How To Guide: Torrents

[FloridaCommunist]

(IMAGES WILL COME WHEN I GET TO 25 POSTS-FFFFUUUUUUUUU)
Hey there RevLeft user, and welcome to the 21st century! Today I'll demonstrating how one may use torrents to gather files for personal use. I'll not be going in depth about how torrenting works. I'll save that for another day. This is just a brief skim-through of how one may perform the act of torrenting.

Preamble:There are many popular torrenting websites around, namely PirateBay and MiniNova. Today, we'll be using PirateBay (whose reputation is as profuse as the Nile River). These websites index files called "torrents". These are the magic files that you're looking for. To download the torrents, one must use a client of sorts. Today, I'll be using uTorrent.

Step 1: Visit www! utorrent !com and download their latest client. Yes, this is safe and virus free. Install, start it up.

Step 2: Visit www! piratebay !org and use the handy search bar to find the program/video/audio file(s) you want. Today, I'll be demonstrating how to torrent the LEGAL release of Ubuntu 9.04 i386.

Step 3: Once you find the torrent you want, in this case, it's Ubuntu 9.04 i386, click "download this torrent".


Step 4: Once the torrent opens up in uTorrent, it will ask you for a download location. Choose your location, and press OK.


Step 5: Watch as the torrent magically downloads before your eyes. Some may take more than others. This is caused by the seeder to leecher ratio, which will be covered in the next, more in depth tutorial.


That's pretty much it! When the bar gets to 100%, open the file you downloaded, and enjoy! Jesus Christ I love the internet!

[Revy]

It's much simpler to just order the Ubuntu CD in the mail, IMO. They will send it for free.

[al8]

What on earth is Ubuntu, and why would I need it?

[mel]

What on earth is Ubuntu, and why would I need it?

Ubuntu is an operating system, an alternative to Microsoft's Windows. It is a collection of different software packages all developed using free, publicly available code in a variety of different communities of developers. The core of the operating system is the Linux Kernel (think of the kernel like a messenger or traffic cop that coordinates which processes run and helps to pass messages between the software and the hardware, it has other jobs too, but that's probably the most important) and a set of development tools developed by the "Free Software Foundation". Ubuntu also has a graphical interface installed by default called "Gnome" that is simple, clean, and easy to use and customize without breaking it.

Most people don't "need" a version of Linux (the shorthand name for any operating system release based around the linux kernel), but there are many people who wish to install it either for fun, because they are dissatisfied with Windows, because they can't afford Windows, or because they enjoy the freedom that comes with an operating system based entirely around free, open code, even if they personally never intend to modify it.

[Das war einmal]

I am actually looking for a decent site/program to download just a few songs by an random artist, not whole albums. What is the best program/site then?

[mel]

I am actually looking for a decent site/program to download just a few songs by an random artist, not whole albums. What is the best program/site then?

You can always try http://skreemr.com/

It's an mp3 search engine.

[Everyday Anarchy]

As someone who has received a cease and desist letter from my ISP, I recommend you use PeerGuardian along with uTorrent. It will block access to IP addresses that are known to belong to p2p watchdog groups.

[LeninBalls]

I am actually looking for a decent site/program to download just a few songs by an random artist, not whole albums. What is the best program/site then?

Download soulseek, it's exactly what you're looking for.

If not, just google "*song name* rapidshare/mediafire/megaupload".