Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2016 January 1

= January 1 =

Database data types
Can you list as many data types for databases as possible? - Tom29739 (talk) 17:15, 1 January 2016 (UTC)
 * Here is a list of Transact-SQL data types used in Microsoft SQL Server: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187752.aspx. In my experience, Oracle and mySQL have the same foundational types (e.g. char, number), although their treatment of large data elements such as blobs may be different. All 3 programs also let you define your own data types, similar to a struct (or other aggregate data type) in many programming languages.
 * For a perspective other than SQL, see this reference on Hadoop Pig Latin: https://pig.apache.org/docs/r0.7.0/piglatin_ref2.html#Data+Types+and+More. OldTimeNESter (talk) 17:52, 1 January 2016 (UTC)
 * This, could be helpful... -- Mr. Zoot Cig Bunner (talk) 21:10, 1 January 2016 (UTC)

Setting Up Envy 4520
I am trying to set up an HP Envy 4520 printer. I am getting instructions on my laptop to use the Setup Wizard on the printer, but I don't see a Setup Wizard in the front panel of the printer, just other options. Does it mean to use a setup wizard on the laptop, or am I missing something on the printer? Robert McClenon (talk) 22:09, 1 January 2016 (UTC)


 * The setup wizard often comes on a miniature CD packed with the printer (I'm not sure whether that is the case with this model). If you don't have this option, then HP support might help.    D b f i r s   23:56, 1 January 2016 (UTC)
 * Try google images 'tab', insert your printer details in the 'search engine', try to add the partial views of your printer as a whole or whats required for you to know, from all the pictures...click on the image(s) and go to the web-site/page if it looks similar... -- Mr. Zoot Cig Bunner (talk) 18:41, 2 January 2016 (UTC)
 * There was a CD packed with the printer. I didn't see a miniature CD, only a full-sized CD that can be run on a laptop, and I was using the CD (rather than downloading from HP.com, which should have the same effect).  Did you mean that the setup wizard would work on the laptop, or that it would work on the printer?  In order to it to work on the printer, I think that I first have to set up the printer, which sounds like a Catch-22.  Thank you for providing the lengthy link.  If that doesn't work, I will call HP on the phone on Monday.  Robert McClenon (talk) 23:52, 2 January 2016 (UTC)
 * I suspect it does mean the setup wizard on your printer. I think many AiO printers with LCDs and wifi have these nowadays particularly those targetted at the home or SOHO market. If you never saw this on your printer, possibly it was already set up for some reason. (Is this actually a new printer?) You should be able to get it back, try looking at the settings menus until you find it. shows what you probably do in the setup wizard. P.S. I don't really understand the purpose of Mr. Zoot Cig Bunner's suggestion. The model number of the printer is already know, so there's no reason to look for images that looks similar. Nil Einne (talk) 05:11, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
 * If you don't care about the existing settings, the easiest thing to do may be to see if you can find an option to clear the settings or restore to factory defaults. Anyway that guide is fairly weird . It tells you to set the language, install the paper & ink, setup alignment etc. All perfectly understandable. But it then directs you to the HP site to download software. Again perfectly understandable. But the software only asks if you've done the paper setup and stuff and then starts to look for your printer. Perhaps the printer does ask for your wifi settings as part of the set-up wizard, but it's not shown in the guide, I don't know if HP is assuming everyone has an open wifi or what. Assuming you're happy with the language and country (the country is important since it probably affects the default paper size), you've installed the ink and paper and set up the alignment or someone else did, I wouldn't worry about finding the printer setup wizard again. Admitedly if the printer was subject to a a fair amount of transportation since the alignment was done it's probably worth doing again, but it's probably easier to do that manually rather than trying to get the setup wizard back (I looked in the manual and couldn't find anything about getting it back or restoring factory defaults). You can either do it after you've setup the printer from with Windows or OS X, or you there should be an "Align Printer" option under "Tools" in the printer manual.   Presuming you're connecting the printer over wifi, probably the only thing to do is to make sure that's setup right. You can follow the instructions on page 4 of this getting started guide to make sure . Once you've done that you might as well tell the software you've followed the setup wizard. Alternatively you can use the software from here . I've tried that software and it just asks if you're ready to setup the printer (installed paper, done alignment etc) then if you continue and agree to their EULA and stuff it looks for the printer.  Nil Einne (talk) 05:53, 3 January 2016 (UTC)

Banking scam: Is it worth contacting the bank?
I've recently received an email telling me I need to update my personal details with National Westminster Bank Plc or I won't be able to access my account after the New Year. It is so obviously a scam that I almost feel sorry for the scammer. Clearly an amateur, or at best a beginner. And btw, I don't even have an account with that bank. Here's the fake online banking login page http://parkplacecentre.org.uk/on/Natwest-online/ the email has a link to, and here's the real NatWest online banking login page https://www.nwolb.com/ which it is trying to mimic. As you can tell, it is less than perfect. The address this email came from, that is the address the scamer's used to send me his email, is 8hzOuKk@univers.com, wherever that is.

In any case, my question is: Is it worth forwarding that scam email to National Westminster Bank to inform them someone is trying to scam their customers or do such things happen so often that it's not likely to be very helpful to them?

Incidentally, contacting that bank by email does not seem to be a very simple matter.

Contact Basemetal   here  22:18, 1 January 2016 (UTC)
 * It's probably not worth doing anything about it. My antivirus software recognizes the URL as a dangerous link - if yours doesn't, perhaps it's time for an update. Tevildo (talk) 22:25, 1 January 2016 (UTC)


 * You can "report any suspicious activity to phishing@natwest.com". Rojomoke (talk) 23:40, 1 January 2016 (UTC)


 * This happened to me many years ago, when that scam was just starting up, and I contacted the hosting company of the fake login in Germany and got the fake page taken down within a few hours. It had been tacked on to a personal website of one of their genuine customers.  It's probably not worth going to those lengths, but do forward the e-mail to phishing@natwest.com as suggested above.    D b f i r s   23:49, 1 January 2016 (UTC)
 * It might also be worth contacting the Diocese of Winchester - the Park Place Centre in Fareham seems to be a legitimate religious institution, and their name and address are listed as the domain registrants. Tevildo (talk) 00:12, 2 January 2016 (UTC)
 * That's a good idea. The website has been running for six years and belongs to the "Friends of Park Place", a registered charity.  I assume that they are unaware that their website has been hacked.    D b f i r s   00:22, 2 January 2016 (UTC)
 * ... update ... The Park Place Centre are aware of the problem, and say that they are dealing with it (though I pointed out to them that the fake login page was still there). They say they have had lots of fake e-mail messages sent out asking for money.    D b f i r s   08:42, 2 January 2016 (UTC)
 * Thank you guys. I've just forwarded that "phishy" mail to phishing@natwest.com. At first, before even posting to the RD, I did try to find a simple email address to forward that thing to, but as I couldn't find anything after searching for a few minutes on the NatWest site, I thought I'd ask here if it was worth it to begin with, before I spent lot of time and effort searching for such an address, which incidentally I suspected had to exist. Thanks to to Rojomoke for that address. How and where did you locate it? I'm pretty sure it is not on NatWest's regular site, at least not in a very prominent place, or I wouldn't have missed it. Contact Basemetal   here  17:39, 2 January 2016 (UTC)
 * It was on the (genuine) NatWest website under support (I found it at the same time as Rojomoke), but not as obvious as I would have expected (here and here). You will be pleased to see that the rogue page has been deleted.  Park Place Centre have not recently accessed their website via FTP so they believe that their host's server has been hacked.  Not a good advert for the company's security -- I'd be looking for a new company to host my website!    D b f i r s   19:18, 2 January 2016 (UTC)
 * On the one hand, these scams are so common that banks are typically aware of them. On the other hand, every Internet domain is required by an Internet standard to have an abuse@ address, such as abuse@natwest.com.  In their case, they also have a phishing@natwest.com address, but they also presumably do read mail to abuse@natwest.com.  Robert McClenon (talk) 23:54, 2 January 2016 (UTC)
 * Most banks in the UK use the "phishing@...." address for this sort of thing. I'm not sure how widely the "abuse@...." address is used these days.  It's a very old internet standard.    D b f i r s   12:31, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
 * I suspect most do monitor abuse@, since it's where spam reports and similar are likely to go. Nor that a bank is that likely to be spamming people, unless their security is so poor you probably shouldn't bank with them. Although it is possible some overeuthastic marketing or other staff may cause problems. In any case, my impression is ignoring relevant emails to abuse@ (or postmaster@) is a good way to end up on spam blacklists, so probably not something any reputable site wants. I know any domain using Google Apps Mail, and I'm guess similar services, automatically have their abuse@ and postmaster@ addresses monitored by Google (or whoever is running the service). I suspect they will probably deal with phising reports sent there too. Nil Einne (talk) 15:11, 3 January 2016 (UTC)


 * It is so obviously a scam that I almost feel sorry for the scammer. There is evidence to suggest that spammers/phishers write their emails badly on purpose, so as to avoid wasting time dealing with people who would be gullible enough to fall for an initial reasonably-written email, but who would soon see through the subsequent requests for personal details and extra payments. E.g. see here. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 15:33, 3 January 2016 (UTC)


 * Interesting. I mean both the Telegraph article and the Microsoft paper it links to. Thank you. Contact Basemetal   here  16:24, 3 January 2016 (UTC) PS: That did it. You'll never ever catch me feeling sorry for such scum again! Not even almost sorry!