Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2012 November 1

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November 1

Weather gadget replacement for W8

Is there a good replacement for the Windows weather gadget that works in Windows 8? I found MSN Weather, but Norton thinks it is a virus. I found Weatherbug, but it links to a Microsoft site that no longer has it. I tried AcuWeather, but Norton also thinks it is a virus. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 03:57, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Weatherbug seemed to behave like a virus, to me. What features are you looking for ? StuRat (talk) 10:10, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

I like the weather app that comes installed on 8. It shows up as a live tile with basic weather details on the Start screen and has lots of information including an hourly forecast and animated maps when you launch it. I don't have any suggestions for something to run on the desktop. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 11:48, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

But I want to show the weather here. It shows weather all around the world. I can't find any way to set the location. Is there a way? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 23:36, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

I'm not on my Windows 8 PC right now, but I know mine shows the right location. Try opening up the settings menu (triggered by the upper-right corner) and seeing what options you have. I don't recall how I set it, but it definitely is possible. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 13:09, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

Take a look at Rainmeter. It's apparently been updated for Win8, and it's a pretty comprehensive widget suite. It can be a tad more complicated than the old Windows Sidebar gadgets, but it's a heck of a lot more powerful. There are also many pre-compiled collections of widgets that you can download. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 15:58, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

I downloaded Rainmeter, it installed just fine. Following the instructions for manual install, I downloaded Large Clear Weather, and tried putting the unzipped files in Skins, a folder under Skins, under Illustro, and in a folder under Illustro. I refreshed Raimmeter after each try, but none of them worked. What could I be doing wrong? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 03:02, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

Is it possible to shift code points of characters in a Unicode string by a certain number?

Or, more specifically, to turn Lao characters in a string into their equivalent Thai characters?

Character code points in the Lao Unicode range are positioned at a constant distance (128) from their equivalent Thai characters. I.e. the Lao ກ (U+0E81) is equivalent to the Thai ก (U+0E01) and the Lao ະ (U+0EB0) is equivalent to the Thai ะ (U+0E30). Is there a relatively simple way to convert Lao characters in a Unicode string into equivalent Thai by subtracting the 128 from each character's code point? I understand this will likely cause display problems since though most Lao characters have a Thai equivalent, they are not necessarily rendered the same way. Let's say this isn't an issue. --125.25.143.111 (talk) 17:00, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

If you mean, is it possible to write a program to do that, the answer is yes, in a language like C that would be easy for a moderately skilled programmer. I doubt there is any way to do such a specialized task without writing some sort of program specifically for it. Looie496 (talk) 17:19, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Thanks. "Possible" was a poor choice of wording, my bad. I was looking for something rather less technical though. --125.25.143.111 (talk) 17:31, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Android screencast issue for Android 4.0.3 ver

Hi there, I successfully manged the connection with Samsung Ace with Android 2.3.6 but failed for my Sony tablet S running Android 4.0.3. I have tried all of methods described above but nothing has improved since. May i know anyone here successfully got it works on the Android 4.0.3? And is there any compatible issues existing between those two Android versions?Predestination (talk) 17:32, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

DSL filter

If a DSL filter is wired in backwards, will it still work? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 19:55, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

How in the world do you wire it in backwards? Short answer is, no. μηδείς (talk) 23:16, 1 November 2012 (UTC), which I say having sold and installed DSL. μηδείς (talk) 23:16, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

I have a phone that is hard-wired so it has no modular plug, or plug of any kind. The phone line goes through a box in the garage, so I thought of cutting in there and hooking in the DSL filter. A problem is that I can't tell for sure which direction of the cable leads to the phone. If I cut into the cable, is there a way to use a volt meter to tell which part goes to the phone company? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 23:34, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

The purpose of the DSL filter is only to block interference that can be caused by the phone connection to the jack. You should have a phone base somewhere that plugs into a modular jack, that is where the filter would go. If your phone line goes directly into some sort of base without an actual jack, there is no use for the standard filter. You certainly wouldn't want to cut the line to install a separate jack and then a filter. Have you actually set up your modem (which must be unfiltered) and tried your DSL? It will often work whether you have a filter or not. If the DSL is not working at all, you should call DSL installation and speak to a local repair tech. (Don't bother going through the bullshit you will get from an overseas rep reading a script to you, interrupt them tell them your situation, and insist on a local technician.) If you do have a problem, the only help will be to have a professional come out and install the right equipment for the modem itself. You'll probably need what they call an interface, and a splitter from there so that the phone will be on a separate filtered line from the unfiltered modem line. The phone company should do this for you free as part of the DSL service, especially if they expect to keep your business. μηδείς (talk) 03:03, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

The DSL is working and the other phones have a DSL filter. The problem is that the DSL modem makes a lot of static on the phone without the filter. It did not seem too bad until I added a repeater for the wireless router/DSL modem. Now the static on that line is very bad all of the time. This is an emergency phone, so it needs to be reliable, which is why the filter is needed. I was planning to have an electrician do it. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 04:50, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

Yes. What would be necessary would be to cut the wire at the wall, run the wire into what's called a modular interface, which is basically a fancy phone jack, then plug a normal flat phone cord into that, the filter onto the other end of the line, and the phone into the filter. Of course, if the phone is hard wired into the line you will have to open up the phone and change the wiring. There may be no easy way to do this--simply getting another phone with a cord plug may be easier. You'd run get a splitter for a few bucks and run a long cord from that splitter into the room where the currently problematic phone is and plug the new phone into that line. μηδείς (talk) 18:52, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

Yes, and as for the original question, no, direction doesn't make a difference. It's a low-pass filter and blocks those nasty signals from going through it, whatever their direction. Jim.henderson (talk) 19:24, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

I am still not quite sure how one could put it in backwards. Oh, I guess you could put it at the wrong end of the modular cord--which is what I suggested above. D'oh! μηδείς (talk) 19:29, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

The reason is that it might go in backwards is that there is no modular jack in that line. The only DSL filter I have uses modular jacks. The only place were I have access to the phone line, I'm not sure which way it runs.

But here is my idea. Take one of the wall jacks that has two modular jacks. Cut the phone line and put one end on one jack and the other on the other jack. Plug the modular jack into one of them. Use a short cable with male plugs on each end to connect the jack on the DSL filter to the other jack. Shouldn't that b OK? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 15:40, 4 November 2012 (UTC)

Disable broken internal keyboard?

I have a Gateway NV78 running windows 7. The keyboard is malfunctioning, the cursor automatically goes to the bottom of any open active screen. I don't have this issue with an external keyboard hooked up via the USB port. But I cannot disable the laptop's own keyboard, so even if I use the external keyboard, the built-in keyboard will spontaneously direct me to the bottom of any open window or dialog box. How, other than uninstalling the internal keyboard driver, can I disable it, so that only the external keyboard provides inputs? Thanks. μηδείς (talk) 21:24, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Apologies for my ignorance, but why is disabling the driver not an option? That'd be the first thing I'd do.

Anyway, try http://www.ehow.com/how_5864250_disable-keyboard-laptop.html for a solution that involves remapping (or, in fact, unmapping) non-functional keys. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 21:36, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Because I don't want to accidentally screw myself and find I have no keyboard or can't reinstall the driver without paying for it. I will try your link. But since I can very easily deactivate the touchpad, it seemed disabling the keyboard when there was an external one would be intuitive and easy. One more reason to hate Microgates. μηδείς (talk) 22:18, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Ah yes. Fairy muff. Here are a few more suggestions, and a discussion on why uninstalling the driver isn't possible, anyway. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 22:35, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Just because I am queer, I am not sure why you are referring to my vagina, lol. In any case, I have downloaded the remapper per ehow, and found I need admin capability, so have also downloaded the .NERT framework, and have it open. But what do I do from there? Which application am I looking for, and what do I do once ifind it? Thanks for the help so far. μηδείς (talk) 23:01, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

I don't find MapKeyboard, I find mapi32dll, mapistubdll and mapisvc μηδείς (talk) 23:05, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

OH, I see fairy muff is supposed to be fair enough--it sounds rather vulgar to an american. μηδείς (talk) 01:15, 2 November (UTC)

Yes, my little attempt at a (rather poor) joke. Apologies for any offence. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 08:47, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

I would just replace the keyboard. There are a bunch of them listed on eBay right now for about $20, such as this one (not meant to be an endorsement of that seller). -- BenRG (talk) 01:54, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

I already have the external keyboard, and find the problem with the internal keyboard is only on-and-off. If I can remap the down key onto one of the function keys I don't use that will be an excellent solution. I just need to know how to use .Net Framework 2.0 to give permission for Key Mapboard 1.5 to make the change. They are both installed but I don't know what function to choose under .Net Framework to use and what to apply that function to. μηδείς (talk) 18:02, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

KeyTweak does the same thing without .NET, but I don't think any program of this type will solve your problem since it will affect all keyboards. You could unplug the internal keyboard. -- BenRG (talk) 04:44, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

I don't know of anything you can do that will only affect one keyboard. Have you tried taking apart the key and making sure everything is good and clean? If you're fine with just using the external keyboard, I agree with BenRG that unplugging the internal keyboard is a good option. They're usually designed to be easy to remove/replace, so it shouldn't be too hard to get to the cable. I would put a strip of electrical tape over the end of the ribbon cable just in case. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 12:37, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

• Well, the only problematic key is the scroll down arrow below the right side shift key, which acts on its own. If I can remap that to disabled, I can use the cursor arrows on the number keypad instead. The external keyboard would not be relevant at that point. I don't really want to go messing with the keyboard physically, or do anything that will cost money or risk my having to pay for repair, since I intend to get a new laptop by the end of the year, and can't see throwing good money after bad by trying to fix this one when simply disabling one non-essential key will solve my problem entirely. (And no, Mike, I was not at all offended, just confused, never having heard the term fairy muff, which literally translates as "poofter minge" in American.) So, I will try KeyTweak as per BenRG above. If that allows disabling one key I should be quite happy. μηδείς (talk) 18:02, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

• Hurray! KeyTweak did it, very easily. And I killed that geedeed capslock key as well, the bane of fast keyboardists everywhere. I am so happy! Thanks to all. μηδείς (talk) 18:21, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

I agree that the caps lock key is a problem. I must hit it accidentally something like 10 times as often as I hit it intentionally. And, unlike other typos, I then have to retype the entire line from that point on. StuRat (talk) 05:58, 4 November 2012 (UTC)

Unfortunately it seems like every time you reboot the remapping is lost, but that is not a major issue, since I usually leave the computer asleep--and it is a failsafe incase you really make a bad mistake remapping over keys needed for your password. μηδείς (talk) 17:12, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

The remapping shouldn't be lost on reboot. In fact, it normally needs a reboot to take effect at all. Try running KeyTweak as administrator? -- BenRG (talk) 05:36, 4 November 2012 (UTC)