Mp3 download help required.
 

Now that I have my shiny new broadband connection, I have downloaded WinMx. I also downloaded Zone Alarm; I have no idea why but it's what everybody said to do. OK, so I have a firewall, and it asks me what I want to do about WinMx, do I want it to be allowed to be a server etc. And the answer is, "FIIK." So I thought I would turn to my knowledgeable comrades in Pprune.

I want to be a contributor to the file sharing and not just a taker; can I do that safely or does it open up my computer to all sorts of nasties as well? Can I in fact download mp3's if I have not offered my file to share?

And while I'm asking dumb questions, will I get a faster download from somebody who is listed as cable or dsl than from somebody on 56K?

WinMx Help is currently under construction, I have tried searching Google, but all the answers presume a level of basic knowledge that I don't have. Could somebody help in layman's language please?

EDIT: Holy snappin' duck poop; Just answered one question, yes it seems I can download. After waiting in a queue for half an hour my request has started downloading at the blistering speed of .9K/S, and in just one and three quarter hours I will have my first seven minute mp. And that's from someone with cable. :rolleyes: I can see why this is so popular. :confused: :confused:

When it comes to mp3's, I usually stick to "Gnotella" (yes, with an o). Funny enough, I don't seem to be able to locate the file anymore, neither at home nore on the internet. Seems I've got a rarity running on my machine :)

However, it gives you good search results, excellent connection speed (depending on the other side as well, of course), and you can preview (prehear?) what you're downloading so you know it's not some cr@p with the wrong filename.

Well, with Kazaa, if you chose to option of not sharing any files, you get stuck in ques for nearly every file. I clicked on this, and suddenly both running downloads entered queue. I wonder why.... So be careful with that option.

Yes, provided they've got the bandwith ( ie not many other people downloading from them ). So shop around a bit. You should get up to 50 kbs. Enjoy it.:)

If WinMX or whatever program you use is being slow, or not working, try another one. Kazaa, Morpheus, as RadarContact mentioned Gnotella. One will work.



Anyway, I though broad band ISPs blocked the ports used by file sharing programs? Or have they given that idea up?

They can't have all given up - I have a high speed DSL connection....but have taken downloads anywhere from 20k to 0.13k...yes there IS a decimal point in there - let me say it..."Nought point one three"

(Prefer the 20)

Help!!
 

I have downloaded some BIG (130 Mb) mp3 files from WinMX and cannot play them on Windows Media Player. I get the message "no combination of filters could be found to render the stream".

The 'details' button on the dialogue box tells me that the file type is not recognised by Windows Media Player or that it uses a codec that is not supported. Before I try to burn an audio CD from a file that is nominally an mp3 but may be corrupted in some way, could anybody out there assist me with a possible solution (maybe another player)?

Thanks in advance

Binoculars - just make sure you have some decent firewall software running before you share your hard disk with the rest of the world. Recommend Black Ice by Internet Security Systems - http://www.iss.net About $40 for a pukka copy with support and 12 months worth of updates. The latest versions also protect against rogue applications.

ndbfinal

Try www.winamp.com

Hooray!!!
 

RadarContact,

Ta muchly; all working now. Bl**dy Microsoft!!

ndbfinal:D

I thought I should warn you VERY VERY SEVERELY to stay aware from Listen4ever.com and 21century-mp3.com

Gnotella is still available here

Gnotella

Does Gnotella allow you to configure to just dowload and not make your HD avialable to the rest of the world ?

is KAZAA really as bad as people say it is ?

I am very weary of any P2P program on my PC, being totally selfish I want something that will just let me search and download mp3 files ...........

I notice on www.download.com has loads of mp3 search utilities and not all are P2P ..... ie. 2 Find MP3 has good reader reviews ....

Any experience or advice on these programs would be much appreciated .....

Kazaa Lite: No Spyware Aftertaste . Kazaalite

I've been using the following for all my needs and it seems to work very well, even if you turn off and delete all the cr@ppy software that it makes you install.

www.bearshare.com

I am however a bit uncomfortable with not paying for any of this music. Does anyone know of any sites that you pay for that have a decent selection of music?

Mishandled - If you want to pay for it, lots of the major music companies are doing this now where you pay per track ...

I have found HMV very good ...

http://sib1.od2.com/common/browse/browseartist.asp

They also give free 30sec preview clips on any track which is great for 'try before you buy', and real time if you have broadband.

Most track are £1 but some of the latest stuff is £2, some older titles are 50p ......