Wikipedia:Reference desk/Computing

Welcome to the computing section
of the Wikipedia reference desk.

skip to bottom

Select a section:

• Computing
• Entertainment
• Humanities
• Language
• Mathematics
• Science
• Miscellaneous
• Archives

Want a faster answer?

Main page: Help searching Wikipedia

   

How can I get my question answered?

• Select the section of the desk that best fits the general topic of your question (see the navigation column to the right).
• Post your question to only one section, providing a short header that gives the topic of your question.
• Type '~~~~' (that is, four tilde characters) at the end – this signs and dates your contribution so we know who wrote what and when.
• Don't post personal contact information – it will be removed. Any answers will be provided here.
• Please be as specific as possible, and include all relevant context – the usefulness of answers may depend on the context.
• Note:
  • We don't answer (and may remove) questions that require medical diagnosis or legal advice.
  • We don't answer requests for opinions, predictions or debate.
  • We don't do your homework for you, though we'll help you past the stuck point.
  • We don't conduct original research or provide a free source of ideas, but we'll help you find information you need.

Ready? Ask a new question!

How do I answer a question?

Main page: Wikipedia:Reference desk/Guidelines

• The best answers address the question directly, and back up facts with wikilinks and links to sources. Do not edit others' comments and do not give any medical or legal advice.

See also:

• Teahouse
• Help desk
• Village pump
• Help manual

November 28

Linking several WhatsApp numbers to a Facebook business account.

It is possible to link several WhatsApp phone numbers to a Facebook business account. One of them has to be set as the primary number: It will be contacted when someone writes a WhatsApp message to the business account. But what is the use of the other linked WhatsApp numbers? Do they just serve as spares, or do they have an actual, immediate use? --KnightMove (talk) 13:40, 28 November 2024 (UTC)

Most commonly, they are used for different departments, different countries/target markets, or for specific campaigns being run by the company. "One of them has to be set as the primary number". Not really. One can be listed as the primary PER Facebook page, but a business account can have hundreds of FB pages (and instagram accounts, and as you noticed WhatsApp numbers). —TheDJ (talk • contribs) 21:37, 28 November 2024 (UTC)

Ok, thanks. But we agree that one needs to be set as the primary number per page, and others can still be linked to that same page. Do they play any active role? If yes, which one? --KnightMove (talk) 09:07, 29 November 2024 (UTC)

November 30

Search by image on a USB flash drive

Is there a way to search for repeating (identical) images on a USB flash drive in Windows 10? Checking by eye becomes tedious for me, as I'm back-uping many of them and don't want to transfer identical jpg images with different file names. Brandmeister^talk 20:52, 30 November 2024 (UTC)

Sorting by size would make it easier. If two images look the same but have different file sizes, there's probably a difference in quality or a filter has been applied, and you probably want to take a closer look to determine which is worth backing up.-Gadfium (talk) 21:36, 30 November 2024 (UTC)

Using a compressed image format like jpeg, it's indeed very unlikely that two different images have the same file size, but if there are thousands of images of a few megabytes each, you'll probably have some collisions. See birthday problem. Also, two identical images may still have different file size if there's a difference in their metadata. For example, one may have a caption added. Still, sorting by file size would be a good start. Only if you're dealing with a huge number of pictures it's worth finding a more advanced method. PiusImpavidus (talk) 09:27, 1 December 2024 (UTC)

I don't see any real reason to use something as crude as exact filesize instead of file contents i.e. hash or checksum which is almost as trivial for any duplicate detection tool and even on a USB flash drive shouldn't take that long. E.g. Dupeguru definitely can and it sounds like Czkawka can as well although at least for Windows there must be thousands and even going by only free hundreds and I expect at least tens FLOSS. I mean you might occasionally have images which are basically duplicate but have some minor changes in the metadata or whatever which you'd miss by using contents, but it's still the better choice IMO. Dupeguru and Czkawka also have similar image functionality although I've never used such functionality since I've only ever been interested in removing exact dupes. This isn't a problem for images but if we're talking large files and you're concerned about time and you're fairly sure you don't have corruption etc, I think some tools allow only hashing a part of the file to speed things up. (OTOH, if you're worried about malicious damage/changes, make sure you choose a tool with a secure hash although this isn't a common concern.) Nil Einne (talk) 14:53, 1 December 2024 (UTC)

What exactly is making it difficult? Is it because the duplicates could be in different folders? How exact a duplicate do the images have to be to be considered a duplicate? If everything is in one directory, sorting by filesize would work, as others have mentioned. If I was doing the task, I'd sort by size and switch the view to large thumbnails or whatever. If pictures are in multiple directories, things get more complicated. When I had a similar task to do, I actually made use of the command line's DIR function to get me a list of every file in every directory and import that into Excel where I could easily check for duplicate file names, file sizes, creation dates, and so on. Matt Deres (talk) 16:52, 2 December 2024 (UTC)

December 1

Does the Reddit Automod know that I access an account on DuckDuckGo?

Is a connection to Reddit via DuckDuckGo pretty sus to the Automod? Is it why the automod has been autoremoving all of my legit posts?

What are other users' experiences like using a Reddit account on DuckDuckGo? --2600:8803:1D13:7100:BBC6:2B3:625A:265B (talk) 12:23, 1 December 2024 (UTC)

Reddit automods produce a reason why posts are removed. You haven't provided us with the reason the posts were removed. If you don't know, you need to look at the change update and instead of quickly deleting it or clicking 'read' on it, read it. I have never ever seen any hint of any automod that looks to see if the user is using a DuckDuckGo web browser. It is far more likely that you are posting something that is not allowed and the automod is removing it and you are not reading the reason why it was removed. It can be trivial. For example, I asked a question on one Reddit page and it was immediately removed. The reason for removal explained that a different Reddit page was the correct place to ask the question, so I asked it there instead and it wasn't removed. 12.116.29.106 (talk) 15:25, 3 December 2024 (UTC)

December 5

how to use NPN transistor

How do I use one 1250metersdeep (talk) 18:04, 5 December 2024 (UTC)

Do you know the use of a BJT transistor but want to know when one would specifically use the NPN type instead of the PNP type? Perhaps the table of modes in the section Bipolar junction transistor § Regions of operation will give you the information you need.  --Lambiam 08:05, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

Thanks 1250metersdeep (talk) 13:50, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

December 6

Do any dashcams exist that livestream drives onto Twitch, YouTube and other livestream video apps?

As a Dasher for Doordash, I'd like to have strangers watch me drive deliveries live in real-time. I wonder about whether there's a Dashcam around that allows livestreaming onto any site / apps that allow users to watch anyone's livestreams. I would also like to make some of the obscure music that I play through my car's Bluetooth speakers known to the wider world.

If there isn't such a thing as a livestreaming dashcam, how come and what would it take to innovate a fully-working livestreaming dashcam in the first place? --2600:8803:1D13:7100:B55B:B71:F6ED:7780 (talk) 12:40, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

If you have a phone or something you could probably try to figure something out by taping it with the camera looking out and then starting a livestream. I’m not too sure about any actual dash cams so I would wait for another user to respond 1250metersdeep (talk) 13:53, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

You can use one of many streaming cams. You would have to use your phone (or similar device) as a mobile hotspot, tethering the cam to the phone for internet access. This assumes you have unlimited data on your phone. The headache will be that the cam will likely lose internet connection every time you leave the car to make a delivery. If it is a good cam, it will re-attach itself automatically and begin streaming again. 68.187.174.155 (talk) 17:14, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

If you're not already aware, the sort of thing you're looking to do is often referred to as IRL (in real life) streaming and those who do IRL streams often use a collection of gear consolidated in the form of a backpack for easy wearability and transport. In looking for how to accomplish your specific goals I'd look into researching the backpack setups people have posted in various places. Amstrad00 (talk) 17:44, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

I suggest also that you consider the copyright and licencing implications of re-broadcasting other people's music, and how any intentions to monetise your streaming (or not) might interact with them {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 94.1.211.243 (talk) 18:06, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

December 7

Mac window behavior

Recently in MacOS, when I drag a window laterally by its title bar, sometimes it blows up to nearly fill the screen. Why? —Tamfang (talk) 23:23, 7 December 2024 (UTC)

Presumably the window has a maximized state and you're switching to that state. Perhaps your mouse movement is being misunderstood as a touchscreen swiping gesture, if such a maximize gesture exists on the OS, and perhaps you can switch gestures off in the settings. Another possibility is that your mouse has a fault (low battery or a broken button) and is sending double-click messages sometimes, making the window maximize in response to a double-click on its title bar, if those are understood by the OS as maximize. Do you find the title bar slips from your grasp sometimes, as well? That would imply a mouse hardware fault.  Card Zero  (talk) 00:13, 8 December 2024 (UTC)

The double-click hypothesis is at least worth testing next time it happens. —Tamfang (talk) 22:04, 8 December 2024 (UTC)

Nope, double-clicking merely expanded the window further. —Tamfang (talk) 04:47, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

Are you using a trackpad? Touching it with several fingers can alter the meaning of a gesture.  --Lambiam 18:52, 9 December 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for trying, but no. —Tamfang (talk) 04:48, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

Perhaps I'm not giving enough weight to the possibility that MacOS is intentionally being annoying without any special provocation. Could it be this, automatic window sizing caused by Tiling, a feature that enables quick snapping and resizing of windows? But by the sound of it this should cause windows, when dragged near screen edges, to go fully fullscreen, not just (if I understand your report correctly) kind of sorta bigger. Still, it's a recent and evidently annoying change to window behavior when windows are dragged, so the circumstantial evidence is strong. Try turning off Tiling?  Card Zero  (talk) 07:27, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

December 8

What was the first computer game with normal audio, audio that is not chiptune/tracker/midi/fm synthesis?

What was the first computer game with normal audio, audio that is not chiptune/tracker/midi/fm synthesis? 2804:1B3:9700:1E44:2188:5975:E245:4C47 (talk) 17:08, 8 December 2024 (UTC)

So are you excluding all the digital to analog conversion methods? Some early computer systems allowed analog cassette tapes to play audio under computer control. I assume these included music. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 20:00, 8 December 2024 (UTC)

I scanned two books on the history of video games and both note that the first "real" sound in video games was Rally-X. They use the clarification that it was the first to use digital-to-analog to turn digitially recorded sounds into analog sound. 68.187.174.155 (talk) 17:25, 9 December 2024 (UTC)

Tell us what those books are! The fact should be in the article, it would sit nicely after "one of the first games with bonus stages and continuously-playing background music". What are you citing, please?  Card Zero  (talk) 14:11, 10 December 2024 (UTC)

December 9

Windows Diagnostic Memory tool

How long would you expect it to take to do 96GB RAM? I heard an hour per 8GB—sound reasonable? SerialNumber54129 18:33, 9 December 2024 (UTC)

That guy was a fucking idiot. Took less than two hours. SerialNumber54129 11:09, 10 December 2024 (UTC)

December 10

Youtube videos switching in the middle to Chinese people doing ordinary things

I see that others are encountering the same problem.[1] Has anybody come up with a fix yet? Clarityfiend (talk) 05:26, 10 December 2024 (UTC)

To avoid videos with crocheting Chinese ladies and such – if that's not your thing – make sure the video is from the original channel and not some pirated and hacked video. The name of the channel (such as Eyewitness News ABC7NY, Jimmy Kimmel Live, ESPN MBL, ...) is given below the title of the video. Pirated videos come from an unfamiliar channel; other than that, everything looks the same as the legit video.  --Lambiam 07:35, 10 December 2024 (UTC)

Aaah, thanks. Clarityfiend (talk) 01:54, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

December 11

Quote marks will not appear until I type a second one

Hello all. I have a seemingly one-off, weird and annoying issue. I am using an HP laptop computer:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home

System Model HP Spectre x360 Convertible

Version 10.0.19045

Build 19045

Every time I type a quote mark on this computer (or an apostrophe using the same keyboard key without shifting) nothing happens. It is only when I invoke the character key a second time (in a row, without moving the cursor) that anything happens, which is that, only then, TWO quote marks appear. I then I have to delete one of them. Same thing for apostrophes, though I use quotes far more frequently. This happens anywhere I attempt to type the character, including when I placed this one " right now. Please note that the key is not gummed up or anything, it always works to place the two after I type the character the second time. Any ideas? --68.129.153.226 (talk) 17:23, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

When did this start happening? Has it always been like this? If not, what changed? Be honest. MinorProphet (talk) 20:29, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

My 13-year old Mac Mini has stopped working. (I have already purchased a new computer, arriving in about two weeks.) I thus borrowed this HP from my sister a week ago, whereupon I discovered this issue. I thus have no idea of the timeline of the problem.--68.129.153.226 (talk) 21:07, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

What happens if you type a single ' or ", followed by some other character, like a letter?

It sounds like you're in some strange mode which is attempting to interpret various multi-keystroke sequences. Those can be perfectly ordinary — for example, as you may know, on a Mac you can type Option-U to get a bare umlaut, which when you then type a letter like A or U combines with it to form Ä or Ü. But obviously these " and ' sequences you're encountering are bizarre and unwanted! (I've never heard of combining sequences starting with " or ', either.)

My guess is that these sequences are defined for the convenience of typists in some language other than English. I would go to the relevant control panel — perhaps "Keyboard", although under Windows I'm not sure — and make sure you've got English specified as your language, with no funny extra options specified. —scs (talk) 22:10, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

Yes you're right. When you're on the international keyboard (or other non-English one) if you type a quote and then a vowel you get an umlaut. With this keyboard layout the first time you press a quote key it will not type it, and you have to press it twice to type a quote.

On Windows 10, on the bottom right, to the left of the date and time, there is an area where you can click to change the keyboard layout. For the international keyboard it is "ENG INTL". If you click it you can change to the normal keyboard, "ENG" or "ENG US" or whatever you prefer. ―Panamitsu (talk) 22:23, 11 December 2024 (UTC)