WinMX Qs

[BlackIce]

I have been using KaZaALite and thought I would give WinMX a shot because of the glowing reviews people give it. However, I can't seem to download any files (there are seemingly forever in queue, How does one know where one's place in line is and if I partially download a file and try to resume it the following day do I go to the back of the line?). Can someone explain to me after doing a search what % of under the Bytes field means? Also, under Status/Server what does 20 in queue (0 of 1 or -2 of 1 available) indicate? There is also a Ping field, does this mean I can ping the server? If so how? Since I have only a dial-up connection and cannot stay connected 24/7 I noticed that the files I had designated for download had been deleted when I reconnect. This has never happened in the time (although short) that I have used KaZaALite. The other major reason I would like this program to work is that it has a greater selection of files to download (or at least those that I am interested). TIA for any constructive/instructive responses.

[backmann]

When you search, you'll see x of y available (z in queue)

x means how many slots the user has still available (if the number is 0 then he is busy or not sharing at all)


y means how many slots the user has decided to share (if it's, for example, 8, then you can download up to 8 files at a time from him. If it's 0, then he is not sharing his files)

z means how many files he has in queue. If the number is 0 and he has still at least 1 slot available, then the download will start immediately. If there are 10 in queue, then the download will start when all those files have been downloaded first.

Therefore, try to download from users who have this written in green.

Ivan
"In the dark we make a brighter light"

[BlackIce]

Thanks for responding. Do you know if there is a way of refining one's search to include only those files that people are sharing or have so-called slots available?

[Ken17625]

To solve your problem, don't use WinMX. This is just the way WinMX is. People hype this for some reason. Don't listen to these reviews.

[BlackIce]

That does not sound very encouring :mellow . Is there a program you yourself use and recommend as an alternative?

[Slycktom]

WinMX can be a bit finicky, but if you learn how to use the multi-source feature and PING your results, many have found that this network is by far the best for mp3s. Can over 1 million simultaneous users be wrong? It deserves its glowing reviews (as I have given it) and is quite simply the best P2P application since the demise of Napster. WinMX has certain qualities that propell it past Napster, as no other network gives as many return results as WinMX or has the high quality bitrate mp3's. I can't say it enough, learn how to use WinMX, and you'll hardly ever use another network for mp3s.

[edka]

I've had WinMX on my PC for a while now, but I'm not sure if I've ever got one file off it due to the constant queueing. Even the results that seem to be without any queues seem to cut me off soon after I commence the download. Normaly I would just give up and uninstall it but it really does give more results than any other program, so I keep it in the hope that I can get it working. I also have a 56k connection, is it just that WinMX does not work for 56k users or is there anything else you can do to get past this queueing problem?

[jabba|xtra]

i run 56k and winmx no problem. The problem is that i think there are a lot of people with broadband who have some sort of problem with letting someone with a slow conn. download from them.

But even so, its still possible to get what you want.

[tackdaddy]

winmx has to many bugs and to many headaches trying to download.i have found everything i need on kazaa lite,it is simple and easy to use i would use another program if there was a better one.i have tried most of the other programs but none have the amount of users that kazaa has,some might tell you different but i have downloaded 50mp3's and 2 full movies in about 2 hours,sometime it's quicker and sometimes slower but it by far the fastest,but make sure you run a anti-virus when using it.

[edka]

I use Kazaa Lite for most of the mp3s I download but it doesn't have everything. I've been looking for Layo & Bushwacka's new album and WinMX seems to be the only place to get it. But trying to download these tracks from WinMX is like trying to get blood out of a stone!

[backmann]

Simple. Try to download from users who have at least 5 of 8 slots available. You should have no problem then.

Ivan
"In the dark we make a brighter light"

[BlackIce]

Only problem is the stuff I am interested at the moment has incredibly long queues with zero availability. KaZaALite simply does not have the material available that is listed with WinMX. Is there another alternative I should try in terms of P2P programs that has WinMX's selection without the download queues or unavailability?

[muff_top10]

This might help a little when looking for an available user. In the search screen, click on the bar at the top of the status/server column. This will arrange the results so that all available and all busy users will be together.

[edka]

thats a good idea, unfortunately it doesn't help much when you're only getting 2 or 3 results from your search. Its annoying knowing the tracks you want are there - you just can't get at them cos of the que

[jabba|xtra]

you could send a message to the user with the files you want and beg them to let you download before the others in their queue.

[eclectica]

Sometimes the WPNP servers are down, and I get more results from 1000 people on 1 "opennap" server than all of WinMX. That's when I know they're having trouble.

[edka]

Originally posted by jabba|xtra
you could send a message to the user with the files you want and beg them to let you download before the others in their queue.

Thats a new one - If all else fails, try begging! And I think I'm just about desperate enough to try it!

[bagpipechick]

Sometimes begging does work..Actually..There is a file I was trying to get for ages but was always waiting and waiting in queue for my turn and the user messaged me and said 'I noticed you've been trying to get this file from me for some time, enjoy!' and they released me..I thought I was dreaming! If a person messages me and tells me they really really really want something I have, I will usually release them, unless they are rude :) (in that case they can just wait their turn like everyone else!)

[crackerjacker]

this is nothing wrong with winmx, you just have to start changing the settings little by little. you will learn how to use the program and once you do you wont have any problems. hey, but
if you wanna try a program i recommend.. shareaza
its pretty good, i like it.

:fire

[PatientSaint]

I have 56k and have used winmx since napster started blocking files. Like people have said it is a bit finicky at first to use but once u learn to use it you'll see why it gets glowing reviews. Also try connecting to openap networks they're small and all but if u know people they offer music u like. My suggestion is keep with it but in general it's one of the best around. Clean no banner ads and prolly the best MP3 selection and bitrates i have seen compared to other networks. and in time the bugs will be worked out 2.6 was the best just only on 3.2 now so be patient and keep sharing.

[edka]

there's been a couple of comments saying you just need to 'learn how to use it' or 'get familiar with it'. Are you saying there is a way around the queueing problem? If there's a "Turn off queues" button somewhere just point it out to me!!!

[goweropolis]

Are you saying there is a way around the queueing problem? If there's a "Turn off queues" button somewhere just point it out to me!!!There is no way around your queueing problem except for asking the user to let you jump the queue. If the file is really important to you, you can wait to get it. Leave it running overnight if possible.

I like the queuing feature. At least it gives you a general idea as to when you'll get the file. One of the most frustrating Gnutella experiences is when you're trying to download from multiple users, yet without a queuing feature, your downloads just keep retrying, retrying over and over again. I'm never sure if the connection's still working properly. With WinMX, I know roughly how long I have to wait, and I know that it's a fair way of distributing that user's uploads.

I hope that queueing will become less of a problem once more files are distributed throughout the network and more people share.

[Nuttyyyyy]

Queing is a necessity in my eyes, at least with queing you can scan who is d/l off you and sort the leechers from the real sharers. Like someone said earlier - if you want the file that bad, message them and ask.

NuTtY

[ELI_XANGRY]

First make sure you are using WINMX 3.xx. I think the current version is 3.22.
All of the 3.xx series offer multisource downloading. In your search results, look for the + beside the title, right click on the song and 'Download Group'. This lets you download from several users at once. Once you have started the download, go to the transfer screen, highlight the song and hit autocomplete.

I run 56k and I rarely get queued when downloading. You might get queued by a couple of the users, but you continue to download from the rest. Of course, this only works if several users have the same song. Fortunately the stuff I look for is fairly popular so I can usually find a version that is multisource.
Before I started using v3, I had a hard time downloading because you were only downloading from one user. Now I get lots of songs.

Good luck!
WinMX ROCKS!

:finger

[backmann]

Originally posted by goweropolis
I like the queuing feature. At least it gives you a general idea as to when you'll get the file. One of the most frustrating Gnutella experiences is when you're trying to download from multiple users, yet without a queuing feature, your downloads just keep retrying, retrying over and over again. I'm never sure if the connection's still working properly. With WinMX, I know roughly how long I have to wait, and I know that it's a fair way of distributing that user's uploads.

That's right. At least with this kind of queuing you have an idea of how much time you'll have to wait for your download to start.

Ivan
"In the dark we make a brighter light"

[spookz]

opennap requires the art of negotiation

:tilted

[evilmegaman]

I took your advice and got ten files in one HOUR!

[Crazy Horse]

Slyck.com has an interview posted today. Worth a read.

[eclectica]

Thanks for pointing us to the slyck.com interview.

I'm sure another reason for the devotion of all of us in the P2P community is what happened to Napster, and the greedy destruction of a music lover's community. We as the progeny of Napster are seriously pissed off at the RIAA / MPAA.

[Ken17625]

"Is there another alternative I should try in terms of P2P programs that has WinMX's selection without the download queues or unavailability?"

Well thats the problem with WinMX. Its has more content then i've ever seen in a P2P program. The problem is, Its damn near impossible to get that content. If you could finish half the downloads you start, then there would be no need for talk, this would be the best. But right now, there is nothing with the combination your looking for.

[edka]

I completely agree, WinMX would be a great program without the queues. Is there no way they can get round this problem in a future version of the program by adding a forced sharing feature? (I'm assuming the problem is caused by too few people sharing their files). Disallowing people to cut off uploads would also help (just like AG) although I know a lot of people won't like losing the power to control their uploads.

[BlackIce]

Could someone explain how Autocomplete works versus Manual download. Also, what is Opennap and how does one configure WinMx to utilize this option/feature?

[Crazy Horse]

NapMx works together with WinMx. Open Nap is the Napster protocol with about 200+ servers. The way it works is you open WinMx and minimize it. Then you open NapMx. I think theres an update server list button - you click it and a list of servers comes up. Then theres a "export" to WinMx button - click that. That puts all those servers on the Open Nap side of WinMx - You have now just doubled the number of users and files. *Note* - you will have the same queueing problem there.

[goweropolis]

Could someone explain how Autocomplete works versus Manual download.Autocomplete is good if the file you're looking for is currently unavailable. With autocomplete checked and your computer staying connected, the program will check every so often to see if the file has become available again, and attempt to download. I believe it also looks for alternate sources too. I do not know how often it checks. I find it quite convenient for large files with many locations. For rarer files, it doesn't work quite so well. Also, I believe this feature doesn't work for files located on OpenNap servers.

[Shaftman]

If there is some way in the future releases of WinMX that OpenNap servers can also utilise the Multi-Source downloading feature (and auto complete / find sources) then my willy will get hard