necessary to specify these attributes? For some SVG files it's easy to find, since they are specified in the file itself. However, it seems that the renderer could work these out itself a lot of the time. This isn't required for images, so why for arbitrary objects? Also, if I'm not mistaken it might be possible for the rendered SVG to change dimensions depending on the renderer - doesn't this make the 'object' tag pretty useless, if this requirement is kept? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.210.249.81 (talk) 12:50, 21 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Where are you reading that the "width" and "height" attributes are required? According to the HTML 4.01 Specification, the "width" and "height" attributes are "#IMPLIED", which basically means "optional". —Bkell (talk) 13:15, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

I Have A Problem Signing My Comments
My problem is that when I hold the Shift button and click on the four tildes, I get a blank screen that tells me that it is already done. What is up with that? Ericthebrainiac (talk) 17:39, 21 August 2008 (UTC)


 * If you're clicking (on the four tildes below the edit box), there's no reason to be holding shift. You would need to hold shift while typing the tildes, just as you need to hold shift to type an ampersand (&) or asterisk (*).  -- Coneslayer (talk) 17:43, 21 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Holding shift and clicking on a link will open it in a new window. Just click the link. Don't hold down shift or any other button. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 19:33, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Formula for finding RAM type
Hi, I was trying to find out the kind of RAM needed for a computer with a FSB of 800 MHz. I did the formula, finding that this should be capable of 1600 MT/s and a bandwidth of 12.8 GB of data per second, giving it a name of PC12800 or DDR1600. I noticed there is no form of memory like this. Did I do something wrong, or does it have to do with different forms of SDRAM? (Like DDR, DDR2, DDR3) TheSeaIsBlue (talk) 20:13, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Firefox - offline mode
Recently, whenever I have opened Firefox, I have got the following message: Offline Mode

Firefox is currently in offline mode and can't browse the Web.

The browser is operating in its offline mode and cannot connect to the requested item.
 * Is the computer connected to an active network?
 * Place the browser in online mode and try again.

I'm not sure why this is, as Safari, which I am using now, works fine.

Does anyone know what the problem is and how to resolve it?

Thanks, Anonymous101 (talk) 20:30, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Is 'work offline' ticked in the File menu? Algebraist 20:31, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, it is. I'm not sure how it got ticked but many thanks for your help. �Anonymous101 (talk) 20:38, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Computer Issue... (sigh)
I was using my friends computer today (Windows Vista, unfortunately), when it suddenly crashed.

I had opened a run dialog box, then, after deciding not to use it, closed it. There was an error message to the effect of "explorer.exe has terminated unexpectedly", (I don't recall the specifics, but it seemed pretty standard sounding).

When I rebooted, Windows said that it couldn't start the OS, and it recommended that I use the Windows Startup repair utility. After running it, I got a Blue Screen (ugh). Running it a second time, it told me that it couldn't fix the problem.

The computer starts in safe mode, but not normally. Any ideas?

(I haven't installed any hardware lately, but my computer crashed during a large download of Maple Story (my friends download, not mine:P))

Ideas?

Perfect Proposal  23:48, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Potential bad hardware. Did you run the Startup utlitiy off the CD or the hard drive?  --mboverload @  01:05, 22 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Run msconfig, see what's starting at startup, disable it. Uninstall video drivers, and really any driver you think you can boot without (Windows should revert to generic ones for each of them); or just install new revisions for those drivers. The main difference with safemode is that it loads only the barebones drivers and services, and none of the normal startup items. Also, the text in the bluescreen might be useful for diagnosing it. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 01:15, 22 August 2008 (UTC)


 * The utility ran off the hard drive automatically at boot. Do you think that the issue could potentially "heal itself"? My friend says that it happens rather often, and by the next day, it's fine. Is this possible? Perfect Proposal  13:42, 22 August 2008 (UTC)


 * If it will fix itself the next day, I wonder if the CPU, a memory chip, or a drive cable is loose somewhere. JeremyMcCracken (talk) (contribs) 02:41, 26 August 2008 (UTC)