Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2010 June 4

= June 4 =

CPU Temperatures
I'm running an Core 2 Duo E6550 on the stock cooler not overclocked. The idling temperature is around 48C to 50C. However, when I run anything moderately CPU intensive, the temperatures I measured with RealTemp shoots up to mid to high 90s! This is clearly not good for the CPU. Is there any reason why this would happen? I cleaned the dust out of the case and re-applied thermal grease (1 medium sized drop of Arctic Silver) to the interface between the CPU die and the cooler. I also cleared the PSU cables from the paths of the casefans/stock cooler. The ambient temperature in my room is about 27-30C. Should I invest in a new heatsink/fan or is there another simpler solution? 74.105.225.192 (talk) 00:31, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * First, your room is too hot. The ideal temperature for a computer room is about 65–75° F. Your room is 80–85° F.


 * Second, make sure that the heat sink for the CPU is attached firmly. The Intel LGA heat sink is known for coming loose. It has been my experience that if even one of the four posts is not completely pressed into the motherboard, then the CPU will overheat. The heatsink needs to be attached firmly.&mdash;Best Dog Ever (talk) 01:55, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I used to have a core 2 Duo and it surprised me how quiet and cool it ran. Have you modded the case? Added or removed any fans? But yeah i agree with the above, 27-30 deg is pretty hot for a computer room, obviously you aren't going to buy a aircon just for your computer. Maybe you could consider buying an aftermarket heatsink? You should be able to get something cheap now the chip has been around quite a while, maybe even a 2nd hand one? Generally even the cheapest ones are improvements over the stock intel sink. Vespine (talk) 05:36, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * I run a coolermaster fan over my Core 2 Duo, with the air getting sucked out of a conduit cut into the case lid. Air flow in the box matters too... the fan at the back inhales and the fan at the front exhales. My idle is 30C and I rarely see the CPU ever go over 60C. And I live in a hot country without air conditioning in the room. If nothing works for you, either change your software or perhaps the motherboard sensor is malfunctioning. Sandman30s (talk) 05:44, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * The case; make sure airflow is unrestricted, that the case fans are working properly, and add more case fans if necessary/possible (e.g. many cases don't come with a front intake fan, but can use one). My E6600, overclocked and using the stock cooler, is idling at 29C right now, and sits in the 50s under load. The stock Core 2 heat sink is pretty reasonable. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 17:18, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * I'm rather skeptical about that temp, I think it's a faulty reading. Open up the case and put a portable thermometer in there, right by the CPU, close it back up, use the comp for a while, then open it back up and look at the real temp.  Or, even better, if you have a digital thermometer with a remote probe, just put the probe inside.


 * Now, if the temp really is that high, I'd leave the case off and point a box fan at the interior. StuRat (talk) 19:30, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Put the computer near the fridge. --TylerDurdenn (talk) 21:27, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * If you put your hand near a closed fridge, you'll notice how bad your suggestion is. Comet Tuttle (talk) 21:33, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

Craigslist
Is it just me, or is this a bot add:. How do I know? That crazy invisible/white text that appears after the black text. Or is Craigslist just trying to pull a fast one to get attention to the page? I'd sure like to know because I see a lot of these pages in my area. Magog the Ogre (talk) 00:45, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Almost certainly spam, for my money. --Tagishsimon (talk) 00:58, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I'm trying to see the value-added in that invisible nut-job text. It can't be seen (immediately, anyway) by the reader, and there are easier ways to tag an article for recognition; it doesn't show up in the reply-to email...  what's the point?  -- Ludwigs 2  06:03, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * It's probably for a search engine, like Google. It's called black-hat SEO. It can make a page seem relevant to a search engine, even if it isn't.--Best Dog Ever (talk) 06:13, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Alternatively, it's an attempt to bypass automated spam filtration. Riffraffselbow (talk) 09:06, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * An easy way to detect Craigslist spam is to just google a choice sentence. Searching for "" reveals that this apartment is so awesome it's available not only in State College, PA, but also in San Diego and NYC! --Sean 18:51, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * That's a pretty awesome apartment. -Amordea (talk) 14:33, 5 June 2010 (UTC)

Resting web pages - blocking AJAX requests
Is anyone aware of a way in Firefox (i.e., a plug-in) to temporarily stop a tab from further communication with the server via AJAX? What quickly crossed my mind would be to add the URL to Adblock Plus and turn the plugin on and off as needed. Anything more elegant? Thanks, Riggr Mortis (talk) 01:12, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * You can use noscript to enable/disable scripts on the page much easier than turning adblock on and off. -- k a i n a w &trade; 01:51, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * That would reload the page and turn off all scripts, but if that's fine it's probably the best option. You could also use Firebug and click the "Break On Next" button in the Script panel. That would stop the page's scripts altogether however, not just ajax. You could even use Greasemonkey and create a user script to override and disable the appropriate functions, maybe even having it toggleable somehow. -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 07:00, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Reloading the page would be a problem. I just want it to go "network-quiet" and maintain state -- not talk to the server every few seconds. I could try Firebug but would have to figure out where the breakpoint was I guess. (Or maybe not, now that I reread your comment.) Thanks for the suggestions. Riggr Mortis (talk) 23:25, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

Running A 2nd Partition in VirtualBox?
I'd just like to say thanks for the answers to my question several days ago regarding removing Ubuntu and resetting my partitions. I've decided to stick with Ubuntu on this dual-boot for now, as I have solved the problem which was causing me to want to remove it in the first place. Now, I have another question. Is it possible to run my Vista partition as a virtual machine, using, for example, Virtual Box? Would it also be possible to run my Ubuntu partition from Vista using Virtual Box? This would save me from rebooting, I guess. --  KägeTorä - (影虎)  ( TALK )  10:59, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I used to do that with a Windows NT4 Workstation and VMware Workstation instead of VirtualBox, it was tricky, but possible to get it to run as a VM while still retaining an option to boot it on the real hardware. Newer Windows Versions (starting with XP) will probably complain (in a "fatal" way) about such attempts. For one, it'll invalidate your Windows Activation (and the way I "know" Windows, it'll probably require re-activation each time you reboot the other configuration, leading to a situation where you'll only be able to re-activate via phone - though that is speculation on my part). Also, Vista and Windows 7 are a bit more picky when it comes to drive numbering/lettering, so I doubt you'll be able to get any modern Windows to dual- and VM-boot.
 * The other way, VM-booting a Linux partition, should work - however, VMware Workstation refuses to do that when the partition shares the same physical hard disk with the currently running Windows, so you might want to check if VirtualBox has a similar limitation. If you're going that route, I'd suggest preparing a virtual floppy disk with Smart Boot Manager and saving the boot loader (most likely GRUB/GRUB2, since you mentioned Ubuntu) to the Linux partition, rather than the MBR. That way, updates to the GRUB package will end up on your disk regardless of the environment you're currently running (physical/virtual), and it won't try to mess with a MBR that might be currently access-blocked by your Windows host. -- 109.193.27.65 (talk) 09:34, 5 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Cheers. Actually a search of the Ubuntu forums gave me a number of threads all saying the same thing - use something called 'FS-Driver' to access the files on the Ubuntu partition from within Vista. One person seemed to have negative views about it (couple of friends had unspecified trouble, and it's a security risk apparently), but everyone else seemed perfectly happy. As for actually mounting the drive, still nothing. I find it strange that it's so difficult, considering I can run multiple OSs simultaneously (I had Karmic Koala running inside Lucid Lynx inside Vista on VirtualBox a few nights ago just to make some fun screenshots), but that might be because they are on different disks. --  KägeTorä - (影虎)  ( TALK )  11:30, 5 June 2010 (UTC)

Page History on Private wiki
When I try accessing the page history on my private wiki I get this come up: Detected bug in an extension! Hook FlaggedRevsHooks::addToHistLine failed to return a value; should return true to continue hook processing or false to abort. Backtrace:
 * 0 C:\xampp\htdocs\mediawiki-1.15.2\includes\PageHistory.php(338): wfRunHooks('PageHistoryLine...', Array)
 * 1 C:\xampp\htdocs\mediawiki-1.15.2\includes\PageHistory.php(594): PageHistory->historyLine(Object(stdClass), Object(stdClass), 1, false, true, true)
 * 2 C:\xampp\htdocs\mediawiki-1.15.2\includes\Pager.php(290): PageHistoryPager->formatRow(Object(stdClass))
 * 3 C:\xampp\htdocs\mediawiki-1.15.2\includes\PageHistory.php(142): IndexPager->getBody
 * 4 C:\xampp\htdocs\mediawiki-1.15.2\includes\Wiki.php(523): PageHistory->history
 * 5 C:\xampp\htdocs\mediawiki-1.15.2\includes\Wiki.php(63): MediaWiki->performAction(Object(OutputPage), Object(Article), Object(Title), Object(User), Object(WebRequest))
 * 6 C:\xampp\htdocs\mediawiki-1.15.2\index.php(116): MediaWiki->initialize(Object(Title), Object(Article), Object(OutputPage), Object(User), Object(WebRequest))
 * 1) 7 {main}

What could be wrong to bring this message up, it happens whenever I try and go to any page history. Also these are my current settings in Local Settings.php file:

Thanks Paul 23 87  12:25, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

windows XP installation
Hi! Today I installed windows xp from the CD in Pentium-III and Pentium-IV Pc. Windows are working properly in P-III but giving problem in P-IV.I again installed the OS in P-IV but it didnt work properly. The problem is that when i checked by going to device manager window, Ethernet Controller and PCI simple communicatiion controller is not installed. Moreover it gives the info that modem is removed, unavailable device COM1 for dial-up. So i'm unable to have dial-up connection and LAN connection too. Are there any drivers missing? I dont know much about it. Can anyone help me to sort out the problem? Moreover, as i did the installation of windows xp twice. So how can i delete the previous one. Cheers 221.120.250.83 (talk) 14:28, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Windows doesn't always ship with device drivers for everything. It sounds like you don't have drivers for both the modem and the ethernet adapter. You can get drivers from their manufacturers, or from a disk that came with your computer. You may have to determine their model numbers (the device manager should tell you), go to the manufacturer's website (with another, network-working PC), download the drivers, move them over to the bad PC using a USB stick or a CD-R, and install from there. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 14:35, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

ok Thanks.221.120.250.83 (talk) 14:43, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Another alternative is to dig out a usb-wireless controller (one for which you have the disk), get it working and online, and then let the windows device manager search online for drivers. Once it's succeeded with that you can change to a wired connection. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 14:49, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

Online sex talk with fire
I remember a transcription of an online or telephone sex chat which ended up with candles setting light to a room. It was funny rather than sexy. Can anybody give me a URL please? Kittybrewster  &#9742;  17:03, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * tl;dr, skimmed through it... but, is this it? (googled "online OR telephone sex chat candles fire room") --NorwegianBluetalk 22:39, 5 June 2010 (UTC)
 * The first one was kinda funny, but it got lame/stupid after that IMHO (well the curtain one wasn't too bad). It's probably also that it's only funny for a while. Nil Einne (talk) 17:47, 9 June 2010 (UTC)

Weather site that doesn't hurt my eyes
The most popular weather websites all are terrible to look at. Is there a cleaner looking one out there somewhere? My current one is weather.com, but I affirmatively hate looking at it. The nicest solution so far is just googling my zip code and "weather," but it would be good to have something with hourly and 10-day forecasts. Thoughts? Calliopejen1 (talk) 19:08, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Go straight to the source - NOAA!! You can get there by http://weather.gov or http://nws.noaa.gov - both of these websites are full of both "user-friendly" forecasts and data, and also full-blown scientific climate/weather databases and data dumps.  They also have the best quality NEXRAD radar tools - http://radar.weather.gov/ - where you can get raw radar data for science, or more conventional "animations" like the always-updated National RADAR overlay animation.  They are also responsible for the satellite imagery from GOES (see our article).  You might be interested to know that all the commercial weather services are getting their forecasts, radar, imagery, and other weather data from the national weather service - and then they muck up the forecasts with cartoon animations, cartoon-drawings over the maps, advertisements, and "local flair" - but why use a middleman?  The data is freely available from the National Weather Service.  Nimur (talk) 19:48, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I also prefer the NOAA's site because it doesn't exaggerate. When a big snow storm is approaching, all the local outlets compete to see who can predict the most snow and still keep a straight face.  "We might be seeing Two to three Feet!" says one, "We're predicting twenty to forty inches!" says another. I just go to weather.gov and learn that they're predicting a modest 13 inches.   That way I'm the only one not surprised when we only get about a foot of snow. APL (talk) 21:04, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Lovely! I'd found weather.com rather annoying too. I'd never thought to go with anything else though. I'll be using this from now on too. -Amordea (talk) 14:27, 5 June 2010 (UTC)

Guide to changing from XP to Ubuntu
I've used XP for two or three years. Are there any quick guides that help a Windows user begin to use Ubuntu please? The things I'm interested in are firstly, copying and pasting files, creating new folders and so on. Secondly installing and uninstalling freeware software from the internet. Thirdly security like firewalls, anti-virus, and so on. Fourthly removing garbage as Ccleaner does. Thanks 92.15.21.188 (talk) 19:27, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * First of all, here is the Switching to Ubuntu from Windows guide. It is helpful and technical, but probably not the best "welcome to Ubuntu" guide.  Check out the Ubuntu Desktop System Tour for an introduction to the basic system features.  Now to address your points directly: (1) Copy/paste in Ubuntu is exactly like Windows - it works via the graphic interface and even shares the same default keyboard shortcuts ("ctrl-c" and "ctrl-v", among others, but you can change them if you prefer other shortcuts).  Ubuntu uses the GNOME desktop by default, though you can change to KDE or other systems easily.  GNOME provides familiar menus, similar to the Windows interface, so you can "right-click" and create folders, files, and so forth.  Linux also provides powerful, built-in terminal (command line) support for technically proficient users - many options are available for your terminal. (2) Installing free software is easy using Ubuntu's built-in package manager, Synaptic.  This "how-to" guide shows exactly how it works - you open it up, search for the program by name or by "functionality", and Ubuntu manages the package installation very seamlessly.  Literally tens of thousands of free and open-source programs are available through this interfacing, providing "one-click installation" for all kinds of general purpose computing, audio/video/multimedia, technical/engineering/programming computing, graphic design, and so on. If Canonical (the company that distributes Ubuntu) does not provide that package directly, you can manually install using either a Debian package or a source build, but these are more difficult.  (3) Security in Ubuntu is a little "different" than Windows, because Ubuntu is a Linux system.  This means that "by default" the system is secured - it is already firewalled and protected from intrusion, as long as your login password is secure and you do not manually install a malicious program.  This Ubuntu Security guide will walk you through how to install additional tools if you so desire - firewall management, "virus detection", and so forth are available for Ubuntu, but are "generally" redundant because the operating system already handles these details pretty well.  Caveat - there is no substitute for careful, competent management of your computer system - it does not matter what operating system, security software, firewall, or other protection scheme you are using.  I am not familiar with Ccleaner, so I'm not sure how to address your last point; but you can manage privacy settings in Ubuntu; if you so desire, you can set up encryption and strongly password your user account and hard-disk drive - this will render your private data totally impenetrable to the state-of-the-art attacks.  Nimur (talk) 20:05, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Typically novice users use Ubuntu Software Center rather than Synaptic, as it's organised thematically, and hides some of the technical details. A few things aren't available that way (often things that are freeware but not free software, like Skype and Google Earth) can easily be downloaded from their respective web pages (just like the Windows versions), and are easily installed using the package installer thingy that pops up when you double click them. All of this is as easy as doing the same task on Windows, and often easier. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 21:01, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * I'm pretty sure that a Ccleaner-like program is not useful under Ubuntu (in fact, I'm pretty skeptical that it's useful under Windows; it's not like old registry entries are doing your system any harm). The apt-get package manager can be told (with the   command) to delete configuration files for uninstalled programs, but that kind of stuff just doesn't take up much space, so it's not worth the effort.  Old log files get rotated, compressed, and eventually deleted by default.  Paul (Stansifer) 21:52, 5 June 2010 (UTC)

free downloads of visual studio for C++
Can anyone please provide me with a safer link to free download Microsoft visual studio for C++?? On googling I found several links but these gave me mere viruses and trojans and nothing more. Thanks 221.120.250.83 (talk) 20:44, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Microsoft calls it Microsoft Visual Studio Express C++ edition, and you get it from them. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 20:52, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Your entry, Finlay, made me reasilse that I mixed up two products. God bless edit conflicts ;) cheers, Ouro (blah blah) 20:55, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks but yaeh, Exactly! This is the first link on googling that gifted me the trojans.Thanks to my anti-virus, otherwise my system would have been corrupted. Can anyone give me **really** safer link please? 221.120.250.83 (talk) 21:18, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * That's Microsoft's own page; it doesn't have a virus. Either your anti-virus program is wrong, or you have a virus already. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 21:27, 4 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Agreed. That is the official link for Microsoft's Visual Studio Express.  If your antivirus is flagging it, it is your antivirus software that is incorrect or has been compromised by a previous infection.  It's possible that your antivirus overzealously flags all unknown programs as "potential" hazards.  Nimur (talk) 01:07, 5 June 2010 (UTC)


 * I'm having trouble with downloading it from microsoft website. when i reach its page and click the "Download" tab. It redirects to another page where i click "Visual C++ 2010 Express" afterwards it asks for the language selection. As soon as i select the language, it redirects to another page saying " Thanks for downloading". And nothing more. And then no setup on my PC at any location.What's wrong? 221.120.250.83 (talk) 12:07, 5 June 2010 (UTC)


 * When you pick the language, it should automatically start a download. If it doesn't, you may have script execution disabled, or the download may being blocked by anti-virus or personal firewall software. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 13:08, 5 June 2010 (UTC)


 * You could select the All - Offline Install ISO image file option to download an iso without a downloading binary.Smallman12q (talk) 14:18, 5 June 2010 (UTC)


 * If you really have got virus problems though, it would be a good idea to fix that problem first before trying to use the .ISO to install Visual Studio. Astronaut (talk) 03:29, 6 June 2010 (UTC)