Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2014 October 13

= October 13 =

UNKNOWN DOWNLOADING
Whenever I connect the dongle (even before I open/access any web pages), it starts to download something. I have disabled life updates. How can I stop/disable the unknown downloading and how can I find out to which web site my computer is connected to? Thank you.175.157.132.24 (talk) 10:03, 13 October 2014 (UTC)
 * This is Wikipedia, the on-line encylopedia. It is not the support page for the device you have bought. Having said that, could you tell us what is the device in question is, and then we might be able to help? CS Miller (talk) 11:56, 13 October 2014 (UTC)
 * What is the stock template for this response? CS Miller (talk)


 * These dongles don't normally download anything on their own, but it might have installed something on your computer or other device that starts downloading. It might be malware, or something perfectly innocent.  On a Windows computer you could run task manager to see if some program starts to run when you plug in the dongle.  As mentioned above, we need more details to be able to give good advice.    D b f i r s   08:03, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * You possibly know that your computer has something called 'an operating system'. What system is it – do you know its brand, version...? Without this info the only advice for  'How can I stop/disable the unknown downloading(...)'  is 'disconnect from internet by switching off WiFi and plugging out the ethernet cable'. --CiaPan (talk) 11:34, 14 October 2014 (UTC)
 * BTW, how do you know 'it' is downloading anything – do you see some network traffic indicator, or some appearing and growing files? Possibly some messages on the screen, indicating the download progress...? --CiaPan (talk)


 * Oftentimes Windows will automatically install a device driver, especially for USB storage. I suspect this is the case here. Justin15w (talk) 14:46, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * ... but once it has downloaded that driver, it should stop downloading and shouldn't start again every time the dongle is connected. Some operating systems seem to reload the driver every time something is connected to a USB port, but normally the driver is loaded from local storage, not downloaded.    D b f i r s   17:43, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * You are absolutely correct, but I am running on the assumption that perhaps the OP isn't that computer literate. The "spinning wheel" icon may have led him to believe something is being downloaded. Justin15w (talk) 21:55, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Except Windows is often so incompetent that it will go through a process of "detect device, find driver, download driver, attempt to install driver, fail to install driver, use backup/default driver" every time the device is inserted. 75.140.88.172 (talk) 05:26, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

Uninstall Comet Arcade

 * I have taken the liberty of moving this from the Science desk. Wnt (talk) 13:46, 13 October 2014 (UTC) 
 * Thanks. My mistake. RDC is the correcct forum. -- Tito ☸ Dutta 14:15, 13 October 2014 (UTC)

My computer is infected with Comet Arcade ads. I am unable to uninstall it from Control panel>>Uninstall a program. It is not responding. I have Windows 7. Please help. -- Tito ☸ Dutta 13:39, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * There should be an "uninstall" program here: C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\Uninstall.exe
 * However, one should not assume the program will play nice and properly remove this 'Potentially Unwanted Program' (PUP) from your computer. There are a number of software products for removing this sort of malware.  Malwarebytes is one that specifically mentions Comet Arcade removal: (there is a free version, or a 14-day "free trial" premium version).  Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) is quick, easy and free, but doesn't have an option to select what you want removed; it just does it. See also: 5-step removal instruction here:.  "Please be aware that manually removing malware is a potentially hazardous undertaking"  -Note: this desk does not endorse specific products.   — 71.20.250.51 (talk) 19:07, 13 October 2014 (UTC)

RAM
Hi,

Is the picture on the right on this billboard RAM? 

Cheers, Aaadddaaammm (talk) 22:19, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Umm, yes? What's the confusion? [Here's another picture] that's clearer from a similar angle. I can't find another picture taken so straight on but, you can see the similarity. Vespine (talk) 22:42, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * OK, thanks. Just wondering why they put a picture of a goat (not a ram) beside some RAM. Aaadddaaammm (talk) 22:57, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * I noticed that as well. Unless that is some sort of New Zealand sheep, otherwise some marketing guy got confused and management was asleep. --  Gadget850talk 23:00, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * There are some sheep that look quite a bit like that, e.g.: File:Jacob_sheep_in_field.JPG — 71.20.250.51 (talk) 23:32, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * That really gets my goat. For such a mistake, his head should be hung from the ramparts. StuRat (talk) 23:35, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * He must be feeling rather sheepish.  — 71.20.250.51 (talk) 23:59, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Note ram defines "ram" as "a male sheep or goat". Wnt (talk) 02:15, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Aren't male and female goats called billy goats and nanny goats ? StuRat (talk) 02:30, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Can't things have more than one name? Dismas |(talk) 02:35, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * I'd encourage you to take it up with Wiktionary - I have a feeling it may be complicated. There are a lot of biological terms that had a more general meaning in the past than they do now (e.g. "fish").  The Computing Desk is the wrong place for it though; the Wiktionary article's talk page or their village pump is the spot you want. Wnt (talk) 02:37, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * I've removed the sense from Wiktionary. It was added by an anonymous editor a year ago, in error (I believe).  The OED does not record this sense, so I don't think it's standard English, though it might occur in some confused translations.  Please feel free to comment on Wiktionary's Ram talk page if you think I'm mistaken.    D b f i r s   07:52, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * In the United States (i.e., in American English), a male goat is called a buck or a billy unless it is no longer intact, in which case it is a wether. For example, reference the USDA's weekly report on goat auction prices.  I am sure many some people use other terminology, including the word "ram," to describe this animal, but this usage is not common among agricultural publications, and the use of "ram" to describe a goat is probably incorrect.  Nimur (talk) 14:46, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * You seem to imply that many people can use a word to mean something and yet it can still be incorrect. If enough people use it that way, then, de facto, it is correct.  I would suggest that fewer than that many people use "ram" to mean a male goat. StuRat (talk) 17:31, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Yes, I would go further and suggest that very few people use "ram" to mean a goat, and that these people are confused. I'd be interested to know if anyone has come across any such usage, or met any such people.    D b f i r s   17:41, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Indeed. The term is incorrect because a majority of language experts and authoritative sources consider it incorrect.  When a majority of language experts and authoritative sources change their mind, then we can consider this phenomenon to be an evolution of the English language; but until that happens, I feel confident saying the term has been used incorrectly.  Nimur (talk) 18:49, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Language doesn't depend on experts to decide when words are acceptable. The people speaking that language decide, and the "experts" simply validate it after the fact. StuRat (talk) 23:31, 14 October 2014 (UTC)


 * True, but the best experts do monitor usage, so their opinion carries weight.   D b f i r s   07:51, 15 October 2014 (UTC)