19 replies to this topic

[morty]

I wrote these instructions for getting bit torrents last year. Since that time, a lot of torrent sites have come and gone, and there are more programs (clients) available for downloading torrents.

I haven’t been following the changes in the bit torrent circles, so if you have any updated torrent sites, or can suggest the best client, I’m sure our readers that are new to this would appreciate the info.

What are BitTorrents, and why should I care?
Remember Napster? You could download any song ever recorded (illegally) for free! Now BitTorrents does for TV and other media, what Napster did for music. You can now download thousands of TV shows (illegally) for free! The only requirement in this operation is that you have a high speed internet connection.

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer (P2P) protocol for distributing files. P2P just means that you’re not downloading from a company’s server, the file is coming from another PC, just like yours. It makes use of the upstream bandwidth of every downloader to increase the effectiveness of the distribution as a whole, and to gain advantage on the part of the downloader.

You see, while you’re downloading a file from the Internet, thousands of bytes of data are being sent to your modem, but you’re just sending out a few bytes to let the host of that file know you’re getting it, but you could be using all that power to send a file to someone else at the same time.

Complicated? Yes, it’s very complicated, but luckily, we don’t need to understand any of it. SpamGirl, the operator of the Big Brother BBQ site introduced me to BitTorrents. I was missing an episode of BB, she told me to download it from a BitTorrent. Not what I wanted to hear, I was way too busy to take time to learn something new. Within a couple minutes my missing episode was being sent to my computer, and without any complicated software or instructions.

Here’s what you need: First you need a BitTorrent client. This is just a small program that performs all that P2P magic I was talking about. Here’s where you get the program: http://bittorrent.com/download.html most of you will want the one listed as “Windows installer.” Click on that link, save the file to your hard drive, when the download is complete, run the program to install it, and within a few seconds, you’ll be looking at a picture of Bram Cohen, the author, suggesting you donate some cash. Donations are optional; you’ll have plenty of opportunities for that later. His page pops up every time you start a download with BitTorrent.

Before we start the fun part, I just want to tell you, I’ve had my techie security people tell me that the BitTorrent software is safe. They tell me it’s not Spyware, and until you start a transfer, the program is dormant, not in memory or doing anything nasty. However, by using the software, and the links on this board, you agree not to hold my organization or me liable for any damages you may bring upon yourself from exchanging files, links or software.

Now you’re all set. Set to download the world!! All you need is something to download… hmm… Oh yeah, here are a few thousand shows to start you off: http://www.mininova.org/

Everyday, new torrents are added to the database. Today, they added:
Las Vegas 02x07 (HDTV-LOL)
The listing means it’s season 2, episode 7, recorded off HDTV. The link to it is: http://66.90.75.92/s...dtv-lol.torrent
The web site also tells us that the file size is 351 Mb, there are 12 seeds for this file, it’s been downloaded 228 times, the link comes from a guy calling himself “Resistance” who has a web site at: http://www.tvtorrents.net/ with more titles to download. Of course this information was only true on November 1, 2004, by now those stats may have changed.

Tip: Looking for a specific title, go to: http://www.torrentz.com/ and use their search engine.

In order for you to download a show, there must be a seed file for it. Fans maintain the seed files, and they can take them down whenever they feel like it. This means that not all shows are available all the time. For the most part, you’ll find all the recent shows you thought you missed, from Kerry vs Bush Debate 2004 (there’s a keeper) to last Thursday’s episode of “Joey.”

Tip: Torrents can take a real long time to download, even with a high-speed connection. I prefer to set up a transfer before I go to bed, and I always wake up to good TV. By doing this, you are leaving your BitTorrent client open, thus helping others get their files faster. This is all a transparent part of the torrent process. When you get up in the morning, feel free to close your BitTorrent client. You won’t be cutting anyone off, their transfers will continue from other users.

Using the File You Downloaded: Most of the files are mpg or avi format files. You can play them in the Windows Media player, RealPlayer may also be set up to handle these files. Many of the files are created with software that requires you to use special drivers called “codecs.” One popular codec is the XViD codec. Go to: http://www.divx-dige...tware/xvid.html then click on " Koepi's Binary - XviD-1.0.2-29082004.exe” . Save it, then run it. If you then get a 2000 or 8192 error, then download the AC3 codec from here: http://download.divx...ilter_0_70b.exe If the idea of installing this software makes you nervous, don’t worry. If you don’t like it for some reason, it all uninstalls just as easy.

So now you’re ready. You’ve browsed through the http://mininova.org/ directory and found tons of stuff you want. I was really pleased by the quality of the video, all better than VHS. Here’s the bad news: You’re a lawbreaker. Sharing files is on the gloomy side of legal. So far, they’re not going after the torrent sites, let alone those that use them. As a vender of TV DVDs, I don’t think downloading episodes of shows I forgot to tape hurts anything, however, if you look around Supernova, you’ll see they have links to copyrighted video games, full length movies (like The Stepford Wives, White Chicks, and Spiderman 2), music from Abba to Usher and Yngwie Malmsteen. There’s software from Microsoft and Corel and audio books and all kinds of stuff. I heard someone is putting up a BitTorrent porn site, which might be fun, but not on this site.

Downloading software, torrents are fairly anonymous, you don’t know where it’s coming from. It’s not a good idea to run programs downloaded in that fashion. The video files in mpg, or avi format are much safer and not likely carriers of viruses.

[squirrel]

I tried this today Morty, I downloaded it etc, tried downloading a poker video, didn't work so I deleted the program out of frustration. I might try it again on a later date. Hope it works easier next time.

[squirrel]

I feel so dumb. Anyone want to volunteer to teach me this torrent thing? We can go into a Morty chat room with no people in it on a selected day and you can just direct me ( no pressure - I can work the computer but this one just isn't clicking in my head ).
Might be my fault since I was expecting to see the video right away without thinking it is p2p, I guess, I could have given it time for the video to download... like kazaa lite k, just figured that out d'oh.

[Jem]

Yes, you have to actually DL the file to watch it, depends on your connection (obviously). I use www.utorrent.com and have found that faster than most. If I can work it out anyone can.

[squirrel]

Ty Jem, bookmarked that link too. I knew I was being impatient.

[squirrel]

Torrenting is just insane.
Who needs a satellite? I have torrents

[Jem]

You must have worked it out then

[squirrel]

It really wasn't hard to figure out once putting just a little bit of time into it, didn't take long. The speeds are excellent, the software is light, there are soooo many download sites and downloads available. I'm really glad I found this thread.

[morty]

I haven’t updated this post in quite some time. Since I originally posted this the popularity of bit torrents has skyrocketed.

All my basic introductory information still stands. The original bit torrent client software has been surpassed by other titles.

Before you can download a TV show or other file(s) via a bit torrent, you’ll need a program to do the transfer. I’m currently using Azureus. I have also used and liked Bit Lord. μTorrent is very popular, is seemed to clash with my system security, so I never used it. There are lots of choices, including software for Mac and Linux, you’ll find a list of them here.

The sites where you find the links to download have become pretty stable, in the beginning they were being shut down as fast as you could type a list. Here are my favorite survivors: EZTV Torrents, Pirate Bay, MiniNova, Iso Hunt, Torrent Spy, Torrent Reactor, Torrent Man, and Demonoid.com, just a note on demonoid, it’s a membership board, free but full. Non-members can still d/l three torrents a week. It can be worth the hassle because they have good stuff other sites don’t offer. Torrent Spy and Torrent Reactor have porn titles besides all the regular stuff, and you might be subjected to very explicit advertisements.

The same etiquette still applies, the whole process only works if everyone gives back, so leave the software running after you download so others can download the title from you. Try to maintain at least a 1:1 ratio.

[DreamAngel]

Just a quick something to add to Morty's post.

During the BB season, I upload very high quality episodes to Demonoid. I have also uploaded seasons 5 - 7 if you would like to go look. Demonoid is a membership site but if you can find a member they may be willing to send you an invite code so you can join and have your unlimited membership as well. HOWEVER there is a new rule over there that if you give an invite code to someone and they are banned for breaking the rules, you may be as well. So if someone is kind enough to give you a code PLEASE be considerate and follow all the rules.

[morty]

Taken from: http://torrentfreak....stalls-malware/

BitRoll BitTorrent Client Installs Malware

Watch out for a new Windows BitTorrent client called BitRoll. Users are reporting that
it installs malware on their PCs and creates pop-up ads whenever they open their browsers.

When you visit the BitRoll site (better left unlinked), after a few seconds, it
automatically redirects you to the download page. The download page is filled with fake
positive remarks about the client. It also claims that BitRoll has been “rated as the most
popular BitTorrent client.” Clicking anywhere on the download page will cause BitRoll to
be downloaded to your computer.

Firefox is not affected by the pop-up ads, but a user on the mininova forums has confirmed
that Internet Explorer is.

Most people who have downloaded and installed BitRoll have done so to get a password for a
RAR file in a torrent they have downloaded. These torrents are fakes. The text file that
these torrents contain instructs users to download and install BitRoll in order to unlock
the RARs. A bootleg copy of Casino Royal is one of many such fake torrents.

Casino Royale (2006) PuKKa TELECiNE KvCD by Hockney(TUS Release).rar.torrent

The malware bundled with BitRoll is a sponsor program called “Cidhelp”. Apparently, it can
be easily removed from the Windows Control Panel. As long as your anti-spyware or
anti-virus program has not damaged any of its files, it will be removed when you uninstall
it. The same goes for BitRoll.

There are posts on the mininova and Slyck forums about BitRoll, warning people to stay
away from the site and not to download the client.

The grammatical errors on the site tell us that BitRoll isn’t developed in the United
States or any other English speaking country.

The purpose of BitRoll is giving users a great BitTorrent client that is extremely
simple, easy to use and get started with. We prefer less features that actually works and
a great user interface.

We believe that everyone should be able to use the torrent technology without having
to be computer experts!

[DreamAngel]

Thanks for the heads up Morty. I'll stick with my Azureus (which has come out with a whole new version if you go to their site).

[morty]

Oooh, Zudeo.. . Looks really cool. Are you using it? I see it's a Beta, I usually wait awhile on new software to see what people say. I'm using 2.5, and I really like it, but I've had trouble installing it on other computers.

[DreamAngel]

I am using Zudeo. I haven't had a problem with it. It's pretty much Azureus with a bunch of new features, a new skin and a new feel. I haven't figured out everything there yet, I just got it. I'll keep you updated on how it's going.

[squirrel]

I still use utorrent. I'm sure glad I started torrenting.

[IntenseKyle]

yes! I Love my µTorrent! I fully Suggest you all get an account with Demonoid great stuff there. Certainly can't complain about ThePirateBay.org Either. Anyone a member at Oink.me.uk? Just wondering how their stuff is going Keep seeding!

[Realityfan]

OMGosh. I downloaded utorrent a while back so I could watch seasons 3 & 4 of BB and after the downloaded I couldn't get them to play. I finally gave up on the whole thing and removed it all.

[IntenseKyle]

Yeah, thing is, sometimes things get complex, you may have to download programs Similar to Alcohol 120% or Nero Burning Rom. Some larger files and videos are usually compressed into ".bin" and ".cue" files, sometimes they work sometimes they don't. It's also sometimes sketchy downloading sometimes, things may not be as they seem.

Also if its a video files you may have not ever heard of...... try VLC media player...I swear by it playing DVDs and what not....Completely free, and plays just about every video file and audio, it takes up a lot less RAM than other media its got a great layout it's pretty impressive.

heres the link! VLC player

[Justin]

I'm a BitLord man myself..

[EastCoast49]

The only reason I never got into bit torrents is because I have heard they (the MPA or Feds) can identify the person receiving the files. Is this true? Isn't it a big risk?