Do you want to know how to-
A: Try
these steps:
-
Scan all the likely groups where the app you're
interested in might reasonably be posted. If you're not willing
to even look for the app, others aren't as likely to help you,
or even give you a "heads-up" that's it's already posted
somewhere else. Don't bother to request that the application be
cracked. This is warez! All warez is ready-to-run, and includes
everything needed- be it serial, crack, patch, or full retail
version.
-
Post each request to one group only, don't
cross-post, and only once per day per group. "Hammering" or
"vertical spam" will only annoy people, and you don't want to
annoy the people you are asking to do you a favor.
-
Post your request every day in each group in
which it is reasonable that the regulars would have what
you want: i.e. if you're looking for a cad/cam/CAE application,
you would be most likely to have success in a group like
alt.binaries.warez.auto-cad. If you're not sure which groups
would be best- ASK! Ask the question in a group like
alt.binaries.warez.ibm-pc.d (the "d" is for discussion)
"Regulars" there will almost always know where to look for the
app, even if they don't have it.
-
It is OK to post requests to more than one
group- but it is NOT OK to cross-post to multiple groups. The
difference is that a cross-posted message indicates a "gimme-gimme"-type,
who is unlikely to even read replies, so most people won't even
bother!
-
Use short subject lines that people don't have
to use 'tricks' to read. And don't post a request like:
"Subject:
£ØØKíÑG fØr Ð-ã-z Mí££ ÇâT & MíK3¥ ³ - p Ø § ë ® -"
(That is a real request, made in ABWI in September, 2003!) Very
few people can even read it, and those that can probably don't
have the requested file(s). Name the app you want, use a
normal character set, include the version # if you know it,
and DON'T put "TIA" in the subject-line! You
wouldn't believe how many regulars have that kill-filtered!
ex: "REQ:
Fromnitz Beetle-wing Analyzer, v 3.0 or newer."
Short, easily read, and to the point. If you need to
put anything more, include it in the body of the message- that's
what the body is for.
-
Be persistent. It can take weeks before someone
who has what you want reads the group, and decides to fill your
request. If you're in a hurry to get the app now, get out your
credit-card and trot on over to the local software emporium.
-
Good luck!
<top>
A: In case the parts
didn't all make it to your server you can ask for the file or files
that are missing, but it's best to give them a fair chance to
complete by themselves. Since all the parts of a file may take
different paths, give it two full days to try to complete. If it's
not complete then, you can request a fill by addressing the request
to the poster. Usually something like. ATTN: 'Poster-name' RE:
Application/post name file 2 of 8 epxtrn07.zip missing, please
repost! UseNet propagation is dynamic, which means that a file may
be split into many parts, and each part may take a different route
to your news server, which stores each segment individually. Most
newsreaders can assemble these parts automatically; some need a
little help. Since they are all different, and this FAQ can't tell
which reader you will be using, the best advice we can give you is
to read the manual that came with your news-reader program. If you
still can't figure out how to join the parts, ask in
alt.binaries.warez.ibm-pc.d. The "regulars" there will walk you
through it.
The best friend you have in completing posts is
patience!
<top>
A: First
read any information files contained in the program zips. These are
generally .nfo (info) files, but may be .txt or .doc. There also may
be useful information in the 0/ file. If it won't run, read the
information files again (RTFM). If it still won't run, ask your
question in the discussion group.
<top>
A: Just act like
you're going to reply to the post; in the reply window you can see
the whole subject line -- just click the "send-follow-up-message"
icon. You can read the entire line and scroll if necessary. Then,
just click the close window box. If you are using another
newsreader, refer to its documentation. And don't be part of the
problem when you post. Try to keep your 'Subject:' header as short
as possible. Look here for
<more_info>.
<top>
A: There are a couple
of things about repost requests that you should know: Many posters
find fill requests that come very soon after the initial post
annoying, and will ignore the person making the request. So wait
at least 48 hours after the original file was posted before
requesting fills. If the posting application was PowerPost you can
ask the poster for segment fills, rather than whole file fills, but
either way the procedure is the same: address the REQ to the poster,
as many posters will have filters that key on their posting names,
i.e. "ATTN
'Poster-name' Please fill Vagabond23.zip" That example
uses 'Poster-name' as the name of the poster, and 'Vagabond23.zip'
as the name of the file wanted. For multiple files, please DON'T put
them all in some long subject header- the proper place is in the
body of the message! This allows the poster to easily copy/paste
them for comparison with other fill requests. The rest of the
procedure is much like requesting an application to begin with,
don't "hammer", ask once per day. If the original poster is
unresponsive then consider the alternatives: other people may need
fills, but not necessarily the same fills you need, so read their
requests and see if you have any of the files they need. A person
requesting a file you have but not requesting a file you don't have,
is a likely candidate for a "mutual aid arrangement." But in NO
CASE should you post a "Here's what I have, please fill in the
rest!" - type of post! That is THE most-hated type of post on
UseNet, and lands any number of newbies into permanent kill-filters-
where they will never get the file or help they need someday.
A: For an example with
pictures, using Forté Agent,
<click here> Simply: Highlight all the sections you have
downloaded and wish to join, right click and select "Join
Sections" from that pop-up menu or highlight them and click on
Message/Join Sections. Another window will then pop up
where you can adjust the ordering of the sections. When ready click
"Join". Then you can "Save" the joined file to disk.
To download an incomplete file for use with PAR2 data recovery
programs such as QuickPAR (Q.V.) the procedure is much the same,
except that if the first segment of the file is missing
you will have to use "Save as" and save the file as a text file,
which you then promptly rename to it's proper name for use with
QuickPAR. You do not need yDec or other decoding programs with
Agent. Agent is quite capable of doing the decoding itself, even
when the first segment is missing. For a slightly more detailed
explanation
<click_here>
<top>
A: Yes, usually. If using
Agent, try this: Create a new folder under "Groups." Call the new
folder anything you like. Use the "Manage Folder Menus"
option to bring this new folder into the list that appears when you
right-click on a header. Then, simply retrieve the headers (simple
retrieve, not launch or save attachments) from the different groups,
right-click on them after you have retrieved them, and send them to
your "WORK" folder. You then can select them, right-click, and
select "Join Sections" to put them in the proper order. Note-
this only works if they are in the same message or, frequently, a
repost of the message BY THE SAME POSTER. If he/she has not changed
the line length of the attachment section, it will generally work.
This can also work for segments from different servers, if you have
Agent set-up for using multiple servers.
<See how> If using a multi-server program like NewsBin Pro, it 'automagically'
joins parts from different servers to create complete files.
<top>
A: You have to do it
one .zip at a time in Outlook Express. First choose the file you are
trying to download and select all of its parts (make sure
they are all there, or else you're wasting your time.) You will
probably need to hit the "Stop" button, because when you
select the first part of the file, Outlook will try to download it.
Once you have all of the parts of the file selected, from the
"Message" menu on top, choose "Combine and Decode". A
window titled "Order for Decoding" will open. This is where
you can make sure that you selected all the parts necessary, and
that they are in the proper order before you download it. Once you
have it arranged, choose "OK". The file will now download.
When it is finished, another dialog will open asking you whether you
want to open the file or to save it to disk. Choose "Save to
disk", and remember where you saved it.
You have to do this for every file you want,
so if there are a lot of them, this is a long and tedious process.
It will, however, get you what you want- eventually. There are much
better clients to deal with binary files than Outlook Express. See
the question "What
are the best applications to use for downloading binaries and
reading text?" for recommendations.
<top>
A: In the case of a
ZIP, try to open the zip with WinRAR; see if you can extract the
RAR-archive from the zip. Very often there are redundant nfos and a
file_id.diz and it might be one of them that is damaged, and not the
RAR. If the extracted RAR is not damaged, you are home free. If you
cannot extract the RAR, try using WinRAR to repair the damaged zip-
then try to extract the RAR. If none of these methods work and you
cannot extract the RAR, then try deleting the body in your
downloader and download it again. Sometimes the error occurs in the
download, and won't happen when you try again.
Extended answer for those wishing to attempt repair
beyond that already stated:
-
Use Advanced Zip Repair v1.53 or later Get a
free demo of that
<here>
-
Use WinRAR to then extract files from "repaired"
zip. (note that Advanced Zip Repair will create a different
(new) CRC for files which may well actually be damaged and not
really usable.)
-
Attempt to extract from the RAR archive, or run
"setup.exe"
If at this point the ZIP is still bad. or the RARs
won't extract or the Setup won't complete, you will need to request
a fill. In the case of a RAR with a CRC-error, try repairing the RAR
with WinRAR. If there is a recovery record and there are no bytes
missing, that will usually fix the problem. It will create a new
file named _recover.rar, just delete the bad rar and rename _recover.rar.
Then try and extract. If all goes well, you're done. If none of
these help you, and you can't get a fill, you can try to look inside
the RAR to see if it is a demo that you can download to fix the
damaged files.
Very often releases are of shareware, and the
release contains the downloadable shareware version, along with
other information and support provided by the release group. It is
possible to fix some damaged posts by getting the shareware version
from the maker. If all these fail, your only recourse is to make a
request for fills/repost and hope.
<top>
Q: What is the best way to reply
to posted messages?
A: Here is an
example:
>Quoted original 1
Your reply to 1
>Quoted original 2
Your reply to 2, etc.
Each quoted original represents a point to which
you wish to reply/respond. You may trim any lines to which you are
not replying, and which are not necessary to understand and to put
into context the line or lines to which you are replying. You may
also trim anything after your final response. Don't post above the
original to which you're responding because oftentimes that makes it
extremely unclear as to the exact points to which you're replying.
<top>
A: You have a key-maker to be used with
software that uses a phone-registration format, and you aren't sure
what it's for, or how to use it: Some software allows for the
computer it's being used on to not be connected to the internet, and
so allows the software to be registered over the telephone, usually
via an automated system. The software itself will have (or generate)
an ID number which you are expected to punch into the push-button
telephone when you call the registration number at the software
company. The system will then give you a serial number to enter into
the software to make it work (unlock it.)
Some key-makers allow for this by having a line where you enter
the number given you by the program itself, a number usually
generated by the program according to some algorithm which may also
include computer information to make it unique- but which is readily
identifiable by the software registration computer. You enter that
number into the key-maker, instead of phoning the software company,
and the key-maker gives you the serial number you need to use with
that piece of software.
Usually you are told to not be connected to the internet during
this period and to simply forward through the registration steps
until you get to the option to "Register by phone"-- that is when
the fun starts.
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