Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2011 December 9

= December 9 =

Latex Table
Maybe I just need sleep, but I cannot see the error here: \begin{table}[ht] \centering \begin{tabular}{c|c|} \cline{2-2} $S$ & 7 \\ \cline{2-2} $T$ & 6 \\ \cline{2-2} $U$ & 5 \\ \cline{2-2} \end{tabular} \end{table} Whenever this is built into a PDF, the line down the right side is separated. Why? -- k a i n a w &trade; 03:03, 9 December 2011 (UTC)
 * It looks fine to me. I tested your code (as-posted, with \documentclass{article}) on my setup (Texshop). It appears exactly how I expected, and I think as you intended: the boxes are all clean, unbroken vectors, down to 2000X zoom. I conclude the problem must be something to do with your installation, not with the code. SemanticMantis (talk) 21:57, 9 December 2011 (UTC)

Web hosting and third level domains
Now that my ISP has pulled the plug on their personal web space feature, I am scrambling to find a new temporary home for a handful of static web pages. There seems to be no shortage of starter web hosting services. However, I am not clear as to whether or not I also need to purchase my own domain. Do some or most of these hosting services also provide include a free third level domain (e.g. mysite.theirdomain.com) in their packages? I've posted a couple of inquires at some of the services, but they have not yet responded. Thanks. 24.254.222.77 (talk) 04:01, 9 December 2011 (UTC)


 * There is no such thing as a third level domain. That is just a hostname. A domain name is like wikipedia.org or kainaw.com. The "en" on wikipedia.org is a hostname on that domain. If I were to give you mysite.kainaw.com, it would just be a hostname at kainaw.com. Many web hosts give free hostnames. It is a map to your real name, which would be something like www.kainaw.com/hosts/mysite. Not all free webhosting services offer the hosting of actual domain names. So, if you purchased mycoolwebsite.com, you might find that your free webhosting company will tell you that you can't use it. But, some do allow such a thing. They map it to your real name (just like they mapped the hostname). -- k a i n a w &trade; 04:13, 9 December 2011 (UTC)

http://nearlyfreespeech.net/ Dirt cheap, with and without domain. ¦ Reisio (talk) 04:26, 9 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Perfect! I now have my own dirt cheap web site called " http://&lt;mysite>.nfshost.com/ ".  24.254.222.77 (talk) 05:08, 9 December 2011 (UTC)

recovering from forgetting password
Microsoft has advice for regaining access to my PC (laptop) if I forget my password: "If you forget your Windows password, you can use a password reset disk to create a new one. We recommend that you create a password reset disk when you create your password, so you don't lose access to your files and information," and I have done this. But I can't find any information about actually how to use the "disk" when I need to. Do I just stick it in when Windows asks for the password? And once this process is started, do I have to follow through and change my password, or can I abort? (In other words, can I test the process? --Halcatalyst (talk) 16:22, 9 December 2011 (UTC)
 * There is a Linux live cd called Ophcrack that you may use to recover lost Windows passwords. There is a step-by-step guide available here. TheGrimme (talk) 18:36, 9 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Unless you need to know what the password used to be, this probably won't be very useful. Ophcrack is quite good at cracking the old LM password hash that was stored by default pre-Vista, but it's not so good at cracking passwords on Vista and later, at least without huge tables that won't fit on a DVD. -- BenRG (talk) 22:49, 11 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Here is a Microsoft description of how to use a recovery disk on Windows XP. Of particular interest is the following - "Note: The password reset disk is automatically updated with the new password information. You do not have to create a new password reset disk." I would assume the process is similar for Vista and 7, but don't quote me on that.  -- LarryMac  | Talk  19:43, 9 December 2011 (UTC)

Thanks. Actually, I already have the password reset disk (in the form of a USB flash drive), and I don't need to use it yet, but I'm wondering exactly how to use it I assume, just stick it in, and the system will know what to do. All I have to do is follow instructions. Is that right? --Halcatalyst (talk) 20:44, 9 December 2011 (UTC)
 * How to use a password reset disk is addressed in the article I linked. -- LarryMac  | Talk  21:29, 9 December 2011 (UTC)
 * That information is for XP, and I'll have to assume it hasn't changed for Windows 7. --Halcatalyst (talk) 23:07, 9 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Please note that's the first time you've mentioned which version of Windows you're using. For specifics, start "Help and Support" and search for "Password Reset".  On my copy, the second result gives the details, which appear to be similar to what's in the KB article.  -- LarryMac  | Talk  11:07, 10 December 2011 (UTC)

Bright and efficient lights ?
Projectors and DLP TVs still use inefficient lights, with the usual problems of wasting electricity, generating lots of excess heat (which may then require more electricity for fans and A/C in summer), and a short life. Is there no better light source ? Why are CFLs and LEDs unsuitable for this application ? Can they not be made bright enough ? How about a large bank of them (using lenses to deliver the light where needed, at the proper angle) ? StuRat (talk) 22:19, 9 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Um who told you there aren't LED projectors? This is from 2008 (I think these are reviews of that projector ), this from 2009, this from over a year ago . Even our projector article mentions LED projectors while handheld projectors note a complaint that pico sized ones aren't bright enough. I would note if you're using LEDs you do have to worry about heat. LEDs lose brightness as they get hot and can't survive high temperatures for long. Nil Einne (talk) 05:35, 10 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Glad to see they have some models out, but in the $10-15K range, unfortunately. The stores where I shop must not stock such over-the-top items.  I hope the price comes back down to Earth soon.  Heard of any LED backlight DLP TVs ? StuRat (talk) 05:43, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

AIM
I recently returned to my old AIM account, and found that since signing on on this computer it also opens up AOL every time I turn the computer on, which I don't particularly want. I have looked around the site, but found nothing, is there any way of stopping this site popping up like that all the time? Whilst I'm here, some thing called Windows Live Messenger has been popping up on my computer every day for a while too. I went on their site and found the place to opt out of that one, but it still came back, how do I get rid of it?

HS7 (talk) 23:06, 9 December 2011 (UTC)


 * It'd be impossible to tell you exactly where to go, without knowing precisely what version of each program you're using. For a start, I'd try going into the Start Menu- 'All Programs' or whatever. There should be a folder named Startup- if you go into that, and AIM or Messenger are in there, right clicking on those icons and 'delete'ing them should stop them popping up at startup. Otherwise, there will be an option, either in the menus of each program or somewhere in the 'options'/'preferences' that you should find in the menus, to stop the various programs starting at startup/login/whatever. Nevard (talk) 23:19, 9 December 2011 (UTC)

I've tried that now, neither of them are in Startup, and I went to the preferences section of Windows Live, unchecked the box, with no effect. :( Searching the Windows Live website, I found a bunch more menus, with more boxes to uncheck, let's see if that does anything... HS7 (talk) 23:29, 9 December 2011 (UTC)

Oh, and a third question, AIM automatically gives my full name on my profile page, which I am not sure I like everyone being able to see, but any time I try to change it, it changes back automatically. Is there any way to fix this? HS7 (talk) 23:36, 9 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Go to start menu -> accessories -> run. Type msconfig and hit enter. Go to the startup tab, unselect the box next to anything you want to disable. Before disabling anything, you may want to do a quick google search just to be certain that it is the program you think it is or that it does what you think; disabling something critical can happen. There is also a program called autoruns that is a tad more advanced, but which I like better; though, you don't need it here. For a third option, if you download and install spybot search and destroy, they have a simple to use startup controller under tools if you put it into the advanced mode; though, other than this, the program is fairly useless for spyware detection anymore, so not the best option. As for the third question, I don't use AIM, so can't offer much here. If any of this is unclear or I left something out, please let me know so I can fill it in :-) Phoenixia1177 (talk) 09:28, 10 December 2011 (UTC)


 * In my opinion, the makers of programs like AOL Instant Messenger and Windows Live Messenger like to think their programs are the most important thing for their users and often go out of their way to ensure they start up when Windows starts so you don't miss all those vitally important instant messages. Luckily, buried somewhere in the program options there is usually a tick box for "start when windows starts".  Astronaut (talk) 11:00, 11 December 2011 (UTC)