Post by philster on Aug 15, 2006 6:52:41 GMT
For the most part, the best, most dependable resource for getting your manga on the internet is IRC.
Here is a guide (taken from my forum, Mangahelpers.com, written by one of our moderators there, Tamerlane), on how to leech from mIRC, that may help you.
* * * * *
Hello everyone! Since we are going to be making a few changes here at Manga Helpers we wanted to provide everyone with a very detailed guide on how to leech from mIRC.
Introduction: Hello, everyone! We just wanted to say a little bit about the guide before we get started. Firstly, we've tried to be as verbose as possible in explaining each step, but sometimes words aren't enough and some of you learn better by seeing. With this in mind, we've added a graphic for every step which can be seen by clicking on the step name. For example, clicking "Step 1a" below will load an image showing a graphic representation of what you should be seeing in Step 1a, along with relevant sections both highlighted and underlined/boxed. We hope this helps you all to understand each step to the fullest. Also, at the end of each step is a slideshow walkthrough of all steps for those who have a more advanced understanding of the programs being used. For such users, viewing this image should be enough and will hopefully speed up the tutorial for them so they can get right to downloading. So, without further ado, here's the tutorial! Again, we hope it proves userful to you all!
Step 1: The first step is downloading and installing mIRC, so that you can go into IRC chat rooms and grab manga releases from the MangaHelpers file servers. The browser used in step 1 is Mozilla Firefox, but Internet Explorer can be used as well. Where the tutorial differs between browsers, notes will be made.
Step 1a: Go to the mIRC site. When you arrive there, click on "Download mIRC" in the side bar.
Step 1b: On the download page, choose any download link. Ideally, the download link bearing the name of the location closest to you will be fastest, but you can grab the file from any link there.
Step 1c: After clicking on the download link, it will ask you whether to save the file or open it. Choose to "Save to Disk", or if you're using Internet Explorer, simply click "Run" Image.
Step 1d: Note: Skip this step if using Internet Explorer. Save mirc###.exe (where ### is the version number) to your desktop, and then if given the option, open it.
Step 1e: Note: Skip this step if using Internet Explorer. If you are not given the option to open it, simply minimize the browser window and any other windows, and double-click "mirc###" or "mirc###.exe" on your desktop.
Step 1f: Click "Next", then "Yes", then "Install". Close the window that pops up as its not needed.
Step 1g: You will notice a new mIRC icon on your desktop. Do not confuse it with mirc###.exe. Delete mirc###.exe as it is no longer needed. To delete, simply select it and press the "delete" key on your keyboard. Click yes to confirm deletion.
Note: MangaHelpers recommends the Invision script for mIRC to make it prettier and more functional for advanced users. Note, however, that this is not in any way required and is simply an enhancement for those who wish to do more with mIRC. To download it, go to Invision's site (linked above), click "Download" on the sidebar, and download the latest "Full Installer". Install it as you did with mIRC, and enjoy!
STEP 1 FULL GRAPHIC TUTORIAL
Step 2: We will now open mIRC and set it up optimally. This setup will be done without Invision, though the Invision layout should look similar.
Step 2a: Open mIRC by double-clicking the icon on the desktop.
Step 2b: Click "Continue" when prompted to register. mIRC is shareware. What this means is that its free to share and use, and while registration is encouraged, it is not required. If you don't pay for mIRC, you will get this nag screen every time you open it.
Step 2c: Next, you will be greeted with an options screen. On this screen, enter your "Full Name" (does not have to be your real name), your Email Address (it is highly recommended that you do not use your real email address! Otherwise, you will be a target for email spammers!), your Nickname (the handle/name you wish to go by), and an Alternative (name used if your primary choice for username is already taken). After this is done, click the sun/asterisk icon next to "Connect to Server".
Step 2d: On this screen, select "IRCHighway" under "IRC Network". "IRC Server" should default to "IRCHighway: Random Server". Leave it as that, then click the "Connect to Server" button next to the sun/asterisk button you clicked before. The server should now default to this, so when you open mIRC in the future and you get to the screen asking you to enter name/email/username, you can simply click "Connect to Server" to immediately connect to IRCHighway, bypassing this step and step 2c.
Step 2e: Click the [X] to close the mIRC Favorites window. We cannot use this yet, as the channel we wish to join requires a registered name. So we must do that first...
Step 2f: Refer to the image for this step. In the bottom box of mIRC wherein you will be typing all commands and text, enter what is shown in the image, excepting the highlighted text. For the green highlighted text, replace it with whatever password you wish to have for your name. Make it something easy to remember yet hard to guess. As for the yellow highlighted text, replace it with your primary email address (this has to be a real email address you have access to!). After double-checking to make sure you have made no typos, hit enter.
Step 2g: You will see a message saying that a passcode has been sent to your email, so go check the email address you just typed in. You should have gotten a very plain message telling you that you have registered a name on IRCHighway. The important but of this email is highlighted in the image for this step. I have blackened out my confirmation code, but yours should be plainly viewable. Simply copy what is highlighted in the image and enter it into the text input box of mIRC (where you typed the registration command before). You should now get a message telling you that your name is registered.
Step 2h: Lastly, before we exit mIRC for now, lets do this one last complex step. Firstly, hold down the "alt" key on your keyboard and hit "O". This will bring up the options screen. Refer to the image from here on through this step. Click "Perform". Check the "Enable Perform on Connect" box. Click the "Add" button. Select "IRCHighway" in the list. Click "OK" in the Networks box. You will now notice next to "Networks:" in the "Perform" box, it will say "IRCHighway". This is as it should be. Now, in the text box, enter what is shown in the image, only replace the highlighted text with your password you used to register. Click "OK" in the "Perform" box. Click "OK" in the "mIRC Options" box. Step 2 is now completed, so exit mIRC.
STEP 2 FULL GRAPHIC TUTORIAL
Step 3: Alright, now that your client is all set up, it is time to join the MangaHelpers channel and get to chatting and downloading!
Step 3a: First step, of course, is to open mIRC. This should go without saying, but to do so double-click the mIRC icon on your desktop. I'll just reuse the graphic from step 2a for this. ;p
Step 3b: Go ahead and get rid of the nag screen by clicking "Continue". Again, the same as step 02b.
Step 3c: You will now be greeted with the name-entry screen from before, and heres where the extra setup of Step 2 comes into play. At this point, simply click "Connect to Server", and you will be connected to IRCHighway, the server where MangaHelpers' channels are located, and mIRC will automatically authenticate your name with the server.
Step 3d: You will also see the "mIRC Favorites" window, containing a list of channels and a text entry box. In the box, simply type in "#Lurk" like in the image and click "Join".
Note: If you would like to automate this process and have it happen everytime you join IRCHighway, uncheck the boxes in the green highlighted area of the image. Then go back to step 2h and add "/j #lurk" to the list of commands under the "/msg nickserv identify" command you added before.
Step 3e: Go ahead and maximize the chat window by hitting the button highlighted in green. Feel free to chat away, but if you're here to download, then head on to the next step.
Step 3f: Go ahead and open up the browser of your choice (Internet Explorer or Firefox for most people -- and you should already have it open if you're reading this, right?). Now, go to www.gotlurk.net/ or simply click this link. Once there, click the "Packlists" link at the top.
Step 3g: On the Packlists page, use the dropdown box to select a series you want to search for. After selecting it, click the "Search" button (obscured by the dropdown box in the image).
Step 3h: For the purposes of this guide, I chose Naruto. I now have a list of all "bots" and the files they are "serving". Check out the column of cells on the right for the list of filenames. These are only relevant to find out the row to look at. What is relevant information are the bot names (highlighted in yellow, along with the rest of that column) and the pack numbers (highlighted in green, along with the rest of that column). Say you want Naruto chapter 305. Thats row 1, and you see the bot is Wandypot and the pack number is 32. Memorizing this, you should now return to mIRC.
Step 3i: Make sure the #Lurk channel window is in focus, then type in the string shown in the image, only taking note to replace the highlighted text with the text you memorized from the last step. Hit enter to send the string, then go to the next step.
Step 3j: Click "OK".
Step 3k: Click "Accept".
Note: If you would like to save to an alternate location, such as your desktop, click the green-highlighted folder icon then select the folder you would like to save to.
Step 3l: The file should then begin transferring. When it finishes, click the "Open" button to open it, or "Open Folder" to open the folder where the file is contained. Then click "Close" to close the transfer window and resume chatting. At this point, you may also simply close mIRC, or return to step 3f to get more files. =]
Note: If you did not change the location for saved files in step 3k, then your files will be located on the hard drive Windows is installed to (typically "C:\"), in "Program Files\mIRC\download". [/b][/i]
STEP 3 FULL GRAPHIC TUTORIAL
Step 4: Eat a cookie. =D
***I understand that you may run into complications and sometimes it is not that simple. However there are a lot of other guides out there that are even more detailed and should be able to help with just about anything. Later in this thread I will post a few sites that are really helpful when it comes to troubleshooting.
Good Luck!
~ Tamerlane
* * * * *
There is another way to get manga (AND anime) as well - Bittorrent.
We also have a guide for that.
* * * * *
As part of some new changes here at Manga Helpers we will providing some torrents of the most recent chapters. For those of you that are not familiar with torrents we have put together a guide to walk you thru the process. :amuse
Hello, everyone. =D As you all probably know, MangaHelpers is testing alternate distribution methods. Along with IRC, the other primary method we've decided upon is using the BitTorrent network. BitTorrent has only been around for roughly 4 or 5 years, and as such, many people have questions regarding it. What is BitTorrent? Why is it better? How do I use it? All of these questions we plan to answer here, so let's get to it.
First and foremost: What is BitTorrent? To avoid boring you with meaningless technological facets of the protocol, we will sum it up briefly. BitTorrent is a more recently-designed protocol/network that is, in ways similar to KaZaA and Napster, but in many ways different. Files are shared over BitTorrent via the use of both a "tracker" (basically, a BitTorrent server) and a "torrent" file. What you will be downloading are .torrent files, which simply contain the location of the corresponding tracker and hash information about the file you wish to download. When the torrent is opened in an appropriate program (more on those later), the tracker is contacted and after a few seconds of negotiation, the download begins. But where is the data coming from, exactly? Much like other peer-to-peer networks, the data is coming from other users who who are currently downloading the file as well with the torrent ("peers"), and also from users who have completed the download of the file and continue to share it by leaving the torrent file running ("seeds"). As such, the speed of the torrent is only as fast as the peers and seeds connected to it.
Why is it better? Quite simply, torrents save bandwidth for MangaHelpers by using the average users' upload bandwidth instead of putting that burden entirely upon a costly server. Instead of paying for bandwidth on a server, the users are giving back to the community by using the untapped upload bandwidth that is provided for free by their internet service providers. Another perk of this is that even if, for whatever reason, the MangaHelpers' website is down for any length of time, the torrents will still function and be able to distribute releases completely independent of the site.
And now, to the most important section for most of you. How do I use BitTorrent? Well, we've got that covered with a step-by-step tutorial that will hopefully make it all clear for you, complete with graphic tutorial at the end of each step. So, without further ado...
Step 1: Firstly, before anything, you will need a BitTorrent client. Many clients exist, but MangaHelpers recommends µTorrent. Why µTorrent? It is one of the most powerful BitTorrent clients, yet also the smallest in size and the least stressful on your computer. Clocking in at only 154kb (for version 1.5), it is a very quick download even on slow internet connections. While running, it uses a maximum of only 5MB of RAM. For the computer illiterate, this basically means that it can be left running with virtually no impact on your computer's performance.
To download µTorrent, follow these steps:
Step 1a: Click on the link above. When you arrive at the µTorrent site, click on "Download" in the top bar.
Step 1b: On the download page, click on the latest stable version (as of this writing. version 1.5).
Step 1c: After clicking on the download link, it will ask you where to save the file.
Step 1d: Save it to your desktop, and then if given the option, open utorrent.exe.
Step 1e: If you are not given the option to open it, simply minimize the browser window and any other windows, and double-click "utorrent" or "utorrent.exe" on your desktop.
Step 1f: You will get a prompt asking you if you want µTorrent to be your default program. Click "Yes".
Step 1g: You will then notice a new green icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. Double-click it to maximize µTorrent, and double-click again to minimize µTorrent. To close µTorrent, right-click the green icon and choose "Exit", though for the purposes of this guide, leave it open for now.
Note: "utorrent.exe", located on your desktop, is the complete program, not a shortcut. Therefore, deleting it off of your desktop will purge the program from your computer. You can move it freely to anywhere on your computer (for example, My Documents) without worry, though. If you accidentally delete it, simply redownload it starting from step 1a. Any settings you had saved or torrents you had running will be restored as well.
STEP 1 GRAPHIC TUTORIAL
Alternate Download: µTorrent, aside from the stand-alone client, also offers an installation version of the client. Starting from step 1b, click "Get µTorrent 1.5 Installation Program" on the download page. Save to desktop, as per steps 1c through 1e. When opened, you will be able to choose your language. Do so, then click "OK". Read the information, then click "Next". Set the destination folder to whatever you like (with "C:Program FilesuTorrent" being standard") then click "Next". If you'd like a "µTorrent" option in the Start Menu, click "Install". Otherwise, check "Do not create shortcuts" then "Install". After the installation completes, click "Finish". You can now access µTorrent by either going into the Start Menu, then going to All Programs, µTorrent, then clicking on the µTorrent icon. Alternatively, if you chose not to create a Start Menu shortcut, simply browse from My Computer to the location you set before.
We apologise for the overload of needless graphics. Those responsible have been sacked.
Step 2: Downloading a Torrent. Pretty self-explanitory. So self-explanitory, in fact, that it will be graphics-free!
Step 2a: Find the thread on the MangaHelpers' forum which corresponds to the manga and chapter that you want to download.
Step 2b: The post should contain a download link (be sure to read the entire post). Click on the download link (the URL should end in ".torrent").
Step 2c: Your browser should now ask you whether you would rather download or save the file to your hard drive. Choose to open the file directly.
Step 2d: µTorrent should now pop open and ask you where you would like to save the files. Save them wherever you like.
Step 2e: You will now see the files start downloading in the top window of µTorrent. Let it do its thang until it completes.
A pleasant intermission: Right here is where you may experience troubles, as torrents may refuse to download. If no data is being sent to you, first check to see if there are any seeds (represented by a number in the "seeds" column) or peers (represented by a number in the "peers" column, which includes you). If it says 0 and 1, respectively, then you are alone on the torrent. Kindly request a seed on the forum in the appropriate area to start getting files.
However, if you do see seeds and peers but are being neglected by them, then the problem may be that you are behind a firewall or router. Information on the subject can be found in droves HERE.
Step 2f: So your torrent has finished. Completed. Reached 100% download! At this point enjoy the files, but before you stop the torrent please think about seeding to benefit the community. We ask that you at least seed until your "ratio" column is up to at least 1.000. This allows the torrent to continue working, spreading the files to other people. If you're feeling extra nice though, we would love for you to seed for as long as you can spare the bandwidth. The more you seed, and the higher ratio you get, will allow more and more people to enjoy the manga. So please, enjoy the manga, but think of the people who made it possible for you get it and seed. =]
We apologise for this bland graphics-free step and silly emoticons. The MangaHelpers employees hired to continue the tutorial after the other people had been sacked, wish it to be known that they have just been sacked. This last section has been completed in an entirely different style at great expense, and at the last minute.
Step 3: Dessert.
Posted on: May 30, 2006, 07:24:27 PM
* * * * * *
If there's any questions, let me know.
Here is a guide (taken from my forum, Mangahelpers.com, written by one of our moderators there, Tamerlane), on how to leech from mIRC, that may help you.
* * * * *
Hello everyone! Since we are going to be making a few changes here at Manga Helpers we wanted to provide everyone with a very detailed guide on how to leech from mIRC.
MangaHelpers' mIRC Guide
Introduction: Hello, everyone! We just wanted to say a little bit about the guide before we get started. Firstly, we've tried to be as verbose as possible in explaining each step, but sometimes words aren't enough and some of you learn better by seeing. With this in mind, we've added a graphic for every step which can be seen by clicking on the step name. For example, clicking "Step 1a" below will load an image showing a graphic representation of what you should be seeing in Step 1a, along with relevant sections both highlighted and underlined/boxed. We hope this helps you all to understand each step to the fullest. Also, at the end of each step is a slideshow walkthrough of all steps for those who have a more advanced understanding of the programs being used. For such users, viewing this image should be enough and will hopefully speed up the tutorial for them so they can get right to downloading. So, without further ado, here's the tutorial! Again, we hope it proves userful to you all!
Tutorial
Step 1: The first step is downloading and installing mIRC, so that you can go into IRC chat rooms and grab manga releases from the MangaHelpers file servers. The browser used in step 1 is Mozilla Firefox, but Internet Explorer can be used as well. Where the tutorial differs between browsers, notes will be made.
Step 1a: Go to the mIRC site. When you arrive there, click on "Download mIRC" in the side bar.
Step 1b: On the download page, choose any download link. Ideally, the download link bearing the name of the location closest to you will be fastest, but you can grab the file from any link there.
Step 1c: After clicking on the download link, it will ask you whether to save the file or open it. Choose to "Save to Disk", or if you're using Internet Explorer, simply click "Run" Image.
Step 1d: Note: Skip this step if using Internet Explorer. Save mirc###.exe (where ### is the version number) to your desktop, and then if given the option, open it.
Step 1e: Note: Skip this step if using Internet Explorer. If you are not given the option to open it, simply minimize the browser window and any other windows, and double-click "mirc###" or "mirc###.exe" on your desktop.
Step 1f: Click "Next", then "Yes", then "Install". Close the window that pops up as its not needed.
Step 1g: You will notice a new mIRC icon on your desktop. Do not confuse it with mirc###.exe. Delete mirc###.exe as it is no longer needed. To delete, simply select it and press the "delete" key on your keyboard. Click yes to confirm deletion.
Note: MangaHelpers recommends the Invision script for mIRC to make it prettier and more functional for advanced users. Note, however, that this is not in any way required and is simply an enhancement for those who wish to do more with mIRC. To download it, go to Invision's site (linked above), click "Download" on the sidebar, and download the latest "Full Installer". Install it as you did with mIRC, and enjoy!
STEP 1 FULL GRAPHIC TUTORIAL
Step 2: We will now open mIRC and set it up optimally. This setup will be done without Invision, though the Invision layout should look similar.
Step 2a: Open mIRC by double-clicking the icon on the desktop.
Step 2b: Click "Continue" when prompted to register. mIRC is shareware. What this means is that its free to share and use, and while registration is encouraged, it is not required. If you don't pay for mIRC, you will get this nag screen every time you open it.
Step 2c: Next, you will be greeted with an options screen. On this screen, enter your "Full Name" (does not have to be your real name), your Email Address (it is highly recommended that you do not use your real email address! Otherwise, you will be a target for email spammers!), your Nickname (the handle/name you wish to go by), and an Alternative (name used if your primary choice for username is already taken). After this is done, click the sun/asterisk icon next to "Connect to Server".
Step 2d: On this screen, select "IRCHighway" under "IRC Network". "IRC Server" should default to "IRCHighway: Random Server". Leave it as that, then click the "Connect to Server" button next to the sun/asterisk button you clicked before. The server should now default to this, so when you open mIRC in the future and you get to the screen asking you to enter name/email/username, you can simply click "Connect to Server" to immediately connect to IRCHighway, bypassing this step and step 2c.
Step 2e: Click the [X] to close the mIRC Favorites window. We cannot use this yet, as the channel we wish to join requires a registered name. So we must do that first...
Step 2f: Refer to the image for this step. In the bottom box of mIRC wherein you will be typing all commands and text, enter what is shown in the image, excepting the highlighted text. For the green highlighted text, replace it with whatever password you wish to have for your name. Make it something easy to remember yet hard to guess. As for the yellow highlighted text, replace it with your primary email address (this has to be a real email address you have access to!). After double-checking to make sure you have made no typos, hit enter.
Step 2g: You will see a message saying that a passcode has been sent to your email, so go check the email address you just typed in. You should have gotten a very plain message telling you that you have registered a name on IRCHighway. The important but of this email is highlighted in the image for this step. I have blackened out my confirmation code, but yours should be plainly viewable. Simply copy what is highlighted in the image and enter it into the text input box of mIRC (where you typed the registration command before). You should now get a message telling you that your name is registered.
Step 2h: Lastly, before we exit mIRC for now, lets do this one last complex step. Firstly, hold down the "alt" key on your keyboard and hit "O". This will bring up the options screen. Refer to the image from here on through this step. Click "Perform". Check the "Enable Perform on Connect" box. Click the "Add" button. Select "IRCHighway" in the list. Click "OK" in the Networks box. You will now notice next to "Networks:" in the "Perform" box, it will say "IRCHighway". This is as it should be. Now, in the text box, enter what is shown in the image, only replace the highlighted text with your password you used to register. Click "OK" in the "Perform" box. Click "OK" in the "mIRC Options" box. Step 2 is now completed, so exit mIRC.
STEP 2 FULL GRAPHIC TUTORIAL
Step 3: Alright, now that your client is all set up, it is time to join the MangaHelpers channel and get to chatting and downloading!
Step 3a: First step, of course, is to open mIRC. This should go without saying, but to do so double-click the mIRC icon on your desktop. I'll just reuse the graphic from step 2a for this. ;p
Step 3b: Go ahead and get rid of the nag screen by clicking "Continue". Again, the same as step 02b.
Step 3c: You will now be greeted with the name-entry screen from before, and heres where the extra setup of Step 2 comes into play. At this point, simply click "Connect to Server", and you will be connected to IRCHighway, the server where MangaHelpers' channels are located, and mIRC will automatically authenticate your name with the server.
Step 3d: You will also see the "mIRC Favorites" window, containing a list of channels and a text entry box. In the box, simply type in "#Lurk" like in the image and click "Join".
Note: If you would like to automate this process and have it happen everytime you join IRCHighway, uncheck the boxes in the green highlighted area of the image. Then go back to step 2h and add "/j #lurk" to the list of commands under the "/msg nickserv identify" command you added before.
Step 3e: Go ahead and maximize the chat window by hitting the button highlighted in green. Feel free to chat away, but if you're here to download, then head on to the next step.
Step 3f: Go ahead and open up the browser of your choice (Internet Explorer or Firefox for most people -- and you should already have it open if you're reading this, right?). Now, go to www.gotlurk.net/ or simply click this link. Once there, click the "Packlists" link at the top.
Step 3g: On the Packlists page, use the dropdown box to select a series you want to search for. After selecting it, click the "Search" button (obscured by the dropdown box in the image).
Step 3h: For the purposes of this guide, I chose Naruto. I now have a list of all "bots" and the files they are "serving". Check out the column of cells on the right for the list of filenames. These are only relevant to find out the row to look at. What is relevant information are the bot names (highlighted in yellow, along with the rest of that column) and the pack numbers (highlighted in green, along with the rest of that column). Say you want Naruto chapter 305. Thats row 1, and you see the bot is Wandypot and the pack number is 32. Memorizing this, you should now return to mIRC.
Step 3i: Make sure the #Lurk channel window is in focus, then type in the string shown in the image, only taking note to replace the highlighted text with the text you memorized from the last step. Hit enter to send the string, then go to the next step.
Step 3j: Click "OK".
Step 3k: Click "Accept".
Note: If you would like to save to an alternate location, such as your desktop, click the green-highlighted folder icon then select the folder you would like to save to.
Step 3l: The file should then begin transferring. When it finishes, click the "Open" button to open it, or "Open Folder" to open the folder where the file is contained. Then click "Close" to close the transfer window and resume chatting. At this point, you may also simply close mIRC, or return to step 3f to get more files. =]
Note: If you did not change the location for saved files in step 3k, then your files will be located on the hard drive Windows is installed to (typically "C:\"), in "Program Files\mIRC\download". [/b][/i]
STEP 3 FULL GRAPHIC TUTORIAL
Step 4: Eat a cookie. =D
***I understand that you may run into complications and sometimes it is not that simple. However there are a lot of other guides out there that are even more detailed and should be able to help with just about anything. Later in this thread I will post a few sites that are really helpful when it comes to troubleshooting.
Good Luck!
~ Tamerlane
* * * * *
There is another way to get manga (AND anime) as well - Bittorrent.
We also have a guide for that.
* * * * *
As part of some new changes here at Manga Helpers we will providing some torrents of the most recent chapters. For those of you that are not familiar with torrents we have put together a guide to walk you thru the process. :amuse
MangaHelpers' Torrent Tutorial
Prologue
Hello, everyone. =D As you all probably know, MangaHelpers is testing alternate distribution methods. Along with IRC, the other primary method we've decided upon is using the BitTorrent network. BitTorrent has only been around for roughly 4 or 5 years, and as such, many people have questions regarding it. What is BitTorrent? Why is it better? How do I use it? All of these questions we plan to answer here, so let's get to it.
First and foremost: What is BitTorrent? To avoid boring you with meaningless technological facets of the protocol, we will sum it up briefly. BitTorrent is a more recently-designed protocol/network that is, in ways similar to KaZaA and Napster, but in many ways different. Files are shared over BitTorrent via the use of both a "tracker" (basically, a BitTorrent server) and a "torrent" file. What you will be downloading are .torrent files, which simply contain the location of the corresponding tracker and hash information about the file you wish to download. When the torrent is opened in an appropriate program (more on those later), the tracker is contacted and after a few seconds of negotiation, the download begins. But where is the data coming from, exactly? Much like other peer-to-peer networks, the data is coming from other users who who are currently downloading the file as well with the torrent ("peers"), and also from users who have completed the download of the file and continue to share it by leaving the torrent file running ("seeds"). As such, the speed of the torrent is only as fast as the peers and seeds connected to it.
Why is it better? Quite simply, torrents save bandwidth for MangaHelpers by using the average users' upload bandwidth instead of putting that burden entirely upon a costly server. Instead of paying for bandwidth on a server, the users are giving back to the community by using the untapped upload bandwidth that is provided for free by their internet service providers. Another perk of this is that even if, for whatever reason, the MangaHelpers' website is down for any length of time, the torrents will still function and be able to distribute releases completely independent of the site.
Tutorial
And now, to the most important section for most of you. How do I use BitTorrent? Well, we've got that covered with a step-by-step tutorial that will hopefully make it all clear for you, complete with graphic tutorial at the end of each step. So, without further ado...
Step 1: Firstly, before anything, you will need a BitTorrent client. Many clients exist, but MangaHelpers recommends µTorrent. Why µTorrent? It is one of the most powerful BitTorrent clients, yet also the smallest in size and the least stressful on your computer. Clocking in at only 154kb (for version 1.5), it is a very quick download even on slow internet connections. While running, it uses a maximum of only 5MB of RAM. For the computer illiterate, this basically means that it can be left running with virtually no impact on your computer's performance.
To download µTorrent, follow these steps:
Step 1a: Click on the link above. When you arrive at the µTorrent site, click on "Download" in the top bar.
Step 1b: On the download page, click on the latest stable version (as of this writing. version 1.5).
Step 1c: After clicking on the download link, it will ask you where to save the file.
Step 1d: Save it to your desktop, and then if given the option, open utorrent.exe.
Step 1e: If you are not given the option to open it, simply minimize the browser window and any other windows, and double-click "utorrent" or "utorrent.exe" on your desktop.
Step 1f: You will get a prompt asking you if you want µTorrent to be your default program. Click "Yes".
Step 1g: You will then notice a new green icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. Double-click it to maximize µTorrent, and double-click again to minimize µTorrent. To close µTorrent, right-click the green icon and choose "Exit", though for the purposes of this guide, leave it open for now.
Note: "utorrent.exe", located on your desktop, is the complete program, not a shortcut. Therefore, deleting it off of your desktop will purge the program from your computer. You can move it freely to anywhere on your computer (for example, My Documents) without worry, though. If you accidentally delete it, simply redownload it starting from step 1a. Any settings you had saved or torrents you had running will be restored as well.
STEP 1 GRAPHIC TUTORIAL
Alternate Download: µTorrent, aside from the stand-alone client, also offers an installation version of the client. Starting from step 1b, click "Get µTorrent 1.5 Installation Program" on the download page. Save to desktop, as per steps 1c through 1e. When opened, you will be able to choose your language. Do so, then click "OK". Read the information, then click "Next". Set the destination folder to whatever you like (with "C:Program FilesuTorrent" being standard") then click "Next". If you'd like a "µTorrent" option in the Start Menu, click "Install". Otherwise, check "Do not create shortcuts" then "Install". After the installation completes, click "Finish". You can now access µTorrent by either going into the Start Menu, then going to All Programs, µTorrent, then clicking on the µTorrent icon. Alternatively, if you chose not to create a Start Menu shortcut, simply browse from My Computer to the location you set before.
We apologise for the overload of needless graphics. Those responsible have been sacked.
Step 2: Downloading a Torrent. Pretty self-explanitory. So self-explanitory, in fact, that it will be graphics-free!
Step 2a: Find the thread on the MangaHelpers' forum which corresponds to the manga and chapter that you want to download.
Step 2b: The post should contain a download link (be sure to read the entire post). Click on the download link (the URL should end in ".torrent").
Step 2c: Your browser should now ask you whether you would rather download or save the file to your hard drive. Choose to open the file directly.
Step 2d: µTorrent should now pop open and ask you where you would like to save the files. Save them wherever you like.
Step 2e: You will now see the files start downloading in the top window of µTorrent. Let it do its thang until it completes.
A pleasant intermission: Right here is where you may experience troubles, as torrents may refuse to download. If no data is being sent to you, first check to see if there are any seeds (represented by a number in the "seeds" column) or peers (represented by a number in the "peers" column, which includes you). If it says 0 and 1, respectively, then you are alone on the torrent. Kindly request a seed on the forum in the appropriate area to start getting files.
However, if you do see seeds and peers but are being neglected by them, then the problem may be that you are behind a firewall or router. Information on the subject can be found in droves HERE.
Step 2f: So your torrent has finished. Completed. Reached 100% download! At this point enjoy the files, but before you stop the torrent please think about seeding to benefit the community. We ask that you at least seed until your "ratio" column is up to at least 1.000. This allows the torrent to continue working, spreading the files to other people. If you're feeling extra nice though, we would love for you to seed for as long as you can spare the bandwidth. The more you seed, and the higher ratio you get, will allow more and more people to enjoy the manga. So please, enjoy the manga, but think of the people who made it possible for you get it and seed. =]
We apologise for this bland graphics-free step and silly emoticons. The MangaHelpers employees hired to continue the tutorial after the other people had been sacked, wish it to be known that they have just been sacked. This last section has been completed in an entirely different style at great expense, and at the last minute.
Step 3: Dessert.
Posted on: May 30, 2006, 07:24:27 PM
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If there's any questions, let me know.
