Torrents

[sincnoel]

I want to listen some old radio comedy shows. To get them, I have to have something called "torrents". I have looked this up on Google but cannot understand a word of the instructions about downloading the pesky things. Can anyone help?

[Vagrant]

Torrents are a method of downloading files to your PC. Whereas a normal download would download a file in its entirety (i.e. in one chunk) to your PC from another computer, a torrent download would download the file to your PC in a number of chunks from a number of other computers.

Torrent downloads are often (but not always) used for illegal downloads (music, films, etc) - the torrent infrastructure is designed in a similar way to a terrorist cell structure - you find someone who has one chunk of the file, and then ask them if they know anyone else who has the other chunks, and so on ... you then download the chunks, and as payment, agree to onwardly distribute the chunks you have received. That way, it's difficult to prove that any individual has downloaded or uploaded an entire file.

Having said that, I think it's unlikely that downloading old radio programs is a problem - even if it is theoretically illegal, in practice it's probably not worth worrying about (the letter of the law as opposed to the spirit of the law).

If you're happy to continue, then use Google to find a "torrent download client", install it and continue.

I personally use utorrent (legally), but there are many to choose from.

[Jumbuck]

Vuze http://www.vuze.com/ is a commonly used program for downloading bit torrents

[MisteryParker]

Search for alternatives, cause downloading files with torrents is illegal and if you don't like to get a bill, search another legal way to get the show you like...:)

[36TEAK36]

sincnoel, I remember how difficult it was to understand the downloading torrent process when I started a few years ago, but once you get the hang of it, it is really simple.

First of all you need to install some software (called a client) which is the program that allows you to download torrent files. If you did not have a client, then it would be like trying to burn a DVD without having and DVD burning software installed. I used utorrent until recently, but it would not work very well with my new laptop and Windows 7, so now I use software called bittorrent.You can download bittorrent (and many others) from the link below.
http://download.cnet....m%3DWindows%2CWebware

Once you have installed your client, you then need to find a website where you can search and download your torrent. There are loads about, but I now use www.isohunt.com for mine.

Good luck!