Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2012 October 25

= October 25 =

C for Windows
Can anyone give me a good link (for free download) for a standard C compiler which could be run in Windows. Thanks in advance, 117.227.37.239 (talk) 14:14, 25 October 2012 (UTC)


 * If you are familiar with GCC, you can use it with tools such as Cygwin or MingW. If you want something more natively Windows, Visual Studio C++ Express Edition is free for personal use. It is a C++ compiler and IDE, but I believe it has a pure-C mode. I also found, which is small, simple and free, but I have no idea how good it is. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 14:30, 25 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Several more to chose from here. --NorwegianBluetalk 18:52, 25 October 2012 (UTC)

smaller excel worksheet possible?
Is it possible to make a smaller excel spreadsheet? i don't mean the normal one where there's like 3 lines you've edited and control-end brings you down to the bottom right corner, but i mean eliminate the million or so lines below where you can enter more? Here's what I'm trying to solve; I’ve got a spreadsheet template which has vba code which pastes into it a csv file ftp’d in each AM, which is of varying length, about 1000 rows more or less. (same number of columns each day). The columns have to be preformatted, which is why this arrangement, rather than just present the csv file. Now, preformatting the columns all the way down, now that we're in win7 with a million rows, generates a huge file, even when it's the empty template. But, if I cut off the formatting at, say, 2,000 lines, sooner or later somebody is going to paste in > 2,001 lines and the bottom lines will be unformatted. I'd prefer to have the thing grind to a halt with an error than continue happily along with the somewhat defective spreadsheet, thus I’d like to make a template file preformatted all the way down, but with a limited number of rows. Possible? Thanks. Gzuckier (talk) 16:04, 25 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I don't know if you can limit the size of the spreadsheet. VBA can change formatting, so you could have it apply the formatting to the rows after copying them in. If you want to stick with preformatting, you could have your import code give a warning if it detects more lines were copied than there was formatting for. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 17:08, 25 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Apply the formatting to the columns, instead of to individual cells. It's possible to select an entire column in Excel - whose range is unbounded.  Format changes will affect all rows.  You can use Ctrl+Spacebar, or click the column button.   Nimur (talk) 18:08, 25 October 2012 (UTC)

AC adapter output power (Moved from Science Refdesk)
''I've taken the liberty of moving this question from Reference_desk/Science, hopefully prior to detonation. :) Wnt (talk) 18:42, 25 October 2012 (UTC)''

How important is the output power (or current) of AC adapters for laptops. My original AC adapter (which broke) specified 65 W, 20 V, 3.25 A. Looking at the local shops, all they have is 90 W, 20 V, 4.5 A (or thereabout). Is this current/power difference important, i.e. could my laptop break if I used the wrong AC adapter. I am a bit unsure because, the manual of one was only mentioning voltages and said that modern laptops can handle a voltage that is off by 1 V. It did not say anything about currents. Another manual said that these powers (90 W) and currents (4.5 A) are max values. Does this mean that I could use it on any laptop that needed less than these max values? bamse (talk) 15:45, 25 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Yes, you make sure that the voltage is correct and then you select the adapter that has the same of a higher maximum power. The higher the power specification, the less likely it is that the adapter is going to break down due to overheating. Count Iblis (talk) 15:53, 25 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Are the power/current specifications always max values (even if it does not say "max")? If I understand you correctly, I could use the 90 W, 20 V, 4.5 A adapter instead of my original 65 W, 20 V, 3.25 A. One thing I forgot to mention and which worried me, was that one of the adapters I looked at had a warning lamp for two high current. bamse (talk) 16:01, 25 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Yes, these are the maximum values (which includes some safety margin), so you can use the 90 W instead of the 65 W. If you start to draw larger and larger currents you get more and more heating in the cores of the coils. Count Iblis (talk) 16:12, 25 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Thank you. bamse (talk) 19:24, 25 October 2012 (UTC)

Laptop battery life
I have a nine cell battery for my Dell Latitude E6420, about a year and a half old, and it was working fine until about a month ago. Around that time it started popping up the standard warning "Your battery can charge normally...may experience reduced battery life". It kept working fine just like it had been until about a week ago, when suddenly it stopped charging beyond 37%, and yesterday when I unplugged it to use this 37% it drained down to 8% within three minutes and said "Your battery has experienced permanent failure and needs to be replaced," and now the computer shuts off instantly upon being unplugged. I'm aware that laptop batteries experience a gradual loss of battery life over time, but is it normal for it to happen this suddenly and drastically? Ks0stm (T•C•G•E) 20:25, 25 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes, that does happen, the batteries have microprocessors that decide there is a problem and refuse to power up. This is supposedly a safety feature (google "lithium battery explosion") but it's a little dubious in some ways, and users do get angry about it.  Anyway I've bought some cheap 3rd party laptop batteries with mixed results.  The cost savings are substantial enough that I keep doing it. 67.119.3.105 (talk) 07:18, 26 October 2012 (UTC)
 * It is possible to dismantle your battery, recondition each cell separately, and reassemble it with the possibility that the circuitry will then recognise the reconditioned cells as a viable battery for some time to come. It might be necessary to replace one or more failed cells (the symptoms sound more like a failed cell than general deterioration).  Because reconditioning is a specialist process and carries a (small) risk of explosion if you get it wrong, it is not normally recommended.  Replacement cells have to match the other eight.  Failure after 18 months seems premature, but has the battery had heavy use?  Unless you have some spare time and an interest in the reconditioning process (and some basic charging and monitoring equipment), it's probably simpler just to replace the battery.   D b f i r s   08:12, 28 October 2012 (UTC)

File extension NORUN
When I reboot my computer there comes usually up a message that Windows can not open a file with "File extension NORUN". What is this file? And how do I get rid of this message that's consatantly showing up at restart?

When I googled this issue "File extension NORUN", there came up various different links, mainly trying to "sell" you free computer scans (UniBlue, Filext, computerfileextensions, etc). However, what I did find useful was the following:

.NORUN File File extension: NORUN File type: Unknown Do you have speed issues? First check your registry for invalid entries.

Notes about the NORUN file extension:

Incorrect file associations could be the result of underlying issues within your PC system. As such it is highly recommended to scan your PC for invalid registry entries, unused processes and other unfavourable system settings to identify slowdown issues.

The NORUN file type is primarily associated with 'Unknown'. This appears to be an association with a folder instead of a file; the folder possibly belonging to a Yahoo! search appliance. It comes up in the full reference to Service Manager.norun. The folder appears to be located in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Service Manager.norun but specifics beyond that are unknown at present. Trouble opening NORUN files? If you are having problems opening NORUN files, you should:

A) Identify a program that can open the file and B) Check your PC for invalid registry entries and other speed issues. Detailed information for file extension NORUN:

♦ — Preceding unsigned comment added by SholomCPA (talk • contribs) 20:29, 25 October 2012 (UTC)

Firefox search engine choice
When my service provider switched antivirus programs to Macafee, I foolishly let it invade Firefox (16.01). The navigation field has switched from Google to Yahoo. How do I undo this? Clarityfiend (talk) 20:35, 25 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I'm confused about what your ISP and antivirus have to do with your browser... But anyway, on my Mac version of Firefox, there is a Google icon next to the search field which I can use as a pull down menu and change my search preference.  Dismas |(talk) 20:42, 25 October 2012 (UTC)
 * No such thing on mine, but I found this, which fixed it. Clarityfiend (talk) 22:13, 25 October 2012 (UTC)

Reliable, UK-Based windows VPS
Can anyone recommend a decent supplier of UK-based windows VPS's? I've done some browsing and prices are generally consistent so now would just like perhaps someone who has actually used one to rate the company they used? Thanks!  Alex J Fox  (Talk)(Contribs) 22:18, 25 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I haven't used them personally, but edis.at is highly regarded, and has some equipment in the UK. See also webhostingtalk.com's VPS section.  That place is brutal on crappy services so if a place has a good image there, they are probably good.  67.119.3.105 (talk) 07:22, 26 October 2012 (UTC)