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

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

August 13

Windows "namespaces" to fix PATH conflicts?

Are there any tools for Windows that make it easier to change the PATH variable for a specific command or session, by storing friendly names for the sometimes-PATH folders (similar to the programming concept of namespaces)? An example use of this would be to resolve the conflicts between Git Bash and Cygwin (which implement many of the same GNU commands), or to override the PowerShell builtin by invoking cygwin::ls. NeonMerlin 02:38, 13 August 2014 (UTC)

On Windows (like Unix!) the environment is composed from system-wide settings, user-settings, and per-process settings. You could add persistent PATH entries (or any other settings) that only apply to specific programs or sessions by setting them in your command prompt, or in a batch file, GUI shortcut link, and so on. Do you need help tracking down an implementation tutorial? Nimur (talk) 14:45, 13 August 2014 (UTC)

the portion of the path before the filename is the "namespace" for the shell/command interpreter to look up the executable. SCNR, Asmrulz (talk) 15:28, 14 August 2014 (UTC)

Searching reflist web pages

A certain article (this one, if it matters) currently has 131 entries in its reflist. My guess is that, given the amount of content overlap (mostly web-based news), 131 is about three times what it really needs to be.

The reason is that, when one needs to source a new fact, they search the entire web using a search engine, and they usually add a new ref. More times than not, the reflist already included one or more sources for the fact.

Is there a practical way to search only the URLs already in a reflist?   Mandruss |talk  20:14, 13 August 2014 (UTC)

testing upload/download speed

How can I test the upload/download speed on my laptop? FWIW, it's a Lenovo U310, which had notorious WiFi issues when it debuted two years ago. I bought mine about a month ago, and though I haven't experienced any particular problems, now I'm increasing my cable speed and I'd like to know. Thanks. --Halcatalyst (talk) 20:27, 13 August 2014 (UTC)

http://speedtest.net is often used for this purpose. The Article is here. 75.69.10.209 (talk) 01:45, 14 August 2014 (UTC)

• Thank you. I tried it twice, once from downstairs and once right up here next to the router. Results:

Downstairs: PNG 19ms, DNLD 0.90 Mbps, UPLD 3.13 Mbps

Next to the router: PNG 23ms, DNLD 15.79 Mbps, UPLD 6.41 Mbps

Even I can tell what that means. The signal strength dies out quickly over distance. That's the same thing Lenovo users were complaining about two years ago.

Hmmm. There are hundreds of complaints about this problem online at this very Lenovo "community "site, which doesn't appear to be monitored by customer support. The problem isn't fixed after two years. I guess it just got lost in the shuffle, as often happens with big companies after (not) all the 'kinks' are worked out after the roll out.

Otherwise, I'm quite happy with my new computer. Really. It's just that it's hard to watch Netflix steaming downstairs with Chromecast. --Halcatalyst (talk) 03:56, 14 August 2014 (UTC)

• Went back to the above site and looked at the tail end the complaints (June 2014). Most of the advice seemed to assume somebody really experienced with hardware (replace the bios???). But one guy had the idea of using a Usb wifi adapter and he said it worked. Do you think this one this one might work? Do I just plug it in the USB port? --Halcatalyst (talk) 04:11, 14 August 2014 (UTC)

To be perfectly honest, if you are trying to solve a signal issue, I would stay clear of the NANO style wifi adapters, can you see how big the antenna must be to fit in it? I would look for a wifi adapter that has an external antenna, maybe something like this?Vespine (talk) 04:23, 14 August 2014 (UTC)

I have a Netgear N600 router. Would this one, even though NANO style, actually work better for me? --Halcatalyst (talk) 10:28, 14 August 2014 (UTC)

That's not what I would call NANO, the NANO ones are the ones that stick out only 1/4 of an inch, like the TL-WN725N you linked earlier. This at least looks like it could have 2" antenna inside it. I haven't used either but the reviews seem decent, that's probably the one to go for if you have a N600 router. Vespine (talk) 00:32, 15 August 2014 (UTC)

It may be a problem unique to your laptop - but I kinda doubt it. Signal strength from WiFi does vary throughout a typical house - and for reasons related to the 'black art' of radio signal propagation, it's common to have dead areas. I have a couple of suggestions:

1. Try switching your WiFi router to a different frequency. There are around a dozen frequencies to choose from. I have an app on my cellphone ("WiFi Analyzer" - a free download for Android) that shows the signal strength for all of the WiFi channels - so you can see where your neighbors are transmitting and how much power they are putting out. Often, they have their routers set on whatever default channel they were delivered with - so there will probably be many channels that are either totally unoccupied - or only in use by someone far away with minimal signal strength. Switch to one of those, and I guarantee, things will get better.
2. Try changing the orientation of the antenna on your WiFi router. Again, if you have "WiFi Analyzer" on your phone, you can sit in your bedroom and have someone fiddle with the antenna orientation as you watch the signal strength change - it's hard to do it without a tool like that though.
3. If all else fails...(which it did for me)...you can add a second WiFi router upstairs. You'll either have to string a second Ethernet cable between the cable-modem (or whatever you use) and the bedroom - which may be a major pain...or you can do what I did which is to buy an "Ethernet over Power line" gadget which consists of two white boxes that plug into the wall sockets - one next to your cable modem - connected to it with a short ethernet cable - and the other in the bedroom. Then you can plug a second WiFi router in upstairs and you'll have perfect reception. You'll want to make sure it's on a different radio channel than the first one (see (1), above).

SteveBaker (talk) 15:36, 15 August 2014 (UTC)