Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2008 February 3

= February 3 =

PMR446 Radios
I have a question which hasnt been answered by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446 and alot of other websites.

I understand that PMR446 is the UHF channels that can be used in consumer radios.What I would like to know, is:

If I buy a motorola radio on PMR446, can I join ANY other group of local radios on the same channels?

I work in theatre and need walkie talkies to communicate. If a theatre already has some PMR radios, can I just buy another handset and start using it, provided we are on the same frequency?

Thanks for any answers, I'm not especially technical, at least not within this field!

86.139.90.67 (talk) 00:54, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * A PMR446 handset should talk to any other PMR446, regardless of manufacturer or model. You will, of course, need to use the same CTCSS or DCS code as well as the same channel - these are sometimes called "privacy codes" or "anti-interference codes" by manufacturers. -- AJR | Talk 19:39, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Ah!! thank you. So my intended purchase of a PMR motorola unit will work with existing Kenwood radios. I guess those codes are something you just enter into your unit, or are they pre-programmed in? 86.139.90.67 (talk) 20:27, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Distributed rsync?
Is there something along the line of rsync + torrents? I have a bunch of home servers that have slow upload speed and need to be synchronised regularly. Normal rsync from the central server just take too long and something that combines the concept of rsync and bittorrent would be great in solving that problem. --antilivedT 01:08, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * How about UDPCast? It's really not like bittorrent but it's supposed to solve the problem of distributing the same file to multiple destinations efficiently. --tcsetattr (talk / contribs) 05:12, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Except they aren't on a LAN... But setting up a VPN isn't that hard. Will look into it, thanks. --antilivedT 07:31, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

"Internet Explorer provided by...."
At the top of IE I get the website name then it says "Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by Tiscali". The "provided by Tiscali" bit appeared when I used Tiscali as an ISP, which I haven't done for ages. How do I get rid of the "provided by Tiscali" bit? DuncanHill (talk) 01:22, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
 * If using XP Professional:


 * 1) Go to Run, type gpedit.msc, then click ok
 * 2) Go to User Configuaration > Windows Settings > Internet Explorer Maintenance > Browser User Interface using the menu tree in the left-hand column
 * 3) In the right column, double-click "Browser Title"
 * 4) Check/uncheck the "Customise Title Bars" and enter remove details accordingly.

If using another OS, you could try the registy edit described here; unfortunately, I don't have any other OS on-hand at the moment to check.-- Kateshort forbob  01:39, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
 * You could also follow the registry editing steps here, it looks cleaner. Useight (talk) 01:40, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks, not XP Pro and don't fancy editing my registry. Thanks anyway, cheerio folks. DuncanHill (talk) 04:59, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Will Tweak UI work? I think it deserves a try. Kushalt 01:36, 4 February 2008 (UTC)


 * ^If that doesn't help, you might consider Firefox or Opera (web browser)? --Seans Potato Business 23:38, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Are you using IE7? If not I would strongly recommend you upgrade... Nil Einne (talk) 13:17, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Might there be reason to keep any of this old dev/cad software?
Doing some housecleaning today, I found some old software my parents bought me when I was 11, 12, 13, which they bought to nudge me into programming and other productive computer hobbies other than just playing videogames. I must say it worked, I do this stuff for a living nowadays.

But is there any reason for me to NOT throw any of these away?


 * Autodesk 3D Studio R2 and R3 -- these cost about $3,000 back then. But nowadays they only have a tiny fraction of the functionality that the completely freeware Blender is capable of, and probably just the same as 3D Studio Max (which I haven't tried... I am a Blender guy :p).  Looking at old SIGGRAPH demo reels for this product from 1994 and 1995, I'm amazed what artists could do with the limited functionality of these old programs.  Character animation without bone systems must have been very difficult.  Is there any reason to keep these other than as curious artifacts?


 * Autodesk Animator Pro -- DOS-based animation software. This is actually pretty powerful software, even if it is limited to indexed 8-bit color modes.  A scripting language called POCO was integrated into it to automate many tasks.  I am guessing this was probably used in a lot of games back in DOS's golden era.


 * Turbo C++ -- 16-bit compiler for DOS programs. Circa 1992.  This is where I began migrating from QBasic to C++, although I still didn't understand most of C/C++ until college.  Is there any possible scenario at all in which I might in the future exclaim, "oh crap, I need a C++ compiler for 16-bit DOS programs"?


 * Turbo Assembler -- bought this out of a bargain bin in my college bookstore a few years ago. I haven't even opened it yet.  Seems like it's for Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.51.  Heh.  I've never really touched assembly before except minor curious diddling.  Is there any reason I should keep this on me?  Can this supply any purpose for some possible  scenario that NASM and GAS can't fulfill these days?

--75.165.32.244 (talk) 02:31, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Historical value!! These are antiques...I mean they were all made before I was born but still!  Turbo C++?  Turbo Assembler?  I still have these...it wasn't so long ago I still used them!  There's no real point in keeping them I suppose, but nowadays they take up no space compared to most stuff, so why not?  Just for sentimental value if nothing else. Trimethylxanthine (talk) 02:42, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, rather than throw them away, maybe try selling them on eBay? There are people who collect old software still in the box. --24.147.69.31 (talk) 04:47, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Note that AutoCAD has tried to prevent selling old versions on eBay, although perhaps your versions are old enough to avoid their DMCA antics. -- LarryMac  | Talk  14:32, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

MSN 7.5 and WLM 8.x
I am using Windows XP and use MSN 7.5 (running in compatibility mode). Someone told me that if I install WLM 8.x, MSN 7.5 will automatically be uninstalled. Is there any way I can use both MSN 7.5 and WLM 8.x on the same computer? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.189.60.87 (talk) 02:56, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
 * um, why do you want to use them both?
 * First, Windows Live is just a new version of MSN, and it would be like trying to use MS Office 2007 and Office XP on the same computer. (Remember, it's Microsoft.) So I doubt you'll be able to use them both.
 * Second, MSN/Live will only allow connections from *one* client at once.
 * -- grawity talk / PGP 12:49, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Not true. I can log into MSN 7.5, Windows Messenger and Web Messenger from the same computer. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 165.21.155.93 (talk) 02:13, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Pregap ripper
Does anyone know of a program that can rip a song found in the pregap of an audio CD? I did a Google search for pregap ripper, but nothing caught my eye there. − Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 05:51, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I don't know, but the article says that EAC will notice the long pregap, so it stands to reason that it would be able to read the contents. -- BenRG (talk) 19:56, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Editor for Lisp
I'm a programmer-aspirant, about to start learning Scheme. However, I'm not sure whether Vim (my current editor of choice) is the best tool for the job (poor Lisp support?). I tried to get used to Emacs a few months ago, but it didn't work well with my editing workflow: I generally have 3-4 files open, in different editor instances open that are scattered about my screen, not cramped in one window as 'tabs'. This is rather antithetical to the Emacs mindset. Is Vim up to the task (I don't mind about funky IDE-style features) of programming in Scheme, or is there a better tool for the job that doesn't use a monolithic editing model? 79.72.127.118 (talk) 12:15, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
 * It's difficult to imagine any features in a lisp-specific editor overcoming the advantage the expertise in your usual editor gives you. I'd say google for  to get a few tips, and then just use that.  Vim is one of the deepest and best programs ever written, IMO.  Every time I've ever pined for a feature and thought about implementing it, I find that it's already there.  --Sean 14:41, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * The best tool to learn scheme is probably DrScheme. The debugging support is particularly good. Morana (talk) 02:38, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

MIDI file on waste.exe/DAT/176
Just wondering, has anyone else noticed the MIDI file inside waste.exe, as resource DAT/176? -- grawity talk / PGP 12:55, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

CIRCLE ALGORITHM
DETAIL CIRCLE DRAWING ALGORITHM FROM COMPUTER GRAPHICS  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikifrommld (talk • contribs) 14:42, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Midpoint circle algorithm. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 14:57, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

ringtone support in Samsung Juke
Does the Samsung Juke support changing the ringtone to any song in the phone? How can I do it? Kushalt 15:24, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Delete RSS Feeds Into Recycle Bin
Hello. Why can favourites be deleted to the recycle bin but not RSS feeds? Thanks in advance. --Mayfare (talk) 15:48, 3 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Can I assume this is an Internet Explorer question? In Firefox you can delete live bookmarks in the same way as any other bookmark. --h2g2bob (talk) 15:57, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Sure. --Mayfare (talk) 20:30, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

If you ask me, system developers are not perfect and do stuff according to their own (collective) logic or lack of the aforementioned. One joke that often comes in Windows world is "Why do I need to start to shut down? The short answer is that because they designed it that way. Kushalt 21:23, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

I guess the above does not apply to Windows Vista ... but again "nobody actually buys vista anyway" lol Kushalt 21:24, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I think it's because the RSS feeds aren't actually stored onto your computer... whilst your favourites are stored on your machine for you to call up whenever. (And I quite like Vista ;-) Scarian Call me Pat  22:07, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

were you being sarcastic? i could not hear any sarcasm in your voice, Scarian. Maybe it is just me. =P Kushalt 01:35, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

apple and download
heya everybody

where can you get a thing for mac, like a widget or something that tells you how many megabytes you download every day? thanks --Jane157 (talk) 21:33, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * You could try here: . I couldn't find anything after a brief look but it's the most logical place to start looking. Hope it helps! Scarian Call me Pat  22:04, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * This, this and this seem to fit the bill, although I'm not sure if any of them can be configured to count from the start of the day rather than from the last startup. I'm not on a Mac so I can't test, sorry. — Matt Eason (Talk &#149; Contribs) 22:11, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Userbox Code
What code would I need to add to my userbox code to give it a designation like User:UBX/sample. How would I give the userboxes I create these designations. Thanks, Zrs 12 (talk) 21:41, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * This question is probably best suited for the WP:HELPDESK, friend. Scarian Call me Pat  22:02, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Dealio is doing my head in.
How do I get rid of THIS? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Givnan (talk • contribs) 22:47, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Is that your homepage? I don't understand your question. Could you add more information, please? Kushalt 03:09, 4 February 2008 (UTC)


 * This (french) forum post seems to indicate that this problem is caused by adware. Can you try uninstalling whatever extension/add-on started this in all the browsers available (firefox/flock/internet explorer etc)? If whatever you installed was an ordinary application, not a browser extension, uninstall that. You may also want to run a spyware scan. Let us know if any of that works/doesn't work-- Kateshort forbob  22:36, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

What does this .jpg warning message mean?
"Could not open "shoe attachment.jpg" because a JPEG marker segment length is too short (the file may be truncated or incomplete)."

Is there anything I can do to fix this on my end (Mac OS X 10.4.11) Preview, Photoshop etc.

This is the only file that I have never been able to open.

P.S. It is even openable on a really old mac, which makes even less sense. (I hope this shows up...someone keeps deleting my text!)  S a u d a d e 7  22:50, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * The JPEG file is corrupt. Different software will deal with this in different ways. I would open it on the really old Mac (which is probably ignoring the corrupt part or not even noticing it), and then save the image to a new file. By the way, I don't see any evidence in the page history that anyone deleted your question, but you did delete someone else's question. But no worries, they added it back. -- BenRG (talk) 13:04, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Batch file environment variables
I am trying to set environment variables with batch files in the Windows Command Prompt by getting user input, something like this:

set /p input = "Type something here: " echo You typed %input%. if "%input%" == "stop" goto stop

I run the file without @echo off at the beginning, for debugging. The output looks something like this:

C:\>test.bat C:\>set /p input = "Type something here: " Type something here: stop C:\>echo You typed. You typed. C:\>if "" == "stop" goto stop

So basically the variable isn't getting stored properly for some reason. But the galling thing is that if I go back to the command line and check the environment variables with set, the variable input IS defined, and it contains "stop". Any reason why this might be happening? This is happening on a machine running Windows Vista Home Premium, thought the same thing has happened on Windows XP. Thanks, FlamingSilmaril (talk) 22:56, 3 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I'm not sure why, but removing the spaces around the equal sign on the first line makes it work. I changed the line to this:

set /p input="Type something here: "
 * Here is the output with echo on:

C:\>test

C:\>set /p input="Type something here: " Type something here: Hello, world!

C:\>echo You typed Hello, world!. You typed Hello, world!.

C:\>if "Hello, world!" == "stop" goto stop C:\>
 * --jh51681 (talk) 03:55, 4 February 2008 (UTC)


 * The spaces around the equal sign are significant to the batch processor: User:FlamingSilmaril has effectively created a variable called 'input ' rather than 'input'. To verify this behaviour, type "set x = 1" and "set x=1" in a command prompt, and then just "set" to display all the environment variables: you will see that x apparently appears twice in the list. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 08:36, 4 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Okay, that clears it up. Thanks a lot! FlamingSilmaril (talk) 22:40, 4 February 2008 (UTC)