Usenet Advanced [not for beginner's]

[Dark Messenger]

Well I was sorting through my subscribed groups today for my isp's newsgroup server (which won't name here for privacy reasons) and came upon the group: alt.binaries.movies.divx. I of course was aware it contained 700mb avi files usually in the form of xvid...however I found something 'rare' there. It was a very cool looking martial arts movie I wanted and I happened to notice this tag in the header:

#altbin@Efnet

Efnet is an irc network I had thought got shut down. So I googled '#altbin' and 'Efnet' and found the server in my latest version of mirc. I joined the Florida server for EFnet as I'm from the U.S.

Then it asked me to provide a channel name so I typed in '#altbin' which took me surprisingly enough to the channel where I was asked to type in '/msg bins-ronx !info' to receive the, er, info ;)

So I typed '/msg bins-ronx !info' into the channel which brought me to:

<bins-ronx> Join #alt.binaries.cd.image for PC related requests
<bins-ronx> Join #alt.binaries.cd.image.playstation2.dvdiso for Playstation (Two) requests
<bins-ronx> Join #alt.binaries.dvd for DVD related requests
<bins-ronx> Join #alt.binaries.movies.divx for DiVX or XViD related MOVIE requests ONLY
<bins-ronx> Join #alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.complete_cd for mp3 related requests
<bins-ronx> Join #alt.binaries.tvseries for TV related requests
<bins-ronx> Join #alt.binaries.warez for 0-Day requests

so I typed..actually I right clicked on '#alt.binaries.movies.divx' and selected 'join channel' (in mirc) which brought me into the channel for the group I had seen in my newsreader which contained the mysterious file I had wanted.

After getting there I got this message:

' pls type '?? rules' Before You Begin' so I typed pls type ?? rules

and got:

<bins-ronx> rules[1]: Read These, it's a Good Idea!  
<bins-ronx> rules[2]: http://www.alt-bin.com/index.php?pg=rules 
<bins-ronx> rules[3]: Make note that there are channel specific rules as well!

I went there

and got the page you just loaded. I clicked on this and got a list of commands I could use in the #alt.binaries.movies.divx channel

So after idling for a bit and not finding much of anything going on I saw someone type something similiar to the command I wanted to try....so I followed suit typing in this:

-reqs

and got:

<Alt-Bin> Check http://www.alt-bin.com/index.php?pg=r&ch=alt.binaries.movies.divx to check the full list of unfilled requests.

Actually the par2 files came from this page

from there I saw a link for two Par2 faqs which I'll list below:

Par2 part 1of2

Par2 part 2of2

What is significant here is how advanced the usenet groups have gotten with being able to enter information into a database from an irc channel to retrieve information for fill requests and my main reason for posting this is for the par2 info.

Sometimes people occasionally ask for additional par files. The second guide tells you how to create additional par2 files for a release without boogering it up.

I will not ask for a show of hands of how many were able to follow this guide or understand this information.

[mfgbypooter]

I never joined their channel I always just used the website for info to their posts, which I think is retarded, since all the info should be posted in the newsgroup in question.

*

[evilmegaman]

I am very confused... So you did you download from newsgroups or IRC???

Can someone explain what he did exactly and what the point of all this is?

[shawners]

This is simple.. People have mirc channels, and post in usenet.. Instead of typing and posting a request in the USENET binary group which may never be seen or too many get posted there. You go to the channel, and request it. IT will give you a number. .And later you look for that number and people will request it. Its easier for them to see what people are requesting and to see who will fill it.. Its mostly MIRC bots that record the request and such. They also tell you what each release are, some are only request and ID numbers. I look at vcdquality to see what i want to pick up =) I wont say which tom cruise movie just got up.

[Dark Messenger]

Shawners whatever happened to shadowrealm? have they started password protecting their files or something? I noticed there is no description for their files either.

[shawners]

Im guessing the NFO is stated in the winrar file itself, or in the channel.. Maybe have to look up the release to see what it is or such.

[evilmegaman]

thanks shawners, I get it now :)

[mfgbypooter]

Can someone explain ...... and what the point of all this is?

It is actually pointless bullshit, just some wanna be losers who don't know how or want to use Usenet properly.

If they posted proper .nfo files and used the appropriate .d groups for requests none of this extra bullshit would be necessary, relevant, or required.

*

[Dark Messenger]

It is actually pointless bullshit, just some wanna be losers who don't know how or want to use Usenet properly.

If they posted proper .nfo files and used the appropriate .d groups for requests none of this extra bullshit would be necessary, relevant, or required.

*

what do you mean by 'appropriate .d groups'?

@megaman I didn't understand it either that's why I posted this.

edit: well that and the good info about par2 files. Winrar is supposed to have a feature called 'add recovery record' which will let you repair damaged or broken archives but it sucks and I've never seen it work properly...however par2 files seem to always work provided you have enough of them.

The two par2 guides I posted (actually its one guide on two pages) explains how to create additional pars (in case someone needs more than were provided)...so say there were 10par files made and someone needs 3 more...it shows you how to make 3 more that are different from the original ten but will provide enough for the person to restore and incomplete or damaged post/archive/rar-set

[mfgbypooter]

.d groups are the discussion groups, like alt.binaries.multimedia.d or alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.d for example.

They are rarely really used anymore but years ago when they were created they were meant as places to go outside of the actual binary groups to discuss binary posts. As it turned out most people just posted their requests and discussed posts in the binary groups themselves but that was not the original intention.

I have repaired some archives with the recovery record in winrar before, but most people don't use that feature when creating their .rar files (it is not on by default), so you get a "recovery record not found" error.

*

[shawners]

check out binaries4.ever group.. Someones uploading IMDB top 100 movies of all time in order.. =) XVID too.

[cRoN_ICE]

I generally hate groups that post numbered stuff just so you will hang out in their irc channel to find out what it is. Neat idea though, but if there are pars then you really shouldn't need reposts, if you do then it is time for a new server.

Something I really like is how usenetserver.com lets me search groups through a web interface. No more having to wait hours to d/l the 10 million headers in a.b.x or dealing with the size of my databases after getting headers for the big groups. Then it compiles a custom nzb file for me with whatever I selected. The searching and interface needs work though, it only shows 400 subjects at a time and the search could be a bit more advanced.

Edit: FTD is cool though, anyone have an english version of the software?

[shawners]

I update headers on daily basis for my fav groups, if you do it that way, the biggest group rarely has over 500,000. Plus it helps to know what your lookin for, otherwise binsearch.info can find it.

[cRoN_ICE]

Thanks for the tip shawners.


As I'm new to this forum I would like to know is there a dedicted place here for usenet disscussion? I can only find P2P groups.

[mfgbypooter]

Nope.

The powers that be have been asked repeatedly but still turn a deaf ear.

*