MCP
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Usenet is far superior in terms of storage and speed. You can usually download an 8GB file in 2 hours or less depending on your ISP's speed. Another added bonus is that for paid premium subscribers file retention is generally three years or more. This is great what with the unreliable nature of bittorrent and digital lockers.
But with this superior platform there is the potential of files missing "segments". (Think of the RAR file being a wall and the segments being the bricks that make up the wall.) This is because, unlike digital lockers, usenet servers share all posts amongst each other; there is no centralize location. A missing segment can be a headache since it can prevent an archive from decompressing.
That's where PAR2 files come in. If you download files from usenet they most likely will come with several PAR2 files. These files are basically an insurance: if a segment is missing these PAR2 files can patch the segment and allow the archive to decompress properly.
The process is pretty painless and only requires one program. Uploaders use this program to create the PAR2 files, and end users can use it to repair broken files. Here is how you can repair a broken archive downloaded from usenet.
Requirements:
MultiPar
Archive with PAR2 files (labeled like ".vol000+004.par2", ".vol004+007", etc.)
NOTE: Some usenet downloaders (SABnzbd, etc.) automatically have repair options enabled. The problem is that these programs delete the repair PAR2 files even if they unsuccessfully repair the files. It is best to disable automatic repairs using these program and do it manually.
But with this superior platform there is the potential of files missing "segments". (Think of the RAR file being a wall and the segments being the bricks that make up the wall.) This is because, unlike digital lockers, usenet servers share all posts amongst each other; there is no centralize location. A missing segment can be a headache since it can prevent an archive from decompressing.
That's where PAR2 files come in. If you download files from usenet they most likely will come with several PAR2 files. These files are basically an insurance: if a segment is missing these PAR2 files can patch the segment and allow the archive to decompress properly.
The process is pretty painless and only requires one program. Uploaders use this program to create the PAR2 files, and end users can use it to repair broken files. Here is how you can repair a broken archive downloaded from usenet.
Requirements:
MultiPar
Archive with PAR2 files (labeled like ".vol000+004.par2", ".vol004+007", etc.)
- Start MultiPar. In the bottom left corner of the program is a button labeled Open. Click this and navigate to where you downloaded the files. Choose the .PAR2 file and click Open.
- MultiPar will now verify your PAR2 files, and then it will scan your RAR files. Once it's done it should tell you how many more blocks are needed. Fear not! If you have all the PAR2 then the Repair button should be clickable. Click it.
- QuickPar will now repair the archive and you should be good to go!
NOTE: Some usenet downloaders (SABnzbd, etc.) automatically have repair options enabled. The problem is that these programs delete the repair PAR2 files even if they unsuccessfully repair the files. It is best to disable automatic repairs using these program and do it manually.