Torrent Help

I'm having trouble with downloading torrents and I've tried almost everything. Everytime I try to download a torrent it fails, or times out. I use BitComet, and have tried re-installing it several times, and even intalling different programs. Other files download just fine, and I can't figure it out.

 

BitComet has a bad reputation. Try utorrent for your client (choose version 1.7.7. as there were some bugs in 1.8 and I haven't tested recent beta versions).

Google "OpenOffice.org torrent" and get a torrent file for OpenOffice or unzip and use the one I have attatched. Open it in utorrent and watch for a couple of things.

1) In the top pane check the download speed for a minute or two and give us a rough idea of the maximum speed. Probably somewhere between 50 and 250.

2) In the bottom pane what is the tracker status?

3) At the very bottom of the window do you have a little green circle or is it yellow or red?

You don't have to complete the download for Open Office just right click it in utorrent and select "remove > delete torrent and data" once you have an idea of if it is downloading ok.

This should give us an idea of whether or not you are having firewall or router problems.

 

sach2,
Was wondering if you could help me out with utorrent?
I have utorrent installed, but when I try to download it is taking forever. I think it has to deal with either my firewall (norton), or my internet connection. Is there a simple way to configure so that utorrent works well? I looked on the utorrent site for help, but could not figure it out. Would appreciate some help. Thank You

 

when downloading torrents you also have to keep in mind seeds/leechers

the higher the ratio of seeders to leechers the faster it will download

Wolf

 

Hi elknarps,

First, you have to understand that torrents are much slower than regular direct downloads. So a 700mb file might take 4-6 hours under normal circumstances. Just giving you a heads up in case you're expecting things to come down in minutes.

Check your set up by trying the OpenOffice download I mentioned above. When starting the torrent, in the Add Torrent window that opens select advanced and uncheck the box "Enable DHT" then click OK to start. It will download faster than most torrents because it is heavily seeded. Let it run for a couple of minutes and mark down the average download speed--just a rough estimate (50 or 100 or 200kB/s). And note if there is a green, red or yellow circle in the bottom center border of utorrent window. You can now stop the torrent and right-click it and select "delete torrent and data".

Stop all torrents and any other downloads and run the utorrent speed test[under Options>Speed Guide]. Mark down the upload and download speeds. They are in a different format so will look much higher then before conversion to kB/s. Also in the Speed Guide check to see if your port is forwarded.

What brand and model of modem/router do you use? You'll need to know to forward a port.

 

Thank You for replying back sach2.

I will follow through with the procedure that you listed as soon as I get back to my tower pc (it has utorrent on it)... I am using my laptop at this time.

Just a heads up about my modem... I am using a Westell model A90-750015-07 (router/modem combo)

I tried to find this modem on the site that utorrent directed me to, but there was no listing for it.

 

Hi, basically I think the first steps should be to forward a port and make sure that you limit your upload speed to 80% of your maximum upload capacity.

Port forwarding is necessary to maximize your speeds but even without it you should be getting something. If you still have a slow torrent in utorrent can you tell me what your upload and download speeds are for it?

Who is your ISP? If it is Verizon [which makes port forwarding as confusing as possible]...Can you take a screen shot of the user interface so I can try to match it up?

To take screenshot:
In your browser's address bar type 192.168.1.1
You should get a modem interface page. Hit Print Screen key on your keyboard and then open Paint and paste the image. Select the rectangle tool on the left and mark just the interface part of the picture. Right-click your selection and choose Copy and then under the File menu select New and paste the smaller image. Save it to your Desktop as filetype jpg (from the dropdown menu at the bottom of the Save window). And attatch to your next post.

 

Ok,
The first thing I did was try the "add torrent" to get into the advanced settings. When I opened up advaced settings the "Enable DHT" was grayed out without a checkmark.

The second thing I checked was the speed I was getting while trying to download the torrent file you supplied. I was only getting between 10 and 20kb/s. and yes the internet connection I have is through verizon. Nothing could be easy could it?

When you asked for just the interface part is that the part within the main page (1st page that comes up) with the heading: MY GATEWAY? There are three sections listed on that main page and the reason I ask... it gives my user name and ip address within that 1st column with a speed (down/up).

 

If using Verizon, it is probably mobile broadband which is a VERY misleading name. It might be mobile, but sure as h*ll isn't broadband. My experience with Verizon and other mobile/over-the-air broadband providers (like Cricket and Clearwire) is that they are OK for regular surfing, but ANY downloads will be VERY slow, especially torrents.

 

Don't worry about the DHT part, that really wasn't necessary and I thought I had deleted it.

I think you have a Verizon interface. See if you can follow along with these directions (if they don't match up I'll look around to see if there is something specific to Westell).

In your browser type 192.268.1.1 in the address bar.
Select Security from the list of icons across the top. [you may be asked for a password usually User=admin Password=password]
Choose Applications from the left hand column.
Put a mark in the User circle
Hit New button
Pick a port number between 50,000 and 60,000. I used 57777. Choose a name and put the port number in all three boxes and hit apply.
Hit Back button
Highlight your Rule in Available Rules and hit the Add button. It should appear in Applied Rules.
Hit Apply

Go to utorrent's speed guide and check the port number to see if port is open.

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If it is open go to utorrent Options>Preferences>Connection and enter your port number and uncheck the box for Randomize port when utorrent opens.
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Oh, what speed does Verizon list in your up/down under your user name?