Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2008 December 1

= December 1 =

Midtown Madness 2 Free?
where can i get midtown madness 2 full version for free —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.207.66.104 (talk • contribs)
 * You can download a demo from the official website . The game is copyrighted and Microsoft have not released it under a free license so we cannot help you otherwise. Exxolon (talk) 00:58, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Converting sound files
Is there any way I can convert some of my MP3 files to .wav files? I want to have Christmas songs play when I log in and out of my user account (I use Windows XP SP3). --Crackthewhip775 (talk) 01:54, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Yes. You can do it with Audacity which is downloadable free. Open the files into Audacity, then do Export as .wav in the File menu. --GreenSpigot (talk) 03:38, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks. --Crackthewhip775 (talk) 04:37, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * I think iTunes does this also. --69.149.213.144 (talk) 05:38, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Foobar2000 does this. &mdash; neuroIT'S MY BIRTHDAY! 15:16, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

a good antivirus that dont need windows installer
i have a virus that dont let me install windows installer programs. I have kapersky here but it needs windows installer. Exdeathbr (talk)

Have you tried booting into safe mode, and installing it that way? If Kapersky doesn't allow it I'm almost certain NOD32 does. Gunrun (talk) 11:26, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Windows Installer apps cannot be installed in Safe Mode AFAIK. Have you tried running a malware remover (that is, because it sounds like you know what it is that is on your system) &mdash; neuroIT'S MY BIRTHDAY! 15:15, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Well I installed avira free editon, just to remove some virus, then I was able to install nod32 again, and scan for virus and fix the virus that he found, now i will remove nod32 and install kapersky.Exdeathbr (talk) 21:53, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Dictionary/Spell Checker Problems in OpenOffice.Org
Howdy y'all. I recently uninstalled MS Office Home and Student 2007 Trial(Ran out of time) and I now plan on using OpenOffice.Org only. Unfortunately, for some reason its English USA dictionary is completely out of whack. All the words are missing from the standard dictionary????(standard.dic) I'm on the 3.0 version. Can someone help me out? Thanks.--Xp54321 (Hello! • Contribs ) 03:37, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately, OpenOffice.org has bugs and problems in it. You'll need to find a way around it. Oh, and it has NO grammar correction.-- Editor510  drop us a line, mate  17:26, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Most all software has "bugs and problems in it". For the dictionary problem, have you tried re-installing just the English USA dictionary?  As far as grammar checking, there are extensions available that can use the grammar API that is part of OO.o 3.0 --LarryMac  | Talk  18:17, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Tsk, tsk. :P The problem was that some downloads of OpenOffice.Org didn't install the US English dictionary by default. :P All I needed was the file location of that extension which I found in an online forum. The dictionary(With spell-checker) is found here:C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\share\extension\install. And Editor510, your comment was not in the least bit helpful. Thank you LarryMac. I will check out those extensions some time. :)--Xp54321 (Hello! • Contribs ) 23:39, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

Uninstalling from Ubuntu
I'm a (nearly) lifelong Windows user and one of the things that's always bugged me about Windows is how, after you uninstall something, you still keep finding bits and pieces of the program all over - temp folders, start menu, registry keys, sometimes even the main directory folders, etc. etc. If/when I finally make the switch to a Linux distro, will I still find the same thing? Or is the issue I'm talking about program specific, and not much could be generalized about it? Matt Deres (talk) 04:26, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Most programs you will install on Ubuntu come in packages (DEBs in Ubuntu's case) - they contain information about which files get installed. When you uninstall a program, it will remove all the files it installed. Since the programs you use will be running under a normal user account (yours), they simply don't have the permissions to write to any system-wide "registry" or any system library locations. However, they will leave behind configuration files in your home directory (etc.  for Firefox). System services create configuration files in , but you can purge those as well. Additionally, shared libraries are almost always contained in separate packages which other packages can depend on. So for example, both Firefox  and Nautilus  (the file browser) depend on the GTK libraries  (the user interface). Programs won't install their own libraries everywhere like in Windows. --wj32 t/c 05:55, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * It won't delete config files by default (which I think is probably a good idea), but there is a "completely remove" option. Downgrading a package is hard (eg from firefox 2.0.3 to 2.0.2), but upgrading is easy. More info on the synaptic package manager at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto --h2g2bob (talk) 12:45, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * All this is true, but to make it a little more clear: it's MUCH better in Ubuntu than in Windows. When you remove a program, it's gone, you don't notice it anymore. The files are removed, the process isn't running anymore. There might be a few configuration files left, but they're in a hidden folder in your home-directory, and it's trivial to remove them if you want to. There's no burrowing adware or spyware, there's no programs that just wont go away even if you try and uninstall them. It is absolutely much better in Ubuntu. 83.252.172.146 (talk) 14:51, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * You might be interested in Zero Install and Application directory. These are associated most with the ROX Desktop but can be used otherwise as well. Dmcq (talk) 14:26, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Or Portable apps for linux

Thank you very much for the info; these are the kinds of answers I was looking for. Matt Deres (talk) 15:24, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Mac: software update needs to quit before restart
I have updates to install on my Mac (Leopard). Now it needs to restart, but the error:

''Logout has timed out because the application Software Update failed to quit. To try again, quit Software Update and choose Log Out from the Apple Menu. You can use the Force Quit menu item in the Apple Menu (or press Command+Option+Esc) to quit an unresponsive application.''

Software Update isn't even open, it has quit by this stage, so I can't force quit it. Then if I click OK and restart it myself, it doesn't install the (already downloaded) updates. I can go through the whole process again (check for new updates, licence agreements, etc.) and find myself back where I began again.

It won't restart until Software Update has closed, but that's the same application it needs to initiate the restart - at least, a restart which will install updates. Any suggestions?My name is anetta (talk) 14:43, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * You can do one of two things. One is to open up the Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities), try to find the process that is running wild, and force quit it from there. The other is to just force a shutdown (hold down the power button for about 10 seconds) and reboot, which is easier, and really has basically the same effect. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 14:53, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Neither help, I'm afraid. Forcing a restart (or a restart any other way than initiated by Software Update) simply restarts and nothing more - as opposed to installing updates when it starts up again. The only process I can find related in Activity Monitor is "Update" - even when I force quit it, it reappears immediately.My name is anetta (talk) 17:49, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Never heard about it before. Sounds like a bug. Could you tell us which version of Leopard and which update you were trying to install? Thanks. Kushal (talk) 20:56, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

OSX10.5.5, updates for:

1) Airport Extreme Update 2008-004 v1.0 2) Quicktime H.264 Compatibility Update v7.5.5 3) Itunes 8.0.2 4) Java for Mac OSX Update 2 v1.0 5) Safari v3.2.1

It doesn't upgrade to OSX 10.5.6, which I understand isn't out yet. I had it on a previous installation, as well - but then it didn't logically stop be updatng (Catch-22 situation). My name is anetta (talk) 22:03, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

OK it works now, after a while. I forced quit loginwindow (which logged me out rightaway), logged in, restarted, quit all, ran Software Update, quit System Preferences and let it go. Anon and Kushal are appreciated.My name is anetta (talk) 22:42, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * I would love to learn more about this issue. I have no idea why it happened.  Kushal (talk) 18:36, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

Blackberry applications
I just purchased my first Blackberry. A Storm. I'll be using it for personal stuff, but some work. Is there a website where I can download free applications? I had many useful apps for my Iphone and was wondering if there was a similar website out for Blackberry users. Thank you in advance.--209.183.190.77 (talk) 16:44, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

lan problem
I have a windows vista laptop, which I use to connect to my hostel LAN. Recently it has stopped showing any computer in the network folder and stopped being shown on ther computers too. Our lan needs manual ip address assigning for each computers. I have noticed that my comp uses 2 ip addresses (using ipconfig), one of which is already being used my another pc. Going toNetwork Connections -> Local Area Conn->Properties->IPv4 and modifying the address only shows the second one, and I can, in no way stop my pc from using the other address. Please help. 218.248.70.235 (talk) 16:46, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Max Headroom intrusion incident
What is he wearing on his middle finger?-- Editor510  drop us a line, mate  17:23, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * It would appear to be a dildo. SN0WKITT3N 17:59, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Ew...thanks.-- Editor510  drop us a line, mate  17:24, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

Why are object files necessary?
Hi. Why are object files necessary? I understand that with C++, a compiler creates a .o file? That file is then converted to a <tt>.exe</tt> file via a linker? Why doesn't it just create an executable directly? I used GCC to create a test application and all I got was the executable.--Rjnt (talk) 18:40, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * You can indeed skip the creation of .o files with something like:

g++ -o my_executable file1.cpp file2.cpp
 * The purpose of creating .o files is speed. If you have 100 source files, and make a change to only one of them, it will be enormously faster to just recompile that one file and then relink all the object files, rather than recompiling all 100 files.  It's basically a caching system.  --Sean 20:25, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

How do I get Google to search on an exact string?
I want to do a Google search on "RAISERROR(@Error" so I put it quotes. This usually works but I think the parens and/or the @ is messing it up and Google is returning hits that don't match my search string.  216.239.234.196 (talk) 19:41, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Certain searches do not work in Google no matter what, this is one of them. <font face="Trebuchet MS">&mdash; neuroIT'S MY BIRTHDAY! 20:06, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * You might be interested in Google Code Search, which allows the use of regular expressions. You would use "RAISERROR\(@Error" in this case, and indeed there are quite a few hits: .  --Sean 20:28, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

no skype feedback???
Why is there no feedback on skype whatsoever? Those guys are geniuses! I mean, I can have my call on a speaker and have the Mic RIGHT NEXT TO IT and there is no feedback or echoing for the person on the other end WHATSOEVER (or for me)! How do they do it??? 82.120.107.213 (talk) 23:11, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Feedback can theoretically be eliminated electronically, using "noise canceling technology", by removing an outgoing sound signal (with a slight delay) from the incoming signal, but actually pulling it off is quite difficult. Maybe they've figured it out. StuRat (talk) 00:57, 2 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Here's the basic concept. Take the outgoing waveform, let's use a nice simple square wave:

**** *  *  *  * **  **


 * Now reduce the magnitude:

**** *  * **  **


 * Now introduce a time delay:

****  *  * ***  **


 * Now invert the waveform:

*** **   *  *   ****


 * If you take this and electronically add it to the incoming waveform, you can, theoretically, eliminate feedback. However, there are some complexities:


 * 1) The outgoing waveform is far more complicated. In fact, there are many waveforms at many different frequencies.


 * 2) Figuring out how much to reduce the magnitude and delay the waveform is tricky, as it depends on many factors, like the frequency, the distance from speaker to microphone, the sound resonance and absorption properties in the room, etc.


 * 3) There isn't just the direct path of sound from the speaker to the microphone, there are also echoes off walls to consider. These would likely have more of a time delay and magnitude reduction than the direct path.


 * I'd suggest starting each call with a "test" signal, consisting of many frequencies, to judge the magnitude and delay at various frequencies, so those parameters could be set for the call. Presumably those parameters won't change much during a call, but, if you walk around while talking, they could. StuRat (talk) 01:10, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

uTorrent woes
So, I am downloading torrents, and this error came up. I have received this message before, but that was on another PC, oddly enough, and I have never heard of it before.

"Error: The requested operation cannot be performed on a file with a user-mapped section open."

Any ideas? <font face="Trebuchet MS">&mdash; neuroIT'S MY BIRTHDAY! 23:36, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

first click the "Help" menu -> "Check for Updates". Are you running the latest version?
 * There's a forum thread on the issue on the uTorrent site: http://forum.utorrent.com/viewtopic.php?id=41702 . - Akamad (talk) 03:08, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

if i upload a video on google video does the video shows on youtube??
if i upload a video on google video does the video shows on youtube?? Exdeathbr (talk) 23:39, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * I don't believe so. But they are run by the same company, so, you never know. flaminglawyerc neverforget 23:49, 1 December 2008 (UTC)
 * It will not show up on Youtube. But if you uploaded it to Youtube it would show up on Google Video as it searched more than one video sharing site.--<font color="0070FF">Xp54321 (<font color="4CBB17">Hello! • <font color="4CBB17">Contribs ) 03:58, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

PHP include
Is there a way to change the directory when using the PHP include function? i.e., I use <tt><?php include("header.php") ?></tt> for index.php at URL <tt>example.com/index.php</tt>, which includes <tt>example.com/header.php</tt>. How would I include the same header from a file at <tt>example.com/folder/file.php</tt>? When I use <tt>include("header.php")</tt>, it says it doesn't exist. Same thing happens when I try using the url: <tt>include(" http://examp le.com/header.php")</tt>. w3schools, from which I've obtained all of my PHP knowledge (limited though it may be), doesn't cover this specifically. flaminglawyerc neverforget 23:46, 1 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Two dots (..) moves up to the parent directory (as it does in most other contexts), so your example would be <tt>include("../header.php")</tt>. — Matt Eason (Talk &#149; Contribs) 00:46, 2 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Right. So if it is example.com/header.php, if you are in a folder one deep (e.g. example.com/blah/yourfile.php) then you have "../header.php", if you are two deep (example.com/blah/blah/yourfile.php), you use "../../header.php", etc. Each ".." means "one directory up from the one I'm currently in." --98.217.8.46 (talk) 01:21, 2 December 2008 (UTC)
 * That solves it. Thanks. flaminglawyerc neverforget 03:06, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

Mac: Xgrid distributed computing - called without first being authenticated
My second post today! I'm using OSX Intel 10.5.5, and I've been careful to set up Xgrid according to, but the fans never rev up high enough to be doing anything, the CPU is hardly ever busy. The log reads:

...System Preferences[551]: Admin.xgridAgentControllerPassword: called without first being authenticated.

Only one result on Google .My name is anetta (talk) 23:52, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Xgridagentd and Xgridagenthelper are both running in Activity Monitor, even if it is at 0% CPU and 5MB of real RAM (Firefox is now on 120MB RAM).My name is anetta (talk) 23:59, 1 December 2008 (UTC)