Date: 03/14/09     Keywords: virus, spyware

My workplace has recently had an outbreak of the conficker virus and i've been kinda paranoid about my computer at home. I noticed today a process called "System" with PID 4 that is running at 62,936 K and staying there that I hadn't noticed before. I don't know if I didn't notice it and I'm just being overly paranoid or if it wasn't there. It has no "User Name" associated with it and it only uses 152 K of virtual memory.

I recently scanned with Malwarebytes Antimalware in both regular and safe modes as well as AVG in safe mode and Spyware Doctor in regular. They only came up with a few weird things that I wasn't familiar with but didn't seem all that bad.

I am preparing to just switch over to Ubuntu but I have about 3 years with this computer and I am kinda attached to it.

Using Windows XP Home SP3 by the way.

Thanks!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1249310.html

Date: 03/13/09     Keywords: microsoft

Hey guys,

I've been troubleshooting this problem for a couple of weeks and it's quite the puzzle (to me anyways).

I've been trying to install Adobe Creative Suite CS4 SE and I continue to get error messages. I'm installing on a brand new sata hard drive. Here's my specs:

AMD Athlon 7750 Dual-Core Processor 2.71 GHz
GIgabyte GA-MA770-UD3
3.0 GB RAM
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition V2002 SP2

It will begin to extract the files and then a message will pop up saying that "there was a problem installing the following programs: .... ". Basically, all the stuff I don't need (language packs, pics) will install, but not the programs.

When I try to go back to CS3, I will get an message saying "there was problem extracting the files, please check if you have proper write permissions".

I've also tried installing Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 and I will get an error saying that it cannot read one of the CAB files.

I also tried installing a downloaded trial version of Photoshop/Illustrator, which I downloaded from Adobe.com, and I received the same errors.

I also had problems with MS Office installing (kept saying certain CAB files were corrupt), but managed to get that installed. Currently trying to install Windows SP3, I get an error message saying 'Extraction failed, file is corrupt'.

I believe this is an issue with my computer rather than the programs? This was my first home built computer so I'm worried I messed something up that's preventing this installation.

Oh, and I've tried all the solutions listed here: http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb404127&sliceId=1

I currently have a case number with Adobe after a 1238712937 hour ordeal. Still no call back though.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1248617.html

Date: 03/12/09     Keywords: yahoo, microsoft, google

I was turning on to Mission College Blvd on my way to work this morning and I saw some GIANT ANIMAL MONSTER BALOONS outside Yahoo's building.

I did a doubletake on the first baloon, then didn't think much of it for several seconds before I saw the second one. That was really comical since it was a big fat baloon CAT choking two baloon people LOL

Along with all that I saw some people picketing.

I searched the news and found that this is a part of the protest on net search censorship against the major search engines (Yahoo, Google, Microsoft):

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hcHLlYNLv5f_45fnYISKHdPxAKoQ

Well that certainly made my morning.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1248382.html

Date: 03/11/09     Keywords: no keywords

I'm solving a problem. One of the features I'm working on right now is an event calendar. The cool part is that people can enter events on a shared calendar. So, for example, there might be a calendar for parties and anyone can put an event on it if they're having a party.

But people are all over the world. This plays havoc with date/time storage. I know the timezone of every user, so I can take their local time and convert it to UTC for storage. I can even convert back from UTC to the local time of the viewing user. But this makes no real sense, does it? Consider:

Events happen at a location. The start time of that event is the start time local to that location. All events really should be displaying such as, "October 12, 2010 at 6:00PM in New York," as that is completely sufficient for someone to know where something is happening and when. This means that I don't need to store the start time of the event as UTC nor do I need to worry about the time zone of the person posting the event or the person viewing it. I store the time as given.

This also means I don't have to worry about Daylight Savings Time, which is just a HUGE pain in the ass. The only other solution that can convert back to "time where the event is" is to store the time zone along with the event. Many users won't know this, many will get it wrong, or just leave it out altogether.

Am I missing the obvious? Or does this make sense?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1248143.html

Date: 03/11/09     Keywords: php, html, asp

1066MHz PC2-8500 DDR2 (you read that right, not the bog-usual 800MHz PC2-6400) for $36 and free shipping (I've done about 5 OCZ rebates, guess this would be my 6th or 7th)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289

A big list of reviews here:
http://www.testseek.com/computers/memory/ddr2/ocz_pc2-8500_1066mhz_reaper_hpc_ddr2_4gb_kit_ocz2rpr10664gk-p-c7089cd8-4aa3-fbac-0e3b-1146176fff48.html

Bjorn3D review (they got the kit to do 1120MHz at a fairly low 2.15v)
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1250&pageID=4639

To think that I actually paid more for lower performance RAM just a few months ago, and that was after rebates too.

[edit: a reminder to not bother if your motherboard doesn't even clock 1066MHz]

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1247750.html

Date: 03/11/09     Keywords: no keywords

So I am getting a Dell Inspiron 1525 it has 3GB of ram 250gb hard drive 2.0GHZ dual core processor and DVD Burner this is a red laptop has anyone had good or bad experiences with this?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1247692.html

Date: 03/11/09     Keywords: web

Free website magazine TO QUALIFY FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION, YOU (or your company) MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE WEB SITE.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1247334.html

Date: 03/09/09     Keywords: browser

When BMW tries to design a computer case, this happens:

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/&menu=browser&mode=article&image_id=984990&article_id=678000&page=2

At CeBIT, Thermaltake showed a case they designed with cooperation from BMW for Thermaltake's 10th anniversary. Instead of one case it puts everything inside their own compartments.

My reactions to the photos were:

• Errrrr...
• This makes either really GOOD airflow, or really BAD airflow.
• At least the power supply is getting good airflow?
• Installing drives are probably going to be a PITA
• This is kinda ugly
• Get an Antec 900 or CoolerMaster Centurion 590 if you really want good airflow

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1247203.html

Date: 03/08/09     Keywords: php, asp, web

I'm looking for code, preferably PHP using GD2, but I'll take just about anything web-based server-side (so ASP.NET/C# is also fine) that generates a monthly calendar, graphically.

In essence, I have all the calendar data, and need to generate a GIF or PNG (or even JPG) of that calendar based on the data, suitable for back-ending into a URL so others can post it as an image on their web page.

I'm very familiar with real-time graphical generation, but I suspect there's existing open source code out there that does the drawing of the cells for each day and such that will save me a lot of time.

Any pointers greatly appreciated!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1246771.html

Date: 03/05/09     Keywords: no keywords

Which of the following will happen first?

1. ReactOS actually going into beta
2. Duke Nukem Forever released

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1246208.html

Date: 03/03/09     Keywords: programming, java, web

Hello, I'm looking for some help with a Java programming assignment.

The assignment is to create a program in which the user can enter the number of dice they wish to roll and a score. The program is supposed to calculate the probability of the score occurring when their dice have been rolled 100,000 times.

I am unsure of how to create multiple dice. We've been looking at programs in which you roll one or two dice and then do something with the outcome. How would I go about making it possible to add up the scores of many dice (the user's choice of # of dice, to be exact)? I've formed a primitive Scanner for this but don't know what to add.


This is all within the class "DiceTester". I have a class "SimpleDice" set up to randomly select a number 1-6 when a die is rolled.

     Scanner scanDie = new Scanner(System.in); // first scanner
 System.out.println("Enter number of dice");
 int n = scanDie.readInt(); // this is where user enters # of dice
  if (n < 0) // if user enters # less than 0
   System.out.println("Error: Number must be 0 or greater."); // there will be an error


    Scanner scanScore = new Scanner(System.in); // second scanner
    SimpleDice d = new SimpleDice();
 System.out.println("Enter score");
 int m = scanScore.readInt(); // this is where user enters score
 if (m < 0) // if user enters score less than 0
   System.out.println("Error: Score must be 0 or greater"); // there will be an error
    
    int tossCount = 100000; // this is the total # of tosses (designated by assignemnt)
    int scoreCt = m; // this is saying that the # the user entered (m) is now the score count
    int tossResult;
    
    for(int j = 0; j < tossCount; j++){ // for loop used to add up tosses
      tossResult = d.throwDice();
      
      if(tossResult == m) scoreCt++;}
    System.out.println("Success Rate: " + ((double)scoreCt)/tossCount); // this divides the #of times m occurred by the #of times the dice were rolled

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1245562.html

Date: 03/02/09     Keywords: virus, spyware

Since last night I've been getting Spyware messages sayig my system is being infiltrated and there's a virus. That may be true and it's spyware! Never installed it, it installed itselfand it won't go aaway. Thought I had it licked yesterday afternoon but it popped up again this morning.

How the fuck do I get rid of it permanently?!?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1245306.html

Date: 03/01/09     Keywords: no keywords

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1245023.html

Date: 02/28/09     Keywords: no keywords

I'm trying to figure out if it's compatiable to play a game because I wanted to hook it up for my mom..

It's got 2.20 GHz, 504 MB of RAM with a Intel Celeron.

It's seems ok but here's the thing~ The C drive is totally full.. everything you do, there's always an hourglass and it seems like its workin kinda hard even just to open up folders on the desktop. When I open up Windows Task Manager, it says it's 100% under processes. -.-

C: drive only has 5.99 GB (which is full.. has hardly anything on it but the operating system, i guess)

E: drive has 25.7 and F: drive has 11.5? Does that make sense? Some pleeeasse help me out, I'm thinking I can just use my Windows XP disc and reinstall onto the E: drive since it's the largest. Last time I reinstalled a computer, I totally deleted the operating system and then it wouldnt let reinstall it. I had to end up paying someone to fix it for me. I deleted drivers or something..

Right now this is what I see in the add/remove programs list:
Intel Extreme Graphic driver
FTDI USB Serial Converter Drivers
Realtek AC'97 audio


If I try to reinstall, will I have trouble booting back up? D; Do I need to save any files or drivers onto a disc?

Help me out, I need a geek <3 and please speak to me in a way I can understand! You guys seem to be a certain breed.. you have a different language heheh thanks so much.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1244630.html

Date: 02/25/09     Keywords: programming

Hello,

I would like to start programming and developing applications in C++. I'm having trouble configuring Borland's C 5.5 Compiler though. I got the freecommandlandtools.exe, and installed it. Then, well, I went online and checked out a Wikihow article as how to configure it. Please, tell me I did something right. By the way when I tried compiling a Hello world program nothing happened so something happened wrong when trying to edit these text files.


The URL of the page is
http://www.wikihow.com/Set-up-Borland's-Free-C-Compiler-for-Windows

When it tells you the paths to save the files in, rather than whatever they put (please read because I can't remember what it was) but I have the compiler in c:\bcc, for easy access.

Could someone direct how to set this up?
Thanks in advance!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1244336.html

Date: 02/24/09     Keywords: web, linux, spam

OK I'm really looking for two things here.

1. I have multiple email accounts that I would like to consolidate into one portable space. I don't know if there is a webmail program that I could install on my webspace or something that could use pop email (the one that my webhost uses sucks and i hate it). I have a lot of mailing lists and all kinds of crap saved into thunderbird, but whenever I want to send an email I have to use this computer and that's becoming more and more of a pain in the ass. I've tried zenbe and I don't like it. I don't want to use gmail's feature to import pop accounts because i'm not too crazy about gmail (or any other free webmail for that matter) having access to all these emails that i'm using for my other thing. I don't want to use like portable thunderbird because it's not cross-platform (i use linux, windows and mac osx all on a regular basis) and I would like it to be web-based so I don't have to fuck with my flash drive every time I want to check my email. Something like this has to exist, and I'm sure it's free,  I just don't know where to look anymore.

2. I would like to know where I can send text messages from the internet. I don't know if just emailing a phone number works all the time. I send text messages to multiple people on a pretty regular basis (not spam but reminders about meetings and stuff) and I'm eating up all my text messages on my non-unlimited plan. This also must exist too, I just don't know where to find it.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1244010.html

Date: 02/21/09     Keywords: no keywords

Without actually having the box it came in, is there a quick way to determine if a cable is cat 5/5e/6?  From what I read, it seems that Cat6 cables are physically thicker than the others, but that isn't helpful if I don't have two different cables to compare.
Thanks! 

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1243756.html

Date: 02/20/09     Keywords: browser

Windows: XP
Browser: IE7

What is __PTAWIA?

Usually after an hour or so of internet usage the system locks up. Can't open new windows, certain menus won't open, can't right click anything, most icons on desktop won't go anywhere, etc. Only thing that works continues to work is the mouse and that's only if you enjoy moving it around pointlessly.

Rebooting fixes the problem...which is the only reason I know what the name of the thing is cuz it has to shut that down before it can shut itself down. Tried running searches for it but whatever the bloody thing is it's not attached to anything on the hardrive of the same name.

Thought it was just on this one system I most often use but I've run into the same difficulty when I was using Raven's setup too.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1243548.html

Date: 02/19/09     Keywords: no keywords

Battlefield Heroes beta signups is on again as of yesterday.

http://www.battlefield-heroes.com/

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1243370.html

Date: 02/18/09     Keywords: yahoo

Does anyone know what average starting salary for someone with a masters degree in Computer Science should be for the New England area? I've checked Salary.com but I'm not sure how accurate it is and was hoping that some kinda programmer out there would be willing to offer what their starting salary was. I ask because my husband is in his final semester of his degree and the school would like to keep him there for an additional year for him to help a professor with something he is working on. The idea is he could take longer to finish his thesis and also gain some work experience for his resume. They asked him to tell them how much he would like for money for the assignment. He doesn't want to ask for to little but he also knows that the university has limited funds. If you are not comfy with sharing this info on here for everyone to see but would like to tell me you can e-mail me at wynkengirl@yahoo.com. Thank you!

I hope that the topic of this post is acceptable for this community- if not please delete this, and i apologize in advance!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computergeeks/1242966.html