u torrent

[KelpieKiss]

I just started downloading ( I also posted a 'help me on the board here'

It works fine for me, generally.

I have a good internet connection, DSL, but it takes a long time.

2 things I ran into trouble on, and sort of figured out ( or ignored)

1) Some movies I downloaded couldn't play so I had to search the software out (still haven't found one).

Most seem to be .avi files so no problem though

2) I tried to download a newish book and it required me to go to the site (the peer partner I think??) and register, which I did.

Then, supposedly, I could use the password to unlock the torrent, but it never worked

So I ignored it, and will wait and buy the book in paperback.

I used utorrent

Migrant - Be Careful!!!

Did any of these so called movies ask you to instal 'Dom' player by any chance. If any movie you dowload asks you to download extra software or use a password then delete it immediately. It's spyware or a virus.

The only thing you need to watch avi dowloads is DivX player. That's it.

I use isohunt.com to download most of my movies.

I then do a search for 'aXXo'. You will see loads of movies come up and they will all be very high quality.

Also, ALWAYS read the user comments on each torrent before you download. People wil generally tell you if it's crap or not. Don't download a torrent before doing this simple thing first or you're asking for trouble.

If you've already downloaded and installed 'Dom' player, get rid of it and do a deep virus scan on your pc using a decent Virus guard like 'Avast'. It's free and WAY better than crappy Norton.

Hope this all helps.

[HHTel]

Lots of good advice.

When you've got your utorrent software try www.piratebay.com

I've downloaded dozens of movies from there and it's free!

What I have found is although the quality if often excellent when watching on the pc, it does degrade when converting and burning to disc to watch on the telly.

[JW]

Randy - if i can use these things anyone can!! Bit of help from Buksi and getting loads of new music everyday. Bit Torrent and mininova are the ones i am using.

Good luck!

[migrant]

.Migrant - Be Careful!!!

Did any of these so called movies ask you to instal 'Dom' player by any chance. If any movie you dowload asks you to download extra software or use a password then delete it immediately. It's spyware or a virus.

The only thing you need to watch avi dowloads is DivX player. That's it.

I use isohunt.com to download most of my movies.

I then do a search for 'aXXo'. You will see loads of movies come up and they will all be very high quality.

Also, ALWAYS read the user comments on each torrent before you download. People wil generally tell you if it's crap or not. Don't download a torrent before doing this simple thing first or you're asking for trouble.

If you've already downloaded and installed 'Dom' player, get rid of it and do a deep virus scan on your pc using a decent Virus guard like 'Avast'. It's free and WAY better than crappy Norton.

Hope this all helps.

Thanks KelpieKiss

Sounds like I got lucky, no DOM related items.

I'll stick to .AVI

Thanks!

[Guess]

Did any of these so called movies ask you to instal 'Dom' player by any chance. If any movie you dowload asks you to download extra software or use a password then delete it immediately. It's spyware or a virus.

There are sites specifically set up to offer virus infected downloads. The things to watch are as above plus sites that: offer brand new movies, download very quickly and have no user comments. These sites can easily be accessed through more reputable so called "super torrent sites'. So always complain to the offering site if you do get something dodgy.

The only thing you need to watch avi dowloads is DivX player. That's it.

I have had major problems with codecs on DivX player and have finally removed it completely. Its a heavyweight that looks pretty but also dials out and sends data to its own web site. The view to user is VLC. It's the movie you want to hear and view, not the skin.

I use isohunt.com to download most of my movies.

Yes one of many that offer decent stuff and have a forum and complaints procedure which they act upon. Others are monova, mininova, seedpeer, filldls and piratyebay. When given the choice I always select mininova. Be very cautious of sites with similar names. They are scams. Never pay money.

I then do a search for 'aXXo'. You will see loads of movies come up and they will all be very high quality.

The aXXo keeps threatening to pull the plug but still carries on. There are other DVD rip sites available now. Best to wait until a DVD is released before trying to download a rip. If not, it will be a CAM or a virus.

Also, ALWAYS read the user comments on each torrent before you download. People will generally tell you if it's crap or not. Don't download a torrent before doing this simple thing first or you're asking for trouble.

Good advice, although the spanners keep getting in and saying things like "this is great. Thanx", followed by "Great quality" when its a pile of crap riddled with spyware.

If you've already downloaded and installed 'Dom' player, get rid of it and do a deep virus scan on your pc using a decent Virus guard like 'Avast'. It's free and WAY better than crappy Norton.

Yes, true. The best free available at the moment. BitDefender (new version) comes up tops if you want to pay. Norton 2009 has improved (it couldn't have got worse) and much slimmer now. Not available yet except Beta though, I think.

Hope this all helps.[/quote]

It seems everybody has their own way of finding stuff. I usually know what I want and simply key it into Google e.g. "Hellboy 2 torrent" > Search. It will return pages but the first page will almost certainly display a provider that you know and trust. For me it is Mininova.

On the subject of legality, every country has some law but the laws vary and enforcement is often non-existent. It is only really the G8 countries that actually prosecute. The torrent providers and trackers exist because there are valid legal uses. E.g. I have an extensive VHS and music collection in storage in London. I have paid license so in most countries I am allowed to download copies from wherever I want. I only break the law if I play them in public (such as a bar) or give or sell them to friends.

The telecoms companies don't really give a toss about copyright infringements. They will only act if a warrant is served on them or they are obliged by law to report certain activity.

What they are concerned about is, network traffic. I have seen estimates that anything between 50 and 67 % of worldwide network traffic is torrents.

If they spot you downloading torrents they will report you if they are obliged to do so (not in Thailand though) and try to throttle you. This means that they will detect the ports where all the traffic is and reduce their capacities.

A few tweaks to utorrent and ipconfig on the PC can virtually eliminate their ability to track you.

I am pushing the very limits of legality here so if anybody wants the full rundown on tweaks, send a PM.

PS. For those like Randy who want TV programs then try http://www.thebox.bz who have just about everything any good from British TV. A lot of it is out of copyright, so fully legal.

[Takiap]

Hi guys

Most media players will play avi files but I agree with a previous post, VLC is the one to have. Its quick to download and very stable.

I also use Bitlord and the movies to search for are ones uploaded by axxo

[KelpieKiss]

Forgot to say. If you are going to be doing P2P downloads, I highly recommend downloading Peer Guardian 2.

This will stop dodgy people from accessing your PC. It also stops the service providers from seeing what you're up to. This is becoming more important as ISP's are starting to report people downloading torrents. Especially in the UK.

Protect yourself!

[HHTel]

Thanks for that link, Guess.

Some Mothers do 'av 'em. The complete series..... Oooooh Betty!

[STEVE G]

I’ve never tried any of this skullduggery as I’m not really into watching movies or TV, but I think someone mentioned trying to download a book somehow, which would interest me; is this a possibility?

[migrant]

I’ve never tried any of this skullduggery as I’m not really into watching movies or TV, but I think someone mentioned trying to download a book somehow, which would interest me; is this a possibility?

Mininova has books. That's where I tried to download a new one, but it wanted a password. I tried to follow directions, but it didn't work (oh well, guess I'll stick with tax law, much easier)

[dtaai-maai]

Thanks for that link, Guess.

Some Mothers do 'av 'em. The complete series..... Oooooh Betty!

Just as well they didn't have PCs in those days!



Steve, I'm trying to imagine reading a book for pleasure (or any other reason, really) on a computer screen and failing miserably.

[migrant]

Steve, I'm trying to imagine reading a book for pleasure (or any other reason, really) on a computer screen and failing miserably.

Another reason I didn't bother after my first rejection. I downloaded a couple books, and have never really gotten to reading them. I sit too much at a computer for work, doesn't feel good with a good book!!

Although upon retirement, if the books are hard to come by, and expensive, I'm sure I'll do it!

[STEVE G]

Steve, I'm trying to imagine reading a book for pleasure (or any other reason, really) on a computer screen and failing miserably.

Everybody says that HHtel, but it’s an acquired art.
I’ve read some very large works of classical literature off the screen including most of the Roman annals and the entire works of Conrad.

I think I must have got used to it because all the technical publications I use for my work in aviation are on a computer, so I spend at least a couple of hours a day reading off the screen already.

Also if like me, you live out of a hotel room for large amounts of your life, it’s really not practical to carry a large collection of books around with you.
I’ve recently seen one of the new Sony e-book readers that use e-ink, a new type of display technology that really is incredibly similar to looking at a printed page.

[Guess]

Thanks for that link, Guess.

I had better point out a couple of things good and bad about the site.

You must have an upload rate equal to download to stay a member, so leave things seeding and if possible upload some stuff of your own. Read the rules and the FAQ section.

The good point is that there is much that is free. I.e it does not count in your download tally. I got the first episode of Comedy classics for free and the fist six and two of the last three Comic Strip Presents.

I am not sure if it is a good point or a bad point, but you can get Eastenders about 10 minutes after it has finished screening in the UK, for free.

Guardian Peer is very useful if you are outside Thailand at least.

[buksida]

I've got pretty much everything I've searched for from mininova.org and thepiratebay.org using ABC to manage the downloads.

If you're worried about trojans read the comments on all torrents before downloading, they are a good guide.