Downloads "freezing"

[astro303]

Hi
I am brand new to this BT game, just signed up here, and hopefully get to know how to use this better as I go along.
I have downloaded BT's, and now am trying to get the files to download. However they are timing out (freezing)

I am using ABC torrent client.

Usually they start downloading nicely as soon as I open the client, then after a minute or two everything stops, and it just stays that way, why is that?
I turn the client on, it stops so I close it, open it again and they start, then they stop, and I turn it off and so on and so on............. It usually only downloads for a minute before stopping each time I open it.
Any tips? I must be doing something wrong.

I am trying to make sure if I do download anything I make it available for upload which I think is "seeding". I don't want to be a leecher.
Can anyone give me tips to get these things downloading and how to make files available for uploading.
I am a brand newbie at this!
Thanks

[Auggie2k]

Check the status. How many seeders and leechers are there?

[shawners]

Sounds like your BT Ports are banned. ... change ports that are 6881-6889 to something higher.. Or maybe your client isnt connecting cause your behind a firewall... or your using private tracker torrents.. Some torrents do get posted in public spots and wont connect since its not suppose to been uploaded there.

[astro303]

Ok, bear with me, as this is all new to me!

I can download the torrents fine, its in getting the downloads to my computer that is not happening very well.
They are downloading they just stop after a short time. A couple of times I have pressed the hash check button and it gets them going for a while again.

Where should I change the BT port settings?

I am using a firewall, but have even turned it off while trying all this, and it makes no difference.

At the bottom of ABC there are a bunch of letters (L, R, D, S, P). The values are as follows:
L,8 R 8 D 3 S 0 P 4 CX 42
I am presuming L is leech and S is seed.

Anyway, this stop and start is driving me nuts! Any help is appreciated!
Thanks

[shawners]

Its hard to walk someone through it.. Go to this site and it will help you step by step and have images too.. as well as
portforwarding.com to forward router ports or turn winxp firewall off or to allow as well as antivirus allowing connections.
http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/guide_to_abc.cfm