Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2009 June 21

= June 21 =

SWF innards
I am writing a program which loads static images held in SWF format. I'm stuck on the problem of how to recognise that the file contains layers, and implement the layers.

Files will typically consist of a single "shape", that is to say, no symbols, but the shape may have elements on different layers. When I encounter a file like this, the only clue I see in the data that a new layer is being begun is a style change record which looks like this:

Style change move to: 0 x, 0 y   fill0: 0 fill1: 0 line: 0 Newstyles

I can't see anything in the documentation that says this kind of record indicates a new layer, or indeed anything about layers at all. Do you know of a forum dedicated to messing about with SWF on a low level like this, where they might be able to answer my question? 81.131.30.33 (talk) 09:55, 21 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Have you seen Adobe's official SWF developer page? They link to a file format specification document.  The SWF format may have proprietary "features" only known to Adobe developers, though, (it's a "partially open" format, whatever that means).  You might want to check out SWF file for some open-source tools.  Nimur (talk) 16:23, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I have that file, yes (all guides to the file format seem to be pretty much identical to it), and it doesn't mention layers. I left a question on the Adobe site's forum, but any other ideas about places to ask would be helpful. (Still me) 86.21.204.137 (talk) 19:01, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Undelete
I accidentally deleted some files from my ipod (60 gig 5G). How can I get it back pls? --Mudupie (talk) 10:26, 21 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Try using Glarysoft Undelete. [Here's] the link to download Glary Utilities. One of the programs under modules-privacy & security is the one you want. It isn't perfect, but nothing is. Mxvxnyxvxn (talk) 02:44, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Changing Disk thing's letter
hi, my external HD has had its letter for itself changed by my computer form 'D' to 'G' and i need to change it back. I know you can do it by putting something into Run and doinf it that way but i cant remember what you put in. Anyone know? thanks, --81.79.66.205 (talk) 11:38, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Type "diskmgmt.msc" in the "Run" box, right click the rectangle representing the external drive, and change to the letter you want. If the letter you want is already taken by another device, you'll have to reassign the other device first. --NorwegianBluetalk 13:48, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Or if you don't want to do it through run follow this Microsoft help-page (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307844). ny156uk (talk) 15:21, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Automatic download of podcasts
I'm looking for a program that will download podcasts, automatically, to the directory of my choice, without wanting to take complete control of all media management on my PC. I've tried iTunes, which meets the first requirement, but not the second (I really hate iTunes). It would be nice if the program could be set to automatically download previous episodes when I start a subscription. Also, if the PC has been turned off for a while, missed episodes should be downloaded when it's turned back on. OS can be either Linux (Debian server, KDE not installed) or Windows XP. I've tried Google Reader and the feed aggregator of Flock, but they don't seem to be capable of automatically downloading the audio (or I haven't figured out how to). I've read Comparison of feed aggregators, but the lists are too full of question marks to really be helpful. Thanks. --NorwegianBluetalk 12:12, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I use PodNova. I think it fulfills all your requirements, and I hardly ever notice it, which is good. — Matt Eason (Talk &#149; Contribs) 12:27, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Thanks. Got it working now for the podcasts I'm currently following, and it certainly looks promising and unobtrusive. I haven't managed to convince it to download anything but the lastest podcast, though. Is there a setting that I've missed? --NorwegianBluetalk 17:25, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I thought the Settings>Downloads>New Episodes>Download All option would take care of this, but I just tried it and it doesn't - sorry. I can't see any other settings which look relevant. — Matt Eason (Talk &#149; Contribs) 17:41, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I found out how to achieve almost what I wanted: settings>subscriptions>(link to podcast) opens a window, where I can click a red button "+Add clipping" for each episode I want to download. Confusingly, it doesn't end up in the folder I've assigned to that podcast, but to a folder named PodNova Clippings . When an episode is downloaded, the corresponding button then changes to a blue button "—Remove clipping". All in all, pretty much what I wanted, but a bit more manually than I would have liked. Thanks again. --NorwegianBluetalk 19:29, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Typing chemical equations in MS word
Is there any way in MS word to create an arrow with text typed over it? I'm doing some chemistry work and need to indicate catalysts for reactions, which have to be typed over the reaction arrow. Thanks 64.252.193.6 (talk) 14:42, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060709092457AASLFx6 The first answer seems like it might be worth pursuing. ny156uk (talk) 15:20, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Programs to check out a computer from a pen drive?
I'm being given an old Windows computer soon. It's quite likely to have viruses on it. Plus I'd like to know what the spec of its various components are, and if possible find out (and even fix) any problems it might have. What would be the best programs to put on a pen drive to do all this please? 89.241.40.196 (talk) 16:31, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Perhaps CPU-Z? For a start. Won't catch viruses or give drive information, but it will tell you about the CPU, motherboard and memory. 213.122.52.23 (talk) 17:41, 21 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Why not just reformat and reinstall? Seems like the smartest initial approach if you are dubious about it. --98.217.14.211 (talk) 18:53, 21 June 2009 (UTC)


 * systeminfo (at the command prompt) will give you the CPU and OS stuff, but none of the peripherals. Also includes network card and all windows hotfixes.  I assume it's a standard command, not something added by my OEM...  --DaHorsesMouth (talk) 21:01, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * It wokr son mine, too, so I think it's safe to assume that it's standard. Thanks,  gENIUS  101  21:08, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * It's a standard command - but not present in 'XP home', only 'XP pro' (if you've got XP)  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.100.250.79 (talk) 21:22, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

(rewritten)
 * for windows most of the info you seek can be found in Control Panel (Windows) /system. If you can get to the 'system' icon in control panel the parts of the computer can be found under 'hardware','device mananger'. See the article Device Manager for more details - it's quite clearly written
 * you can scan for viruses using the free web based scanner from MS, or use another anti virus checker.
 * If it doesn't have any software as is or you can't turn it on there are ways to get the info out via an USB stick.. But if you need to install software to get it to work - you'll be reformatting the hard disk - and blanking any viruses - apologies if I've missed something obvious..
 * It's usually easy to create a bootable usb disk - that could contain a simple OS. eg Solaris or something. You'd have to enable booting from usb via the bios - but this is sometimes simple to do. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.100.250.79 (talk) 21:29, 21 June 2009 (UTC)


 * I used to have a program called sisoft sandra which was quite good at that kind of thing. It's been a while since i used it so not sure if it is still around or if there is a free version. Vespine (talk) 06:46, 22 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Belarc Advisor will tell you everything, all serial and model numbers and keys, but it is web-based so you'd need to have some kind of browser on the machine. "Old" might be anything from Win 98 to XP; if it's XP or Win2000 it will still be a useful machine for certain applications. [Malwarebytes] would be the best first scanner, as spyware and trojans are more common these days, and cause more problems with functionality. - KoolerStill (talk) 08:09, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Cricket 07
How can i input cheat codes in Cricket 07 for the PC? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.177.121.120 (talk) 17:09, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * If you can't find it on gamefaqs.com chances are it doesn't exist. They have a forum, your chances there are probably better then here.. Vespine (talk) 06:43, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Grounding a multimeter
How would you go about grounding a multimeter in a house? Thanks for any help  83.33.75.190 (talk) 18:10, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Attach it to the water supply, such as a metal sink or metal water pipe. 78.144.207.191 (talk) 18:27, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * If you have a desktop computer, not a laptop, any bare chassis screws or any exposed metal housing at the back should also be a good source of earth. Also touching pretty much any appliance which is not double insulated should do the trick. Admittedly those kinds of appliances are harder to find these days.. If you have a bare metal toaster, like stainless or chrome, or electric kettle or something like that, something that has 3 pins on its power lead and isn't covered in plastic or enamel or powder coat. I suppose unless you are using your multimeter to measure big currents, which I suppose could then possibly trip your safety switch, so probably a good idea to try with your PC off first, so you don't black out your system.. Vespine (talk) 06:35, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

McAfee blew up my computer
Argh I'm upset! McAfee's latest update decided that everything on my XP SP3 was a 'New Win32' virus and proceeded to systematically 'clean' every windows system file and installed file! So I'm busy reinstalling... what a glorious waste of time. Any recommendations for anti-virus software that protects against adware/malware too? What's the best free one out there? Sandman30s (talk) 18:31, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * (Have you considered not running an antivirus at all, and being careful . I've not used one for about a year, with zero problems.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.100.250.79 (talk) 18:47, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * How would you know if you had been infected? Anyhow, AVG Free's always worked for me. - Jarry1250 (t, c, rfa) 19:42, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I do this, too. I keep an eye on my firewall, and on task manager to see if any unfamiliar processes are running, and I use Autoruns now and again to compare things that load at startup against a old list from just after a virus scan. In a crisis I'd probably use Panda's online scan. 81.131.16.1 (talk) 14:23, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Avira —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.44.54.208 (talk) 21:15, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * McAfee is a pile of junk. Use AVG or Avira. Exxolon (talk) 03:27, 22 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I've had good results using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware in the past (it picks up a lot of stuff Symantec anti-virus misses). However, I believe it only executes a scan when you specifically tell it to (it doesn't scan in the background).
 * The paid version includes a real-time protection module. The free version is an on-demand scanner only.--Xp54321 (Hello! • Contribs ) 04:20, 24 June 2009 (UTC)

Orange Livebox losing connection
I'm in the UK and I've got a fairly basic Dell PC which connects wirelessly to the internet using an Orange Livebox. There is generally no problem with this except at around 10:40am every morning, the PC can't find any signal and I lose connection from the internet for a few hours until around 13:00 or 14:00 in the afternoon. Very annoying as it's happening every day. I don't think it is a DNS error (which sometimes happens), it just seems like the box isn't giving out a signal. Someone said to me that these boxes have been known to 'drop out' signal, whatever that means. And at the same time every day???Popcorn II (talk) 19:32, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Do you rent the router from Orange? Is it under warranty? Tried updating the firmware? F (talk) 04:59, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Yep, The firmware's up to date. It does it automatically (but I've checked it).Popcorn II (talk) 08:23, 22 June 2009 (UTC)


 * I have similar problems with a wireless internet connection (different company, different country). The signal quality seems more important than signal strength. It can happen that it drops out and reconnects so frequently that the downloads keep timing out. If it happens at the same time of day, it is likeliest caused by heavy traffic on their system at that time (lunch hour?), although they might tend to blame your being in a "poor reception area". Ask them to connect you to another tower, and to ensure the actual transmitter on that tower is one facing in your direction. It took me weekly calls for some months to achieve this, after one particularly bad day when it took one hour to download a 10Mb file. Also demand a discount for the hours you cannot use the service; do this in writing. - KoolerStill (talk) 14:59, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

I'm fairly sure it's not just signal strength. Strength varies at different times and goes slow sometimes but this is absolutely nothing at the exact same time every day, 10:40am. I am trying to contact them but the customer service is dreadful. Getting then to do anything other than basic help is most likely out of the question. OrangePopcorn II (talk) 18:47, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

Mac Intel vs PC Intel
Is an Intel X86 based Mac any different than most Intel X86 based PC's? --Melab±1 &#9742; 22:23, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * You might want to look at Apple-Intel architecture especially"Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) is the firmware-based replacement for the PC BIOS from Intel. Designed by Intel, it was chosen by Apple to replace Open Firmware, used on PowerPC architectures. Since many operating systems, such as Windows XP and many versions of Windows Vista are incompatible with EFI, Apple has released a firmware upgrade with a compatibility support module that provides a subset of traditional BIOS support with their Boot Camp product." Searching the internet for "running windows on apple x86 intel" confirms this and provides more info.
 * So there's a difference in the 'BIOS'es, that's one difference, there may be others...83.100.250.79 (talk) 22:50, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Matlab to Adobe Illustrator
I ran into the following problem. Whenever I save a Matlab figure file produced with Matlab PLOT command as an Adobe Illustartor file (.ai), it is fine. However, whenever I save a Matlab figure file produced with IMAGESC and COLORBAR commands as an .ai file, the .ai file comes out very short, and does not seem to contain any color elements at all! Just a blank box with axis labels. Is this a known issue? I tried this on two different platforms, with identical results. Is this a known Matlab bug? As a last resort I can save as .tif and convert to .ai with Photoshop, but the result does not look nearly as good as with a direct conversion from Matlab figure to .ai. Any ideas? Thank you in advance! --Dr Dima (talk) 22:24, 21 June 2009 (UTC)


 * OK, nevermind, found it in Matlab bug reports. It is a known bug. The workaround is to save as Encapsulated PostScript and then to import into Illustrator. --Dr Dima (talk) 23:57, 21 June 2009 (UTC)