A: A "rip" is the result of taking a full CD application and extracting just the necessary files; testing them, cracking them if need be, packaging them, and releasing them. All the files that are not essential to running the application have been removed. This means things like the umpteenth copies of Adobe Acrobat Reader, Internet Explorer, etc. It sometimes means that handy files such as extra fonts, templates, patterns, clipart, etc. have also been ripped-out. In most cases that doesn't affect the application's ability to execute, but if you need the extras then you should seek the full CD image in the image groups, or buy the program if you find that it meets your needs. <top> A: "nfo" is short for i-nfo-rmation file. It's pure text and you can read it with any text-reader such as notepad, or an application that can properly show the "ASCII-ART" which nfos often contain. The nfo file contains handy and very often essential, information that you may need in order to make the application work-- such as installation instructions, serial numbers, patching instructions, etc. An excellent "reader" for .nfo and .diz files is the release-group DAMN's "NFOView" program, available directly from the WarezFAQ on the Downloads page. If you are having trouble reading the NFO file there are a couple of likely reasons: Microsoft has reserved the NFO file-type for itself; you can change that, or ignore it- you just won't be able to double-click it to open- you will have to use "Open with" and select a text-reader/editor such as notepad. NFOView will associate NFO and DIZ files with itself, for simplicity. This will not interfere with Windows use of it's own NFO file-type at all. The other main reason you can't read an NFO file you downloaded from UseNet, is that it was posted in yEnc and you do not use a yEnc-capable news-reading client, such as Agent 1.91 or later. Since yEnc is now the dominant encoding used in binaries on UseNet, you should update your client to a yEnc-capable client. As of this writing there is no yEnc-capable client from Microsoft, so you can forget Outlook or Outlook express, unless you want to go through the extra steps necessary to decode using a stand-alone decoder. <top> A: SFV= Simple File Verification. It replaces the early verifier.exe from McAfee- a program they used to verify the CRC's of their own binaries. An SFV is a cyclic-redundancy-check listing which is created in such a way so that each file has a nearly unique numerical "fingerprint", which is recorded in an SFV file created from the original file set. That SFV can be compared to one generated "on-the-fly" by the SFV program using the files you downloaded. If the program says the two match, then you got the bit-for-bit identical file that the poster uploaded. If they don't, you will most likely have problems, and will need to try downloading the bad file-or-files again; or, if it's a RAR archive and the archive was made with recovery information included, and it is not short of bytes, WinRAR might be able to repair it. At this time the most commonly used program for generating and checking SFV files is QuickSFV by Mercedes; though there are several others as well, such as the venerable WinSFV by, Alcatraz. The homepage for QuickSFV is www.quicksfv.org, and you can also get QuickSFV from the WarezFAQ in a zip-file with the installer inside. No instructions necessary, just run the executable and it installs QuickSFV. Current versions work fine in WindowsXP™. You can also download WinSFV directly from the WarezFAQ. WinSFV is older, slower, clumsier, harder to use, and far less competent than QuickSFV. These files are in their original zips, and have been virus-scanned and tested. They "appear" to be working and free of viruses or Trojans— but, as always, it's up to you to check everything you download before you run it. To create an SFV file using QuickSFV is simplicity itself as it adds that option to the right-click menu in Windows! Simply highlight all the files you wish to include in the SFV, and right-click- the option "Create SFV file" will appear on the pop-up menu. When you select that option you will be asked what file name you want to use for the SFV, the rest is automatic, and very fast. <top> A: Please don't! That is called a HWIH post, (Here's What I Have, fill in the rest) and is about the most despised sort of post anyone can make. Better to say that you have all of a post EXCEPT such and such files, and seek to do a deal with people to fill parts for them in return for the parts you need. You can also make some contacts that way, including FTP and ICQ and IRC. <top> Q: What are PAR and PAR2 files, and P01, P02, etc., and how do I use them? A: They are PARity files, also called PARchive files, generated from the original archive set of RAR files. They are used by programs such as SmartPAR and FSRaid and QuickPar to complete posts where one or more files is missing or damaged, at a ratio of 1 to1, where any one P## (PAR1) file can recreate any missing RAR file. If you have all the RARs, you don't need any of the PARS, if you are missing 2 RARs, get the small PAR and any 2 P## files, if you're missing 8 RARs, get 8 of the P##, etc. (The rather small PAR file itself is an index/CRC which isn't necessary as it's contained in each P## file as well, but it comes in handy as a more-powerful SFV) If you're missing 9 RARs and there are only 8 P## (the small PAR doesn't count) then you will need one fill only. Any one of the RARs you're missing will do. Each P## file is unique, meaning you cannot duplicate one to make two. The movie groups in particular are using the newer variant of parity archive called PAR2. The main program using that is named QuickPAR, and it is freeware, as all the PAR programs are QuickPar is available for direct-download from the WarezFAQ, and there is also a link to the programmer's page where there might be a newer version. PAR2 is not used much in alt.binaries.warez* at this time, and is not likely to be used as it's not as well-suited for the type of posts made in this sub-hierarchy as PAR1. A particularly nice feature of Fluid Studios FSRaid program is its ability to fix misnamed RARS (the names can get mangled on some servers) using the PAR file. Click here for <more info> on PAR files and their usage. Get SmartPAR v0.13d1 ,discontinued but available from the WarezFAQ, on the Downloads page- or get the much faster and more-capable FSRaid directly from the developers at <http://www.fluidstudios.com/> or get QuickPAR, which handles both PAR and PAR2 and is available both from the author and the Downloads page of the WarezFAQ.
A: They are also parity files, like PAR- discussed above. The difference is in the implementation of the concept of logical "blocks" of data to make parity "blocks" for, rather than full files. The developers note that this allows for the use of parity correction for files in their original format, such as huge BIN files, for example- a file type that PAR1 cannot (sanely) be used to protect. For a somewhat fuller explanation, see <more_info>. There is a direct download of the PAR2 program, QuickPAR, on the Downloads page, as well as a link to the developer's own site, which most likely always has the newest version. <top> A: They are Reed-Solomon parity files (like PAR files) created by WinRAR V3.0 or later. The REV stands for "REcovery Volume". WinRAR uses them to repair damaged archives, including the replacement of missing RARs. They are created by WinRAR at the time of the creation of the RARs if that option is selected by the creator of the archive. For full utility you need WinRAR 3.1 or later to create and use REV files. <More_info> <top> A: Short answer: they are XML (eXtended Markup Language) files, that is plain text but in a special format, and which list in a specific form all the segments that make up all the files of a particular post. The WarezFAQ's NZB Primer should tell you all you need to know to use them. A: You have a CD-image file. Such files should be posted only to CD-image groups such as alt.binaries.cd-image, and alt.binaries.cd-image.other. Unfortunately, some are incorrectly posted to ABWI and other warez groups. There are several formats for CD image files: ISO, BIN, IMG, NRG, CDI, and CIF are the main ones.. <more_info> There are other file types and programs, but they're seldom seen For more detailed information on CD-images you can read the ABCDI (alt.binaries.cd.image) FAQ, located at: http://www.geocities.com/d_allegheri/0.html/ <top> A: yEnc is simply another form of encoding for binary files on UseNet or email. It is inherently much more efficient than the older methods such as UUE, MIME, BinHex, or Quoted Printable- saving approximately 40% of the bandwidth required to transmit and receive the files, and also needing 40% less storage space on UseNet servers! It also offers better error detection than the older methods. Read this for some <more_info>, including a test showing how much more efficient yEnc is than UUE. As of this latest update (May, 2006) yEnc is the de-facto standard encoding for binary posts to UseNet, accounting for over 90% of the multi-part binaries (MPBs) being posted. <top> A: The following explanation (without edits) was posted to alt.binaries.warez.ibm-pc in January, 2004 by "__Pulse__", a Netherlander quite familiar with FTD, and included here as it comes "from the horse's mouth", as it were. . /begin citation FTD works like this:
You install a -Dutch language- program called FTD.exe on your computer.
You type the FTD# and you're redirected to a forum-type layout:
====================================================
01/09/2003 09:45
FTD#12345
Poster: moron123+E12
Program: Tic-Tac-To
Description: "Wow! a very coooooool and hard to play game, very addictive!!"
Posted in: alt.binaries.warez.ibm-pc.0-day
Method: 200 RAR files & 50 Par2
____________________________________________________
01/09/2003 09:46
moron2
HI moron, I'm looking for this game for weeks, big thanks!
But can you repost RAR 1 to 199? in was incomplete in my server
____________________________________________________
01/09/2003 11:01
moron3
Hi moron, Cooooooooooooooooooooolllllll, thanks, here are some points for you!!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
etc.
Moron1 upload his great game and makes a new tread on FTD.
Moron2&3 browse FTD, see this great game, and the only thing moron 2&3 do; is
start there newsreader, do a search on the FTD# in that group and d/l the
files.
There is no interaction with that newsgroup what so ever!
No point in posting "F*cking FTD poster", "stop posting your FTD crap"
They DON'T see it!
FTD is only based on the Dutch language.. ever think if the consequence if
there comes an English variant???
__Pulse__ /end citation One of the editors of the WarezFAQ replied to that post with this: /begin citation As to an English variant- in order to use the program it must "phone home" and
will then report not only your IP, but also the illegal material in which you
are interested- to a site over which you have no control, and for which you have
no verifiable information as to whom is running it! That is *not* the sort of
software any sane person would use, which is probably why it is confined so far
(mainly) to the Nederlanders. (reference is to the laxity of the law and enforcement in The Netherlands, not the sanity of the Dutch people--Ed.)
Man dials phone, phone at other end rings, is answered. "FBI, may I help you?"-
caller says: "Hi, I am looking to obtain an illegal copy of Fisbeeware123, can
you tell me where to obtain it?" Operator replies: "Certainly sir! And thank
you so much for calling the FBI, and allowing us to log your phone number and
request." /end citation |
