Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2015 September 22

= September 22 =

Spam e-mails
I receive quite a number of e-mails, ostensibly from people I know, usually sent to a number of addressees, with the heading "from: " followed by the person's name. The content is always just a web address (which I never click on) and the person's name. Should I be concerned about this, and should I notifying the supposed sender? Sorry if this is a well-known phenomenon that I ought to have known about! --rossb (talk) 08:17, 22 September 2015 (UTC)


 * There are many scenarios for this:
 * Worst case... You have a virus/malware on your computer that is scanning your emails and sending you spam from people with whom you currently exchange emails.
 * likely... Someone you know has a virus/malware on his/her computer that is sending out spam using all the email address in his/her email program.
 * Most likely... A spambot is sending you tons of email using an email list harvested from some site you've given your email address to. Others who know also gave their email addresses to it. So, you sometimes see names you know.
 * Realization... The number of computers that have malware on them that spend all day and night sending out spam is MUCH larger that most people think. Simply getting everyone to turn off their computer when they aren't using it will prove this point because it will greatly reduce the processing power the spammers have. However, humans are highly addicted to screens and they don't like to have screens turned off. As a species, humans have become dependent on having screens scattered throughout the home, installed in the dash of cars, hanging randomly throughout stores and restaurants, on nearly every desk at work, and now they must carry a live screen with them everywhere they go and stare blankly at it while driving - only taking attention away from the mobile screen periodically to look at the other little screen on the dash... Seriously, I wasn't expecting this to turn into a completely off-topic rant. 209.149.113.66 (talk) 13:10, 22 September 2015 (UTC)

DVD problems, specifications
Hi, I have a brand-new, double-sided DVD. Both sides look pristine. The first side plays fine. When I attempt to play the second side on my Xbox 360, it the device hangs on "reading", with no error messages. Similar behavior when attempting to play second side on two other (Mac) computers. These devices have never had problems playing other DVDs. I have no DVD-player-only device to try the disk on. Questions:
 * 1) Is this any sort of generally known issue with two-sided DVDs? My searches just lead to one-off posts, discussions of cleaning, defects, etc.
 * 2) Is it possible that the Xbox is somehow failing to comply with specifications for reading a second-side format? When the first side plays to the end a "turn over disc to continue" message appears, and I wonder if maybe a conventional DVD player is supposed to hold some data/metadata in a buffer to properly load the second side.
 * 3) I realize factory defect is a simple and parsimonious possibility but a)I've never had that happen b) the disc has no obvious scratches, dust, etc on it. c) when I have had flaws in the media, usually the player will throw some sort of error message, not just attempt to read, apparently forever. Is there any reasonable explanation here that isn't a flaw in the optical media?

Thanks, SemanticMantis (talk) 15:50, 22 September 2015 (UTC)


 * I suspect a factory defect, but not the type of damage you mentioned. Rather, I suspect that the index isn't configured correctly, so it tries to read data where there is none (perhaps they just repeated the side one index instead of creating a proper index for side 2).  If so, most likely the whole batch was bad.  Them not catching it implies poor quality control, making me suspect a counterfeit.  You might return it to wherever you bought it and say you suspect it's counterfeit.  (They may not have known, as it could be inserted at any point in the supplier chain.) StuRat (talk) 16:23, 22 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I'd advice not to buy a double sided CD, it might save space but product reliability is '???' e.g., it might create problem during writing on the disk, might matter if it heats up, and so on. -- Space Ghost (talk) 19:08, 23 September 2015 (UTC)
 * The OP appears to be referring to pressed DVD, so writing to the disk is irrelevant. Also, double sided CDs which you referred to, and double DVDs are very different things. Double sided CDs are inherently non standard, as sort of hinted by the DualDisc because either the thickness of each side is too thin, or the overall CD is too thick; as the reflective layer is normally on the top side of the disc. However as mentioned by our DVD and sort of hinted by the earlier article, double sided DVDs have been part of the standards from very early on. Even a single sided DVD is still made up of two discs bonded together ; the reflective layer is in the middle. To answer the OP's question. Each side is independent, and the Xbox 360 or any device doesn't have to know or care, what's on the other side. However it does appear that the way double sided dual layer DVDs are produced, it's a little more complicated even if you're always always bonding two discs together .  Nil Einne (talk) 21:52, 23 September 2015 (UTC)
 * -- Space Ghost (talk) 18:15, 24 September 2015 (UTC)

area code 326 - used or not?
Checking the Missed Calls on my phone, I found one from 1-326-800-1698. The caller ID was "3268001698". Out of curiosity, I looked up the area code at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_North_American_Numbering_Plan_area_codes#300.E2.80.93399 where it says "326: not used". I dialled the number and got the message, "We're sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialled. Please check the number and call again. This is a recording." Can anyone explain this? 99.225.220.233 (talk) 18:43, 22 September 2015 (UTC)


 * Could be a case of Caller_ID_spoofing. SemanticMantis (talk) 19:27, 22 September 2015 (UTC)


 * It is an air duct cleaning scam out of India with a spoofed caller-ID. Give them your credit card number and they will give you an appointment time so you can wait for the technicians to arrive. And if they don't show, just call 1-326-800-1698 to complain... --Guy Macon (talk) 21:08, 22 September 2015 (UTC)


 * I just wanted to add the North American Numbering Plan Administration website (www.nanpa.com) has freely available data and searches, in case you ever want to confirm directly from the source. According to their area code search, area code 326 is not assigned. --Bavi H (talk) 01:59, 23 September 2015 (UTC)

Can I swap toner from HP to Epson cartridge?
I have an Epson c2900 laserjet printer that is low on black toner. I also have a HP laserjet 92298A black toner cartridge laying around.

Can I open them up and swap the toner into the Epson cartridge? Is HP and Epson black toner fundamentally different somehow?

Thanks 66.194.234.102 (talk) 18:54, 22 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Toner refill has a lot of relevant info here. I know we're not really supposed to give personal opinions but I have dealt with broken laser toner cartridges on a few occasions and I think this sounds like a terrible idea, mostly for the reasons already listed in the linked article. Vespine (talk) 00:19, 23 September 2015 (UTC)


 * ( more personal experience ) I've ruined a refillable cartridge by filling it with the wrong toner. On the other hand, I've successfully refilled a cartridge using toner from the same manufacturer but emptied out of an obsolete cartridge designed for a different model.  I haven't found an easy way to tell whether toner is compatible or not, other than "try it and see".    D b f i r s   20:17, 23 September 2015 (UTC)