Computing desk
< April 1	<< Mar \| April \| May >>	April 3 >

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

April 2

Cable TV flaky

The TV has been flaky (blocky screen artifacts, flaky sound) a lot today, and less over the past few days. This is Comcast in the East Bay. Anyone know how to find out if this is widespread? Don't suggest calling Comcast (aka Crapcast): we all know they are useless even on a good day. Of course I can understand if they have their hands especially full at a time like this. Internet (on same cable) is working fine. I haven't been able to find anything about this by web search. Thanks. 2601:640:104:9AD1:7B47:57EE:EFA8:DBC3 (talk) 01:01, 2 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

You don't need to call. There is an outage map online, if you log into your account: [1] RudolfRed (talk) 02:57, 2 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, I'll see if I can find out the password from the person in charge of the account. The TV is acting better now though. 2601:640:104:9AD1:7B47:57EE:EFA8:DBC3 (talk) 04:25, 2 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Preferences/Options in FireFox

This has been puzzling me for quite some time. Why is the exact same dialog in FireFox labelled Preferences on Linux but Options in Windows? JIP | Talk 10:25, 2 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Preferences in Windows' Control Panel are generally called "options": "Startup Options", "Folder Options", "Internet Options", "Power Options". Firefox adapts its terminology to the platform, or rather to what users of the platform are accustomed to. --Lambiam 16:31, 2 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Note that on Linux an "option" normally means something you choose whether or not to specify on the command line when invoking a program. This is different from a "preference" that typically is set once and applies whenever you use the program thereafter. --69.159.8.46 (talk) 05:22, 3 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

What kind of computer do I have?

Someone asked me yesterday and I've forgotten what I have to do to get this information.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 18:19, 2 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

All I can find in the archives is this for my old computer: Information as of 2009: OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001 Other OS Description Not Available OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation System Name System Manufacturer HP-Pavilion System Model KT369AA-ABA a6512p System Type x64-based PC Processor Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2200 @ 2.20GHz, 2200 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s) BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 5.23, 4/21/2008 SMBIOS Version 2.5 Windows Directory C:\Windows System Directory C:\Windows\system32 Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1 Locale United States Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000" User Name Time Zone Eastern Standard Time Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB Total Physical Memory 3.99 GB Available Physical Memory 2.15 GB Total Virtual Memory 8.18 GB Available Virtual Memory 6.13 GB Page File Space 4.28 GB Page File C:\pagefile.sys And on 7 August 2009 I was told to always say I HAVE A DSL MODEM.

But I don't know where I got all this.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 19:09, 2 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, I went to another site. Control panel and system. Intel (R) Pentium (R) CPU J2900 @ 2.41 GHz. 4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable) 64-bit system x64-based processor DESKTOP-DMAR848.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 20:07, 2 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Are you still seeking an answer? Then you will have to give a bit more information. Is it a mainframe? ;) Or a desktop? Or a laptop or notebook? Does it have any identifying information on the outside, like a name or logo? Look also for small print underneath. Do you know the operating system? What is the relation between the info you found on "another site" and your computer? --Lambiam 07:05, 3 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

It says right there. It's an HP Pavilion. [2] --jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆 𝄐𝄇} 15:18, 3 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

That's my old computer which was thrown out years ago. This one is an HP but the information where I was told to look on the other site is shown above and doesn't mention HP.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 15:49, 3 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

@Vchimpanzee: type about your pc into the little box at bottom left and click on the result. DuncanHill (talk) 15:54, 3 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

In addition to the other information I already posted, 251-a126. There are some ID numbers I probably shouldn't post.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 16:10, 3 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Here are two how to guides for Windows 10:

--Lambiam 10:55, 4 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]