Endless repeat uploads

[Trestor]

I am new to the forum but have shared on WinMX for several years, off and on. I currently share over 2800 files of spoken word, comedy and rarities.

One problem that happens to me all the time, that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere in this forum, are (what appears to be) the constant repeat downloads by other people (uploads from me) of the same files, over and again. In the Upload list I see that a person has several complete files from me, and then further down the list the same person is listed as downloading the same files may times over.

It can happen on both the WinMX network and any of the Opennap servers, it currently happens every day, and it happens with every fresh install of WinMX I put into the computer, as well as with every new installation of Windows. In other words, it always happens.

I have thought I was being victimized by other users to waste my time and bandwidth (and so I'd put them in my Ignore list), but now I'm not so certain.  Surely I can't be targeted so persistently by different people. I have read on this forum that the trolls are a minority compared to the number who are decent sharers, yet about half the people who upload from me are listed as repeaters of the same files. Nor have I gone around annoying people to become a target, and I'd expect abusive messages if people were angry with me. Only one person has ever replied to a message from me about this, and he insisted that his copy of a file wasn't complete, even though my screen showed that it was.

Can anyone suggest what is really going on here? Perhaps it is something on my computer that keeps triggering the appearance of repeat downloads by other people.

I use XP and have the latest patched version of WinMX from WinMX World. Is anyone familiar with what I am describing? I am getting to the point where I am starting to feel I can't keep sharing files on WinMX. Any useful suggestions will be gratefully received.

[Trestor]

I should also add to the above that this still happens even if I change my identity, so I don't think I am a chosen target on people's list.

[Me Here]

Hi Trestor,

What your describing is familiar to us here and no your not a 'target' of ppl.  Let me try to explain first how this can happen on the WiNMX network then on Opennap.

With WinMX v3.54beta4 (very stable release just this is one of those things it does) when you share a folder on the library page you will see a box prompting you to share certain files types just below this is a check box and its ticked by default to share subfolders.  So for example lets say you have a folder named My Files.  In this folder you have some files and folders.  If you share this folder with the default tick box to share subfolders ticked it shares the files and folders inside.  Now say you dont realize this is ticked (its not hard to miss) and you think ok My Files folder is shared now i want to share the folders inside it (as you had to do on older version of MX).  You have a folder inside named Albums.  and you share this folder as well.  You have now got them showing twice in your browse or search results and ppl will see this when they que up for one the other turns light blue (to indicate a matching file).  Now you'll have them actually downloading the same file twice.  Many users realize this isnt some new version of the same file or what not but our newer users dont see it that way and que up on them both to get all the various version.

We also see many new users that que up for several of the same file trying to get it faster.. not a great idea as good as it sounds.. because you will wind up with lots of the same file ..lol

As for OpenNap here is how it works there.  You get a WSX file with some common OpenNap Servers on it.  So lots of ppl are all on the same servers as you .. well soem anyway.. Most OpenNap users are on more then one and usually at least 5.
When a search is preformed for say a file you have named 'rarity.mp3'  I the new innocent user not realizing will see that same file from you listed on all the servers your on.  Yourname[giggypop.server]   Yourname[bunnynap]  etc.. so when i que for one file.. again the others turn that loverly shade of blue meaning matching files.  So I think.. kewl i'll que up for them all and get it faster.. LOL no realizing im really queing for the same person on the same PC and only going to get 5 copies of the same file.

As far as the opennap there isnt much you can do to keep ppl from misunderstanding how it works and its a very common issue, so your bound to see it alot.

I hope this help ease your mind about it, and I see I didnt mention the fix for the WinMX one is to just unshare the subfolders by them selves and only share the main folder, or untick the 'share subfolders' and share your folders one by one.

[Trestor]

Thank you for your reply, Me Here; I think your explanation is very likely to account for most, and perhaps all, of the problems I have been seeing.

It is a fact that a few days ago I looked at the Library list and decided I didn't see any good reason why my individual files should be marked with a grey box when I could change them to a nice green box. So I went through and ticked all the boxes to green - all 2861 of them - just to make SURE that they were ALL shared. (What can I say; I am a compulsive perfectionist.) I think the increase of repeated uploads must date from that time, but I never made the association between what I did and what happened.

Rather than go through all 2861 files again to untick them, I have removed all my folders and then reshared them afresh, this time without ticking the individual files in the folders. I shall be interested in seeing the results.

Of course, as I said in the first post, I have had the duplicate upload problem for much longer than a few days, but on the basis of your reply I might guess that much of this was caused by people on the Opennap servers using multiple servers to get the same file from me. As you said, there is nothing much I can do about that. I am thinking of adding the WinMX World help page link to the auto responder, so people can learn how to configure WinMx properly.

Thank you, Me Here, for your excellent advice.