Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2015 May 4

= May 4 =

NAS
I want to turn an old computer into a "Network Attached Storage"

What software would let me do this and doesn't need a screen or a keyboard attached to the computer? Basically, I start it up and it goes without any interaction or set-up. That's what I want.

I looked into "NAS4Free" it has a live cd, can I just put that into a computer without a keyboard or screen and it will set-up and be connectable via ethernet? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Name155545 (talk • contribs) 16:51, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * You'll need to check the machine's BIOS and make sure that the "Halt on Error" settings don't include one for keyboard not present. - X201 (talk) 17:00, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * I tried to give a detailed reply, but it was blocked as offensive, likely because I mentioned that operating system that begins with an L and looks like a lot like Unix. If you install that OS, you can use NFS and/or Samba to make a NAS. Use of a keyboard/mouse is computer dependent, not OS dependent. You can SSH into the machine from another computer easily. 199.15.144.250 (talk) 19:27, 4 May 2015 (UTC)
 * The word " Linux " isn't on the keyword blacklist. However, a lot of URLs are, espically if you're an anonymous, or non-autoconfirmed user. LongHairedFop (talk) 18:02, 5 May 2015 (UTC)
 * NAS4Free is a UNIX port. I am booting it from a CompactFlash, but you can do it from CD. I had to do a bit of network configuration, so you will need the keyboard/mouse for setup. I'm going to try OpenMediaVault on my next NAS project. --  Gadget850talk 10:59, 5 May 2015 (UTC)

Wanted: ancient Mac game
Hello all,

maybe one of you can help me - I'm searching for an old Mac game, must be >15y ago... basically you had a pixel-graphic 2d map, could place rails on it and let locomotives roll on these rails. All 2d and very simple, and I don't know anything except that this was an (at the time already) old Mac. Can anyone remember what game this could have been? 82.135.69.40 (talk) 19:03, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Railroad Tycoon was published in 1990, and was also released for Macintosh. Perhaps you would recognize it by browsing some screenshots at MobyGames.  Nimur (talk) 19:12, 4 May 2015 (UTC)
 * You Know That Show on TV Tropes is another resource designed for questions like this, perhaps they can help. --Ye Olde Luke (talk) 21:53, 4 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Transport Tycoon is a 2D isometric graphics transport infrastructure simulation game which was released in 1994, with the Deluxe edition released in 1995. OpenTTD is the royalty-free open source re-creation. Mattmill30 (talk) 13:47, 6 May 2015 (UTC)

Math behind a page turner effect library
What math hides behind a page turner effects library? That is, those simulation that a pdf, djvu or whatever is paper, and you can see as a page of a book being turned. How do they calculate how the picture gets bended? --Llaanngg (talk) 19:15, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * It is a type of logarithmic bend. For simplicity, it likely uses a 1/n distribution of widths. The page is cut in half. Then, one half of that is cut in half. Then, 1/2 of that is cut in half. You shrink each slice until all slices have a width of zero. 199.15.144.250 (talk) 19:31, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * There are lots of jQuery plugins that implement this sort of behaviour, with varying degrees of sophistication, and most of these make their un-minified source available, so if you can read JavaScript you can (in theory) see how it's done. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 12:09, 6 May 2015 (UTC)

Can data be retrieved after a natural disaster?
Say there is an office building with hundreds of computers, all belonging to the company. Now, an earthquake or hurricane strikes, and it completely demolishes the office building. Is there a way to retrieve lost data due to destroyed hardware? How can such a catastrophe be prevented? 140.254.136.157 (talk) 19:58, 4 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Yes, wise companies keep a copy of important data on backup media that is taken off-site, or on distant servers where they rent space. If the company keeps all copies of their data in one building then possibly they use a fireproof safe.  It is rare in professional data storage for the only copies to be on hard drives that might get destroyed in the catastrophe, but I guess it does happen to some small companies, and their only option will be to pay thousands of pounds or dollars to try to recover data from damaged drives.  Sometimes this is possible if the damage is not too serious, but a good backup scheme is always better than attempted recovery after damage.    D b f i r s   20:08, 4 May 2015 (UTC)
 * The formalized process for Information Technology is called Disaster recovery plan which is part of the wider Business continuity planning. Those articles have loads of info for you to start with. Vespine (talk) 23:02, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * It is often possible to recover some data from badly damaged hardware—see data recovery. -- BenRG (talk) 06:27, 5 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Note: data recovery services are pretty expensive, much more expensive than a decent back-up plan. It also won't recover all your data. Indeed, it might not recover anything at all. At a time of cheap cloud storage options, I don't see why a company would have valuable data all in one place. --Llaanngg (talk) 18:49, 5 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Indeed. Even my wife, who owns and is the sole employee of her own company, has not only an on-site backup but an off-site cloud backup of her data as well.  At a few dollars a month, it's easier to budget for than the potentially thousands of dollars that recovery might require.  Cloud backups are no longer only affordable to large companies.  Dismas |(talk) 03:00, 6 May 2015 (UTC)

Cold call "charities" using voice recognition
I've started getting these recently. They pretend to be a human at the other end. They ask yes and no questions and once they get you to agree to a "donation" amount, they take down your address to send you an envelope. Not sure if they are a scam or not, but pretending to be a human is inherently dishonest, so I ignore them. I even said to one "You're a machine aren't you ?" and it responded with "No, what makes you think I'm a machine ?". I then asked it to multiply 2×3 and it couldn't, which either proves it's a machine or a product of the public school system. :-)

Do we have an article on this ? StuRat (talk) 20:44, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Voice-based marketing automation and Interactive voice response. --Mark viking (talk) 22:11, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Thanks. StuRat (talk) 01:41, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

How does someone get rid of their account on the website Best Daily?
— Preceding unsigned comment added by Nedlivingathome (talk • contribs) 22:34, 4 May 2015 (UTC)


 * The first time that you asked this question is visible just a few scrolls of the page up from this asking. And it seems that neither time has anyone known the answer.  As far as I can tell, you might be asking about a British tabloid magazine but I'm not sure.  That said, the answer to these types of questions is usually to contact the web site in question since they know their policies the best.  Dismas |(talk) 08:50, 5 May 2015 (UTC)