Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2012 January 30

= January 30 =

32-bit Vista to 64-bit
I have a 64-bit computer running 32-bit Windows Vista and I want to upgrade to a 64-bit operating system. I won't want to have a large number of problems. (In recent years I have hesitated to upgrade operating systems on a computer because of the problems it brings.) Should I try to upgrade to 64-bit Vista (I'm not sure if the upgrade is still available) or 64-bit Windows 7? Or not even try it? If W7 is the answer, what is the name of the version that will do it? Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 00:16, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Well, if you do not like updating frequently I would recommend the W7. But I am running Vista x64 and it works fine too; usually the people who complain about it aren't knowledgeable enough to fix the problems they encounter. If you are not going to pay for it try Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit; the difference between the editions is explained in the article Windows 7 editions. Von Restorff (talk) 00:42, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Of course I'm going to pay for it, but the different versions are confusing as to which will upgrade from Vista. (W7 Home Premium would be the one I want.) I used to always get the latest version of the Operating System, but one time I had such a problem with drivers being out of date that I went back to the old one, and haven't done a major OS upgrade since (but I do all of the updates and service packs.)  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 01:02, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * You probably need to do a clean install, check the chart. I am unable to understand why anyone would want to pay for Windows 7, but that is probably because I am weird, sorry. Are you going to use the computer for a business or at home? If it is not used in a business environment there is no advantage to using a non-pirated version of Windows. Von Restorff (talk) 01:06, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * To do a clean install, would I need the full version or can I use the upgrade version? It is for home use, but I don't steal software.  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 01:21, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * It depends on the media you get. Some "upgrade" media can do both.  As for your concerns, try the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, and seek out your computer manufacturer's driver download page, from which you can get a better idea of whether the hardware for your computer is supported by 64-bit versions of Windows or Windows 7.  If you can't find such a page, provide the make and model of the computer and someone else can perhaps help you. ¦ Reisio (talk) 02:36, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * You had a good idea with the upgrade advisor. It shows no major problem going to 32-bit W7.  A few programs won't like it but I don't need them or there are upgrades available for each.  But 64-bit W7, it says:


 * 1) a custom installation is required (is that a clean install?)
 * 2) It says that I need at least 2GB of RAM for optimal performance.  I have the max of 2GB installed, but the system shows only 1.9GB.  (But that is probably close enough for decent performance.) Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 03:11, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Whoops, both memory slots are occupied, but it can go to 4GB. Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 03:16, 30 January 2012 (UTC)

That is indeed a clean install. As long as it doesn't say 2GB is required for install, I think you're good, yeah. The Windows 7 installer does, for example, last I checked, required 20GB just to install (even though it doesn't actually take up this much space). ¦ Reisio (talk) 04:04, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * I've ordered memory to bump it up to 4GB. Will the W7 upgrade DVD be able to do a custom/clean install, or do you have to have the full version (as opposed to the upgrade version)?  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 04:12, 30 January 2012 (UTC)

Again, my understanding is that some "upgrade" media is literally just for upgrading and some can do both, so you'll probably have to be specific about where you intend to get it for anyone to be able to say for sure. &brvbar; Reisio (talk) 12:09, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * I'm planing in this one, it is the right one? Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 15:54, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * You can do a clean install with the upgrade version of Windows 7. Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:51, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Thanks, that is what I'm going to do today.

Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 19:24, 30 January 2012 (UTC)

Follow-up
Follow-up: I bought the upgrade and did a custom/clean install. But it installed the 32-bit version of W7 instead of 64, and it didn't ask me. On the box, it says that 2GB of RAM is required for 64-bit but only 1GB for 32-bit. I have 2 GB installed, but only 1.9 GB is available. Could that be the reason it didn't install the 64-bit version? Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 01:42, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Sorry to ask what might be a stupid question, but aren't there two discs in the box? I'm trying to remember now, but I'm sure there's two discs in the box, one for 32-bit and one for 64-bit. If not, does it say anything on the DVD label about 32/64-bit?  ZX81    talk  01:57, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * You are right about that. But if you are running a 32-bit OS, you can't run the setup from the 64-bit disc.  And the documentation doesn't tell you that you have to boot from the 64-boot disc to install the 64-bit version.  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 02:49, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * (Is this follow-up really resolved ?) One thought is that you need to wipe the old O/S before attempting to install the new one.  Another is that just having the bare minimum isn't a good idea, especially when the "available RAM" is below the minimum.  Is the rest of the RAM used for graphics ?  If so, a graphics card with it's own memory might free up some. StuRat (talk) 02:55, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Yes, it is resolved. By booting from the 64-bit disc (the docs don't tell you that), I was able to install the 64-bit version.  It is running with the 2GB but yesterday I ordered RAM to expand it to 4GB (not here yet, of course).   Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 03:48, 31 January 2012 (UTC)

Webseeding torrents
Is it possible to upload for example 50% of a file on a http-server and use that as a webseed? Or does webseeding require a complete file? Von Restorff (talk) 00:57, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Good question, not finding any answers. You could try it yourself to be sure. ¦ Reisio (talk) 02:41, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * BitTorrent is neat, but it isn't magic. If you have the only copy of this file, and you seed only half of the file, how could anybody anywhere possibly download the other 50%?  Our article has a section on publishing web seeds, and contains both technical and nontechnical descriptions.  Briefly, for a bittorrent network to function, the union of the file fragments that are available on the network must comprise the entire file.  That does not always mean that every seeder has the entire file.  But, if you are the first to seed (...because you are publishing a file), this means you must provide the entire file, at least for such time until the network is large enough to satisfy the condition above.  Nimur (talk) 03:07, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Of course I would seed the complete file via conventional torrent seeding, and use the partial file as a webseed. Von Restorff (talk) 03:25, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * well you could rar it and host the 50% of the file... (if it is varoisu files) but nah is better 100% option! sorry 190.158.184.192 (talk) 03:16, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I do not understand you. Von Restorff (talk) 05:39, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * He's saying you could use winrar to produce two files, each half of the whole file. File1 you would upload and http-host, file2 you would only locally seed without uploading.  He is saying this is equivalent to your suggestion of "uploading half the file to an http server" as a web seed.  while seeding the rest from your machine only.  you would give people both bittorrent files in order to get the full thing.  I think the reason you're getting a weird answer like this is that it meets your weird requirements, which we can't understand. --80.99.254.208 (talk) 09:49, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Ah, ok. Unfortunately using multipule .torrent files is not an option. Buying more hostingspace is also not an option. I want to use webseeds, but the hostingspace (Amazon S3) is limited. The file I want to share is much bigger than the hostingspace. I am wondering if webseeding requires a complete file. If it does not that would have many advantages. With torrent the download is already split in pieces, and I want to use hostingspace that is big enough for a lot of pieces but not big enough for the complete file. Von Restorff (talk) 09:56, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * try dropbox or maybe one of the hundreds of small companies in the same space burning through their investment money. they might give you unlimited bandwidth until their funding runs out and they crash and burn (count on a month or two).  188.6.79.116 (talk) 13:08, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I am using Dropbox, and I have been for quite a while (it is hosted on Amazon S3). Von Restorff (talk) 13:11, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Is there no one here who knows the answer? If it is not possible yet it is probably a very good idea to implement it. Von Restorff (talk) 21:34, 1 February 2012 (UTC)

Ipod touch
How many times can you enter an incorrect password into the touch before it locks up and you have to reset the thing? CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 09:36, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * If you repeatedly enter the wrong passcode, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will be disabled for longer intervals before you can try again. After too many unsuccessful attempts, you won't be able to try again until you connect it to the computer with which you last synced it. I am not sure how many times you can try an incorrect password before it locks up for the first time, but you can test that yourself, it will only be disabled for a short period of time at first to discourage bruteforcing. Von Restorff (talk) 09:47, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * No thanks. I'd rather not do it again. My grandson entered a password on his and forgot it. I don't know if he got the "wait one minute" screen but he did get to the "iPod disabled, connect to iTunes" before he gave it to me. He got it from his mum's side of the family so I have no idea if it was set up on their computer or not. I just used his laptop to fix it. Which means that link above isn't quite correct as you don't need the original computer but that may be because there were no computers registered with that Touch. Then a friends kid did the same thing to hers and again with no computer back up to restore to. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 12:15, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Glad to hear everything is fixed now, I will mark this as resolved. Von Restorff (talk) 13:07, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Hope you don't mind but I removed the resolved tag. I really would like to see if someone knows the answer. I fixed the Touches last Thursday and have been searching for an answer since then before I posted here. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 00:33, 31 January 2012 (UTC)

Printing favorites
Is It possable to print off the list of faverite websites on my cumputer. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.180.176.217 (talk) 13:00, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Which OS are you using, which web browser? In simplest terms you could export them to an HTML file and print that, that's how I'd do it in Mozilla. --Ouro (blah blah) 14:06, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Why do you want to do this? If you want to sync bookmarks between browsers, both Firefox and Chrome allow you to do this automatically over the Internet. Paul (Stansifer) 20:51, 30 January 2012 (UTC)

need help destroying computer
So, I have this HP laptop, and for some reason whenever I plug it in, it stops working, runs perfectly well on battery, recharges if I turn it off and plug it in, but the battery doesn't last that long, so I want to get it fixed. I took it to the mechanics and they said the best thing was to back up all my files then restore it to factory default settings, by pushing F11 as it loads. Took a couple of times to work out I had to push Esc first to bring up the menu, but then, the options come up, and it says it can't run the restore thing on battery, and I have to plug it in...

So, how do I delete everything on my computer and start again?

148.197.81.179 (talk) 20:05, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Have you tried plugging it in at that point? If that causes it to die then there's no way going through the factory reset process will help anyway, since it just reinstalls the OS, and the OS isn't running yet when that menu comes up.


 * You could try resetting the BIOS settings. You need to find the magic key sequence to enter the BIOS (it's probably Esc followed by a different function key) and then it will be an option in the menu or at the bottom of the screen. If that doesn't fix it then it's probably a hardware problem, I'm afraid. -- BenRG (talk) 00:54, 31 January 2012 (UTC)

That's what I did, Esc and F11, that brings up the 'needs to be plugged in' screen. That was what the mechanic said to do, he thought it was a problem with the power plan setting or something, where it runs differently plugged in rather than trying to conserve the battery. 148.197.81.179 (talk) 09:34, 1 February 2012 (UTC)
 * Are you talking about a HP Pavilion dv6000/dv9000? Von Restorff (talk) 09:42, 1 February 2012 (UTC)

I'm not sure, I think there was a 3 in the name somewhere though. 11.6 inch 3GB, and some more stuff. Why, is that a problem? 148.197.81.179 (talk) 20:24, 1 February 2012 (UTC)
 * No, but I was reading this. I would recommend checking if you still have warranty. If not please post the modelname of the laptop here, that makes searching for solutions much easier. Von Restorff (talk) 21:40, 1 February 2012 (UTC)

source code for a javascript text adventure game
Hello, Im attempting to learn javascript, and i learn best by observing and tinkering. Where could i find samples of completed text games and their source codes? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.253.248.168 (talk) 22:01, 30 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I entered your section description into google and found this text adventure game, with javascript source. You also may enjoy the interactive fiction archive here:, which has many games (usually with source, in a variety of programming languages). SemanticMantis (talk) 15:31, 31 January 2012 (UTC)
 * This one is short, but it looks nice. Here is a lot of Javascript-game source code. Von Restorff (talk) 15:39, 31 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks guys! DORK was almost exactly what I was looking for! If I want the game to be more advanced, I'll check the others out. 169.231.8.149 (talk) 03:30, 1 February 2012 (UTC)

sarcasm from computers
I have a Dell computer. When I reboot it, after five or ten minutes or so, a balloon comes up that says "Your antivirus software is turned off. Click on this balloon to fix the problem." Naively, I thought that meant what it said. I click on it, and I see a window that says
 * Firewall: On
 * Automatic updates: On
 * Virus protection: Off
 * Click here for recommendations.

So I click there and it says:
 * Recommendation:
 * Turn on your installed antivirus program.

Then I can click on "OK", which closes that window. But certainly doesn't turn on an antivirus program. The window that tells me that's "Off" is still there. About 10 minutes later it says "On".

Am I supposed to get some other message than that there's built-in sarcasm here? Michael Hardy (talk) 22:58, 30 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Do you have antivirus software already installed on your computer? → Σ  τ  c . 00:15, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Error messages often seem to have the format of short text and long text. The idea is that the long text will give you more info, but in many cases all the info they had was already given in the short version.  In this case, the long message is rather useless, yes. StuRat (talk) 04:26, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Most error messages don't describe the error that occurred. Instead, they describe whatever condition the writer of the error-handling code thought was most likely to cause the error. Often, the writer of the code is wrong. This isn't sarcasm, it is reality, laughing in the face of those who think they can outsmart fallibility through logic. ;-) AndyTheGrump (talk) 05:17, 31 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. --  Obsidi ♠ n   Soul   05:43, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Two thoughts here: 1. depending on your anti virus product, it might temporarily get turned off for a second or so during an update (certainly my AVG install does this sometimes). Windows notices it is off and flags up the "problem". You go and check, and it is mysteriously back on again.  I would say that is normal behaviour.  2. some malware deliberately turns off anti virus products.  This is much more serious and you should hunt down and remove all malware as soon as possible.  Astronaut (talk) 14:38, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * To clarify the meaning of messages: you have to turn on antivirus software yourself. It's telling you to turn on your antivirus software, it's not saying it's going to start it up itself.  Maybe you don't have anti-virus software and you'll have to download or buy it. --Colapeninsula (talk) 15:37, 31 January 2012 (UTC)


 * One anti-virus product should normally be configured to turn on at startup. It sounds as if yours is not so configured, and is slow to start when the OS starts it at your instruction (or possibly that you have no such software but the OS is picking up a trace of former software incompletely uninstalled).  Having two anti-virus products starting at the same time can cause problems, as I recently discovered!    D b f i r s   00:29, 1 February 2012 (UTC)

I thought I had made it clear that I _do_ have antivirus software, simply because if I didn't, it couldn't be turned off, nor could it later be turned on. Some of the answers above seem quite obtuse. Colapeninsula certainly knows how to miss the point. Michael Hardy (talk) 15:00, 1 February 2012 (UTC)

OK, to be explicit about what I _thought_ was obvious: I thought a "recommendation" would tell me what to do, that would have the effect of turning on that which they said was turned off. Why else would it have said "click here to fix the problem"? You don't say "click here to fix the problem" if the user already knows how to fix the problem. Michael Hardy (talk) 21:58, 1 February 2012 (UTC)