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April 28

Question about computers

When I search the Internet, I get a new "tab" up at the top of my screen, for every new site or new page that I visit. If I am on the computer all day long, let's (hypothetically) say that I have 50 tabs up there. Let's also say that all 50 of those tabs/pages are important to me. Now ... if my computer were to shut off -- accidentally or intentionally -- would those 50 tabs still be present, when the computer restarted? Or would I have to search for all of those 50 pages, all over again, to access them? Or, is there some setting that I can set to pre-determine what would happen in this scenario? Thanks. If it matters, I have Windows 11. And I use Mozilla Firefox for searching. Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 20:35, 28 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

You can make sure Firefox is set to re-open its previous tabs with a setting (General -> Startup -> Open previous windows and tabs). But this isn't a very safe mechanism (it's intended as a timesaver only). The proper mechanism is to use the brower's bookmarks feature (or some online bookmark service, if you prefer). I have, in the past, ended up with a bunch of open tabs (all "stuff I'd like to look at really soon now") that ended up getting lost in some crash or by means of some unknown hotkey mistyping by me. -- Finlay McWalter··–·Talk 20:57, 28 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Generally, upon starting Firefox one of two things can happen depending on the circumstances:

If your computer unintentionally shut down or Firefox was force-closed, the first thing you would see upon startup would be a blank screen notifying you of the abrupt closure. You are given the option to start a new session or -- and here's what you're looking for -- to restore your previous tabs.
Additionally, if you have properly closed Firefox and would like to restore your session upon startup manually, you can click the menu button at the top right below the X (it looks like three horizontal lines), click History, and click "Restore previous session". Note that any tab pinned will always persist when Firefox is opened/closed properly, regardless of if every other un-pinned tab was closed prior to restarting.

Note that these will not always work. If you open a new browser window with nothing in it before you restore your session, Firefox will overwrite what you last did with this new session (including situations where you open nothing at all, so be cautious about when you decide to leave the window blank). Also, something like a power outage may inadvertently wipe the cache or make restoring your session using the first aforementioned method not possible. In that circumstance, should it not be too much of a hassle, you can simply press Ctrl+H or open the History menu yet again and open your previously-browsed tabs one by one. I hope this helped. - Cheers, KoolKidz112 (hit me up) 21:51, 28 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I'm going to take slight issue with the previous two answers. A computer is a tool to do work. Furthermore, context is often vital to the work being done. So I expect my browser to remember my open windows and tabs. This is not a "timesaver" or something that I'm happy if it only works some of the time. If there's a power failure, I will no more tolerate losing my open windows than I would tolerate losing hours of unsaved work in my text editor. But in fact, my text editor does reliably autosave (meaning that I never lose unsaved work in it), and in my experience Firefox does reliably save open windows and tabs.

(Some might say that it's my responsibility to save my work periodically, or to bookmark the pages I might want to go back to, but I say: nonsense. I'm the unreliable human; I might forget to. It's the computer's job to take care of these things reliably, IMO.)

In my experience (perhaps contrary to Finlay's), Firefox's ability to preserve open windows and tabs across reboots is extremely reliable. I have kept my sets of open tabs open for many, many years, across not only dozens of reboots and the occasional Firefox crash, but one or two migrations to whole new computers, as well. (That is, when I've migrated my files from one computer to the next, Firefox's session state files have come along, too.)

With that said, though, I must wholeheartedly agree with Finlay's aside about "ending up with a bunch of open tabs... 'to look at really soon now'". A few months ago, I threw in the towel, and summarily discarded most of that yearslong session state, because the number of open tabs was 1452, and it was quite definitely out of hand. —scs (talk) 22:32, 28 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting coincidence. I was just about to ask: Is there a maximum limit to the number of tabs I can have open? Or is there a setting I need to "set" for that? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 01:14, 29 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Back in earlier times there were no tabs, but you could open a new window on Netscape. I remember crashing the computer once 4 windows were opened. The situation has improved since the mid-90s. Those open tabs may consume bandwidth, as running scripts may load more stuff, especially adverts, even if you are not looking at them. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 10:46, 29 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Fascinating. I suppose ideally for your style of browsing, open tabs should be searchable and sortable, like a special area of the history. When you have hundreds of them, the word "tab" no longer refers to a visible user interface element, and just means item on a list awaiting attention. Card Zero (talk) 02:51, 29 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I'm another with a bad habit of leaving hundreds of tabs open, even through reboots – and yes, Firefox does restore them after crashes, except sometimes the last few opened. My housemate insists (without much evidence) that this practice not only slows my computer but burdens our shared modem, which I doubt because Firefox apparently does not load those tabs – let alone burn bandwidth holding them open – until I select them. — One thing I do is Bookmark All, copy the new bookmarks to a text file, and close the tabs en masse; then someday, when I have nothing better to do, run a script that opens URLs at random from such files. —Tamfang (talk) 02:00, 29 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

April 29

Autodelete emails periodically

Hello! Is there any free way to autodelete emails in a specific label in my Gmail periodically? - Klein Muçi (talk) 11:42, 29 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

You can create a filter for this purpose. Ruslik_Zero 19:22, 29 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Ruslik0, I'm not sure how I can create a filter that deletes them periodically. :/ If deleting with a filter is even a possibility I suspect they will get deleted immediately. - Klein Muçi (talk) 23:46, 29 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

You can read about some solutions here. Ruslik_Zero 13:36, 30 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Ruslik0, thanks a lot for providing the link! After I read it I saw that unfortunately I had seen it before and the problem with it was this part:

...The title of this article is dealing with automatic deletion. Unfortunately, filters cannot be triggered automatically. You will need to go back and once again apply the filter to your current inbox.

That's the main thing I'm trying to achieve. - Klein Muçi (talk) 16:38, 30 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This means that you need to use external tools. Ruslik_Zero 19:38, 1 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Ruslik0, well, yeah. I'd use them if I had them. So far I've only found 1 website that offered that kind of service but you could only set up 1 delete filter for free. - Klein Muçi (talk) 02:33, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

You can always create an Apps Script. Ruslik_Zero 08:43, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Ruslik0, ooh, I knew nothing about this at all. That's very interesting. Now if only I had a default preset-script for what I want... I can fine-tune it to my wish I believe but I'm not that good in developing as to write it from scratch. - Klein Muçi (talk) 11:18, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

processor - suitable for intended use?

I'm considering buying a laptop with an Intel Core i3-1005G1 processing unit.

Intended use will be for office suite, internet, maybe some streaming in the future, etc., no gaming, no video editing, only marginal image editing. For ecological reasons, however, the laptop is intended to be used for 10 years if nothing vital breaks before.

Is the Intel Core i3-1005G1 processing unit suitable for that use... and do you think it will remain so for the next 10 years? [I don't want to throw away a laptop in 7 years because the CPU is not strong enough...] All other specifications are fine for the intended use.

Thanks. Thanks. Thanks for answering (talk) 21:39, 29 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

It's hard to say and my cynical answer is probably not. The issue is that the internet and whatever the web morphs into will be more and more demanding of cpu as hardware gets faster. I'd just get something durable and not too expensive and with a 3 year warranty. If you use it a lot, it will have developed some problems towards the end of the 3 years. Get those fixed under the warranty and maybe you can get another couple of years use before you need another upgrade. That's about the best you can hope for. I've done basically this several times. Alternatively, buy a used laptop on craigslist, and use it til it breaks or isn't keeping up any more. That at least temporarily avoids the environmental impact of a new laptop being manufactured so that you can buy it. 2601:648:8202:350:0:0:0:4671 (talk) 04:01, 30 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe. I'm still using i7s and Xeons that were released 10 years ago. But I'd recomend getting a somewhat more powerful CPU, if you can. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 05:12, 30 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

When Windows bloats to the point that you machine cannot run it, try changing to a Linux desktop. The processor and memory load is significantly less and you can get several more years out of a machine by changing OS. Mind you, some people, myself included, would prefer to get a machine without paying the "windows tax" and install Linux from scratch! Martin of Sheffield (talk) 07:55, 30 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

April 30

Linux/X11: Make a specific key sticky

On linux using X11 GUI, how would I make a specific regular key sticky? NOT a modifier key, I want it to behave as if I was holding down a specific letter key. Using xdotool to just send keydown does not work as the key is released as soon as another key is pressed, I want the key held down continually no matter what else is going on on the machine. Solving this in hardware is not an option. 108.54.196.111 (talk) 05:03, 30 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

while looping xdotool seems to actually work but also seems like a kludge. Is there a better way? 108.54.196.111 (talk) 06:48, 30 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Look into xkbset [manual]. There's a sticky option there. WhoAteMyButter (📨_talk│📝^contribs) 05:57, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

"Memory" problem in Windows 10

I work on my HP Pavilion every day. One day I inadvertently got an offer from the Operating System asking me if I wanted to decrease the number of instances of various actions that are stored by the OS. I chose NO, saying that no instances should be stored. As a result my life got complicated by a factor of at least 10. I have to enter my ID and my PW every time I open my email and there are many other inconveniences. How can I return to the status quo? Thank you, AboutFace 22 (talk) 23:53, 30 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Is edge clearing coookies when you shut down? Go to ... settings, privacy, and see what it does with cookies. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 11:05, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

May 1

Using internet and Youtube on smart TV

Is it ok to search the internet and use Youtube on a smart TV? If it's not, does that mean it will cost money? 86.131.21.36 (talk) 18:19, 1 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, if it's connected to your WiFi or ethernetted into your router (which is connected to the internet) then it will incur the same charges as it would if you watched youtube or browsed the net on a different machine, if you have an unlimited plan that doesn't matter, so yes it is ok to search the internet and watch youtube on a smart TV, it's connected to the same internet as your computer or phone.

Sincerely OGWFP (talk) 20:45, 1 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I searched the internet on that TV once and my father told me not to do that since it may cost money. So can I at least watch Youtube? 86.131.21.36 (talk) 21:47, 1 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

That's a thing to talk to your father about. He's probably paying for the internet, it would make sense for him to restrict its usage. WhoAteMyButter (📨_talk│📝^contribs) 05:53, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The OP is apparently on BT Internet, and BT have made a permanent change since 2020 to give all customers unlimited data, so the fear that it might cost money - or rather, use up the month's data allowance - appears unfounded. If the fear is that the smart TV charges for time spent using internet, that is not an arrangement I've heard of. Card Zero (talk) 08:50, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

What about Youtube? 86.131.21.36 (talk) 21:53, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

May 2

IP address location

Where does WHOIS get location information for Australian addresses? https://whatismyipaddress.com/ip/49.198.51.54 shows me in Brisbane, but I'm really in Melbourne. https://whois-referral.toolforge.org/gateway.py?lookup=true&ip=49.198.51.54 says my "geolite2" is in Brisbane and my "geo_ipinfo" is in Melbourne. I guess whatismyipaddress might be wrong if I were in some remote regional area, but I don't understand why it's so badly wrong for an IP address from a major metropolitan area. It's not the physical address of my Internet provider, Optus, which is headquartered in Sydney. 49.198.51.54 (talk) 21:41, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]