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|style="width:56%; color:#000"| <!-------------"Welcome to BakaBT"---------->
 
-----------"Welcome to BoxTorrents"---------->
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">Frequently Asked Questions</div>
<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">Questions We Don’t Like Answering Over and Over Again</div>
<div style="font-size:90%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#c06c8d;">'''In here, you might just find the answers you're looking for!''' </div>
<div style="font-size:90%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#c06c8d;">'''In here, you might just find the answers you're looking for!''' </div>
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== Site content information ==
If you are new to Bittorrent and/or the anime fansub scene, you should take a look at the [[For First Timers|Beginner's FAQ]] as well.


===What makes BoxTorrents different?===


There are many anime torrent sites but BoxTorrents is unique in the quality of our content. Our goal is to provide only torrents for completed anime or anime-related material and we pick only the best versions. Not everyone may submit new torrents; only Power Users, users who seem to have at least some experience with our site, and other appointed users. All submissions are thoroughly checked before they are added to our ever growing list of series; by ''ever growing'', we really mean ever growing in the sense that even old torrents are still seeded. In short: 'quality over quantity' and 'ease of use'. Do keep in mind that BoxTorrents exists because of its users; old content is still available because of many dedicated seeders, so sharing is a must.


This is a public tracker, but we do prefer users to register before using the site. Before you do anything here at BoxTorrents, we suggest you read the rules! There are only a few rules to abide by and most are common sense.


If you see anything in here that is out of date or incorrect, or you'd like to add something, please contact [http://www.boxtorrents.com/userdetails.php?id=260057 psyren].


= Site information and Basic Help =


=== What is this BitTorrent all about anyway? How do I get the files? ===


Check out [http://www.btfaq.com Brian's Bittorrent FAQ and Guide].


==What makes BakaBT different?==
There are many anime torrent sites but BakaBT is unique in the quality of our content. Our goal is to provide torrents [[Site Rules#Torrent Content Upload Guidelines|only for completed anime or anime-related material]] and [[How_to_make_an_offer#Is_your_offer_the_highest-quality_offer_around.3F|we pick only the best versions]]. We do not accept public submissions; only [[FAQ#User Classes|Power Users and Power Uploaders]] may do so.


=== How do I watch the files I download? ===
All [[FAQ#Torrent Offer System|submissions are thoroughly checked]] before they are added to our [http://bakabt.me/browse.php ever-growing list of series]; by ''ever-growing'', we really mean ever-growing in the sense that even old torrents are still seeded. Our mantra in short: '''quality over quantity''', and '''ease-of-use'''.


Visit [http://www.cccp-project.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page this page] and have a look around.
Do keep in mind that BakaBT exists because of its users; old content is still available because of the many dedicated seeders who provide you with good download speeds, so [[Rules#Tracker Guidelines|returning the favour]] is a must.
The CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack) is the simplest codec pack available on the internet, and the simplest codec pack to set up. Out of the box, it is practically guaranteed to play anything that you throw at it (from our site, of course).
If you have any problems, please look [http://forums.boxtorrents.com/index.php?board=27.0 here] for possible solutions. If you can't find one, you may either post in the forums asking for help or use the [http://www.boxtorrents.com/help.php Help Form].


Before you do anything here at BakaBT, we suggest you read the [[Rules]]! There are only a few rules to abide by and most are common sense.


=== Where can I learn more about codecs/anime/manga/Japanese culture? ===
==How do I...==


[http://www.google.com Google] and [http://en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia] are your friends.<br/>
====Bookmark a torrent or remove a bookmarked torrent?====
For specific information on Japanese animations, there are 3 main resources: [http://anidb.net AniDB], [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com AnimeNewsNetwork (ANN)], and [http://www.animenfo.com AnimeNFO]. Each site offers unique information on any given title.<br/>
Click on the star icon labelled 'Bookmark' next to the torrent title at the top of every torrent page. If the star icon appears grey, the torrent is not bookmarked; If it is yellow, the torrent is bookmarked.
For specific information on manga, there's [http://www.mangaupdates.com MangaUpdates] and [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com AnimeNewsNetwork (ANN)].


On your userpage, the torrents you have bookmarked will show up under the 'Bookmarked' tab (below your 'Uploaded' tab).


=== How do I favourite/bookmark a torrent? ===
====Add a torrent to my wishlist?====
Click on the scroll icon labelled 'Wishlist' next to the torrent title. If the scroll icon appears grey, the torrent is not in your wishlist; If the scroll appears blue, the torrent is in your wishlist.


Click on the yellow star next to the torrent title at the top of every torrent page. On your userpage, you will see the torrents you have bookmarked show up under the appropriate tab (next to your 'Currently Seeding' and 'Currently Leeching' tabs.
On your userpage, the torrents you have put in your wishlist will show up under the 'Wishlist' tab (below your 'Bookmarked' tab).


====Get notified on torrent swaps and new comments for a torrent?====
Click on the bell icon labelled 'Notify me' next to the torrent title. If the bell icon appears grey, the torrent is not in your notify list; If the bell appears golden, the torrent is in your notify list.


=== What does the Report function do? ===
On your userpage, the torrents you have put in your notify list will show up under the 'Notify' tab (below your 'Wishlist' tab).


The report function brings a torrent or a comment to moderators' attention. Use this function if a torrent does not comply with site rules (e.g., if it is blacklisted material), has corrupted files, has a broken link (i.e., you cannot download the .torrent file altogether), or has been superseded by another torrent (please link us to the newer torrent in that case). Reporting a torrent for any other reason than those just listed '''will''' incur warnings, and bans will be issued if abuse continues. The button to report a torrent can be found next to the title of torrents at the top of torrent pages, beside the bookmark button.
====Report problems that I noticed?====
A report is a system message that informs staff members of issues that need attention. Staff members will deal with these issues as they see fit. Only Power users can use the report feature on the tracker.


Report comments if they are abusive or simply spam (such as 'seed this' or 'approve this'). The report button for comments is on the right side of comment headers, next to the 'Quote' button.




== User information ==
::''<span style="font-size:116%;;">Reporting Torrents</span>''
=== How many accounts am I allowed to have? ===
::
::<p>The report function brings a torrent or a comment to moderators' attention. Use this function if:
::# A torrent does not comply with [[Site Rules|site rules]] (e.g., if it is [[Blacklist|blacklisted material]])
::# It has corrupted files
::# The link is broken (i.e., you are unable to download the .torrent file)
::# Image links are broken (PM the uploader first; if you get no reply after a week then report it). Please note that a single broken image is not grounds for reporting, if all other images conform to the rules. Report if images are of wrong resolution, don't have subtitles or are in the wrong format.
::# A better version of the torrent exists (Note that we do allow XViD releases. TV fansubs are allowed alongside DVD rips with only R1 subtitles). Please link us to the newer torrent in that case.
::# Other torrent-related problems (e.g. groupings not set or incorrectly set)
::# Reporting a torrent for unrelated reasons will incur warnings; and bans will be issued if abuse continues. In other words, don't report a torrent just because you don't like the user, or because you are having trouble getting a good download speed on it.
::
::To report a torrent, click on the exclamation mark icon labelled 'Report' next to the torrent title. If the exclamation mark icon appears grey, the torrent has not been reported; If the exclamation mark appears red, the torrent has been reported (by you or someone else).</p>


One. Ever. You are only allowed a single account in your lifetime. What would you do with more than one account anyway?




=== I registered an account but did not receive the confirmation e-mail! ===
::''<span style="font-size:116%;">Reporting Comments</span>''
::
::<p>Report comments if:
::# They are abusive or contribute to flaming.
::# They constitute useless spam (such as 'seed this' or 'approve this').
::# They contain unhidden spoilers for the anime.
::# They flout any of the [[Rules#Tracker Guidelines|tracker guidelines]].
::
::To report a comment, click on the exclamation mark icon labelled 'Report' next to the 'Quote' button in the upper-right corner of the comment box. If the icon is labelled 'REPORTED' in capital letters, the comment has been reported to site staff and will be dealt with soon.</p>


Mail can sometimes take up to half a day to be sent out by our server. Please be patient.
Note though that if you didn't receive the email the first time it will probably not succeed the second time either so you should really try another email address.




=== I've lost my user name or password! Can you send it to me? ===
::''<span style="font-size:116%;">Reporting Forum Posts</span>''
::
::<p>Report forum posts if:
::# They are abusive or contribute to flaming.
::# They contain unhidden spoilers for the anime.
::# They flout any of the [[Rules#Forum Guidelines|forum guidelines]].
::
::The report link for forum posts is at the bottom-right corner of each forum post.</p>


Please use [http://www.boxtorrents.com/recover.php this form] to have the login details mailed back to you.




=== Can you rename my account? ===
::''<span style="font-size:116%;">Reporting Stat-Hackers</span>''
::
::<p>If you find people with downright impossible torrent statistics, post a link to their userpage in [http://forums.bakabt.me/index.php?topic=10172.0 this forum thread] and include a reason for suspicion.</p>


Users can rename their account on the tracker by using [http://www.boxtorrents.com/changename.php this form]. Please note that the user is required to be a power user with report privileges. You cannot use existing account names, so check before renaming.




=== Will my account still exist if I don't use it for a while? ===
::''<span style="font-size:116%;">Reporting Site Errors</span>''
::
::<p>Errors you get with site behaviour (especially if you get error messages) can be reported in the [http://forums.bakabt.me/index.php?topic=14438.0 Site Errors forum thread]. Read the first post and do a quick search before reporting; someone might have reported the problem already.</p>


Used accounts are pruned after 6 months. Unused accounts are pruned sooner (0 download, 0 upload).




=== My account is gone! Can you recover it? ===
::''<span style="font-size:116%;">Other Reports</span>''


Unfortunately, we can't do anything about pruned accounts. If you were able to create a new account under the same name and/or e-mail address, it is proof that your old account is permanently gone.
::<p>Reports regarding other things (that do not have a proper reporting channel) may be reported using the [http://bakabt.me/help.php help form]. '''Do not abuse this feature'''.</p>


==Why is some content on the blacklist?==
The [[Blacklist#Torrent Content Upload Guidelines]] are self-explanatory. We are quite specific about the kind of animation we archive, and also require that they meet certain quality standards.


=== I don't want my account anymore. Can you delete it? ===
Stuff on the [[Blacklist#Material not allowed on BakaBT|blacklist]] is there because it is liable to get BakaBT into *trouble*.


Leave your account alone and it will be pruned after 6 months (See: "[[FAQ#Will my account still exist if I don't use it for a while?|Will my account still exist if I don't use it for a while?]]").
==What information about me does BakaBT store? Is it secure?==


=== What is MY ratio? ===
We store your account information used for registration. your email is hidden from other users, and only shown to site staff.


Click on your [http://www.boxtorrents.com/my.php profile link], then on your user name (at the top).
The amount of upload and download you get on each torrent, as well as your total upload and download, is stored permanently by the server until your account is deleted. These upload and download statistics will always be shown wherever relevant. Torrent stats will be shown in peerlists (if you appear in them), and in your userpage under the relevant columns (if you chose not to hide them).


It's important to distinguish between your overall ratio and the individual ratio on each torrent you may be seeding or leeching. The overall ratio takes into account the total uploaded and downloaded from your account since you joined the site. The individual ratio takes into account those values for each torrent.
Information about torrents that you are leeching and/or seeding, as well as torrents you have leeched and/or seeded, are stored on the server. If you have enabled privacy settings, only information for the past 30 days will be kept. If privacy settings are disabled, all prior information is stored on the server.


You may see two symbols instead of a number: "Inf.", which is just an abbreviation for Infinity, and means that you have downloaded 0 bytes while uploading a non-zero amount (ul/dl becomes infinity); "---", which should be read as "non-available", and shows up when you have both downloaded and uploaded 0 bytes (ul/dl = 0/0 which is an indeterminate amount).
=Account information=


====How many accounts am I allowed to have?====


=== Why is my IP displayed on my details page? ===
One. Ever. You are only allowed a single account in your lifetime. What would you do with more than one account anyway?
Users who are found with more than one account will have the newest ones disabled and warnings issued. Repeated attempts to create new accounts will result in permanent bans of all accounts from our site.


Only you and the site moderators can view your IP address and email. Other users do not see that information.
====Can my friends and family use their account on the same computer?====


This is highly discouraged, as the system will identify both of you as [[Account Restrictions#Why was my account disabled?|multi-account]] users.


=== Help! I cannot login!? (a.k.a. Login of Death) ===
====What do you do about stat-hackers?====


This problem sometimes occurs with MSIE. Close all Internet Explorer windows and open Internet Options in the control panel. Click the Delete Cookies button. You should now be able to login.
Permanent ban, no appeal. See [[For First Timers#Why Stat-Hacking on BakaBT is a Losing Proposition|Why Stat-Hacking on BakaBT is a Losing Proposition]] for more information.
Another solution is to visit http://www.boxtorrents.com/my.php




=== Why is my port number reported as "---"? (And why should I care?) ===


The tracker has determined that you are firewalled or NATed and cannot accept incoming connections.
==Registration and Login==


This means that other peers in the swarm will be unable to connect to you, only you to them. Even worse, if two peers are both in this state they will not be able to connect at all. This has obviously a detrimental effect on the overall speed.
====I registered an account but did not receive the confirmation e-mail!====


The way to solve the problem involves opening the ports used for incoming connections (the same range you defined in your client) on the firewall and/or configuring your NAT server to use a basic form of NAT for that range instead of NAPT (the actual process differs widely between different router models. Check your router documentation and/or support forum. You will also find lots of information on the subject at [http://www.portforward.com PortForward]).
Mail can sometimes take up to half a day to be sent out by our server. Please be patient.<br />
Remember to check your '''spam/trash/etc.''' folder in case our confirmation mail doesn't appear in your Inbox.<br />
If the mail is nowhere to be found, drop by [irc://irc.rizon.net/bakabt-support #bakabt-support] on [[IRC]] to ask for further assistance.


Alternatively, try another email address ([http://www.gmail.com GMail] accounts tend to see the most success so far).<br />
Accounts registered using 'disposable' email accounts will be rejected by the server, so do not use those. Get a proper email account.


=== What are the different user classes? ===
If you registered for an account and got the confirmation email, but decided you don't like the username you picked, leave the email alone (do not click the confirmation link). Unconfirmed accounts are removed after 3 days so you can try again with a different username.
{| cellpadding="5" border="1"
|-
!'''Class'''
!'''Description'''
|-
| '''User'''
| Normal user, can choose to view hentai.
|-
| '''Power User'''
| Higher user, can view peer lists and report bad torrents or comments. Can make offers of torrents they wish to upload.
|-
| '''Uploader'''
| These people can upload directly to the torrent pool without requiring moderator approval. These people are appointed by staff if deemed a trustworthy member of the Box community.
|-
| '''Power Uploader'''
| Same as power user but with upload rights.
|-
| '''Moderator/Admins'''
| Appointed by Admins. Don't ask about becoming one.
|-
|}


====Help! I cannot login!? (a.k.a. Login of Death)====


=== How do I become a Power User? ===
'''See:''' [[Troubleshooting#I Can't log in|Troubleshooting: Login Issues]]


Upload at least 25GB and have a ratio equal to or greater than 1.
Another solution is to visit your [http://bakabt.me/settings.php settings page].


====I've lost my user name or password! Can you send it to me?====


=== How do I view peer lists for torrents? ===
Use [http://bakabt.me/recover.php this form] to have the login details mailed back to you (Or click "Lost Password?" beside the login field).


Become a Power User and click on the Peer List tab under torrent descriptions. Non-Power Users can not view peer lists.
====Can you change my username or rename my account?====


Users can request their '''tracker account''' renamed in our support channel [irc://irc.rizon.net/bakabt-support #bakabt-support] only once. You are required to state a valid reason for your request, otherwise it will be rejected. Using your real name in your nick is a valid reason; getting tired of your old name is not.


=== How do I add an avatar to my profile? ===
'''Forum usernames''' are not renamed.


First, find an image that you like, and that complies with the rules. Then you will have to upload it to a hosting site, such as Photobucket, Upload-It! or ImageShack. All that is left to do is copy the URL (direct link) to the avatar field in your profile once you have uploaded it.
Note that if your tracker account is renamed, members might have trouble identifying you later (different tracker account name & forum username).


Please do not add a comment just to test your avatar. If everything is alright, you'll see it in your details page.
Also the users cannot request existing account names so please check availability before asking.


====Forum registration is closed, what do I do?====
Your main site account and forum account are linked. However, your forum account needs to be activated via your main site account. To do this, go to your [http://bakabt.me/settings.php settings] page and scroll down to the checkbox that says "'''Enable Forum Account'''". Check the box, enter your password in the "Change password field" twice and click "'''Submit Changes'''". Your forum account will then be active.


=== I am warned, what do I do? ===
=====How do I verify if my forum account is active?=====
There are 2 ways to verify if you've successfully activated your forum account:
* After you've enabled the account and saved the changes, the checkbox next to the '''"Enable Forum Account"''' field will remain checked and greyed out, followed with "Forum account enabled".
* Alternatively you can double-check by clicking the Forum account link from your profile page. If you've activated it successfully you'll see your Forum Profile page, otherwise you'll encounter the following error: "The user whose profile you are trying to view does not exist."


'''What is a warning?'''
=====I've confirmed I've activated my account, but every time I try to log in I get the "Wrong Password"=====
* A warning means that your account currently has reduced rights; namely, you may not download. If you are warned it means you did something very wrong. The warning is there to protect other users, do keep in mind that BoxTorrents only works because many users put in some effort and bandwidth to keep our torrents healthy.
If you are certain you've followed all the steps correctly and have not simply mistyped your password, please use the [http://bakabt.me/help.php Help Form] to explain your issue and we'll provide you with assistance as soon as possible.


'''Why was I warned?'''
==Account Pruning and Deletion==
* The warning may be set automatically if your ratio drops below a certain point or it may be set by a moderator if you broke a rule. In the second case, warnings will be longer depending on the severity of your offence that garnered the warning.


'''OK, so now what?'''
====Will my account still exist if I don't use it for a while?====
* While your are warned you may not download; you are only allowed to seed. When you are warned an ''evaluation'' time will be scheduled (usually 1 week ahead), your account is then re-evaluated and if your ratio is high enough the warning will be lifted. If your ratio is not high enough a new evaluation time will be scheduled, and so on.


'''So, what minimum ratio should I maintain to avoid being warned/get out of a warning?'''
Accounts are pruned after 11 months of disuse (i.e. not logging into the '''tracker account'''). Accounts with 0 download and 0 upload are pruned earlier. (See also: "[[Account_Restrictions#Forum_Bans|Forum Account]]").
* We do not disclose minimum ratios because this figure is subject to change. The only sure ratio to avoid getting warned is >1.0.


If you got warned because of a bad ratio (or if you you think you got warned because of a bad ratio ;)&nbsp;) - the only way to get rid of the warning is by increasing your upload. The most obvious way is by seeding, but you may also use the bonus system (see: [[FAQ#What are bonus torrents?|What are bonus torrents?]]). A third option is donating; the why and how is explained on the [http://www.boxtorrents.com/donate.php donation] page.
Donator accounts (people who've donated to BakaBT and received a donator status) have the option of disabling inactivity pruning, and safeguarding their account for as long as they choose.<br />The option is disabled by default, and can be found in your settings page.


== Tracker Issues ==
====My account is gone! Can you recover it?====
===Failure: access denied, leeching forbidden, you are only allowed to seed===
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause</span>: Your ratio is too low.


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: Seed more and improve your ratio.


{{:pruned}}


=== I am seeing torrents on my userpage that I never downloaded / Someone has hijacked my account. ===
====New account creation====


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause</span>: Your passkey's secrecy has been compromised.
Normal registration is not available at this time. We're moving to an invite based system and are conducting interviews to hand out invites at the moment. (See also: "[https://wiki.bakabt.me/index.php/Sign_up#Getting_invited Sign up]").


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: See the entry below.
====I don't want my account anymore. Can you delete it?====


Leave your account alone and it will be pruned after 11 months (See: "[[FAQ#Will my account still exist if I don't use it for a while?|Will my account still exist if I don't use it for a while?]]").


=== People are using my torrent key / I accidentally posted my torrent key ===
==User Classes==


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause</span>: Your torrent key identifies you as a user; never give it to anyone. Staff will never ask for you torrent key.
====What are the different user classes?====


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: Go to your Profile and generate a new key, all your old torrents will become invalid immediately so you will have to re-download your torrents. Wait about 10-20 minutes to be sure the tracker has recorded your key change before resuming your torrenting.
{| cellpadding="5" border="1"
|-
!'''Class'''
!'''Description'''
|-
| '''User'''
| Normal user, can choose to view hentai, can adopt torrents, can register in our forum. Cannot make torrent offers.
|-
| '''Power User'''
| Higher user, can view peer lists and report bad torrents or comments. Has access to RSS feed. Can make torrent offers. Maximum 5 offer slots available to a power user at any given moment in time.
|-
| '''Uploader'''
| Deprecated and merged with the Power User class.
|-
| '''Power Uploader'''
| These people can upload directly to the torrent pool without requiring moderator approval. These people are appointed by staff if deemed a trustworthy member of the BakaBT community. Don't ask about becoming one.
|-
| '''Moderator/Admins'''
| Appointed by Admins. Don't ask about becoming one.
|-
|}


====How do I become a Power User?====
Both seed '''and''' leech at least 25GB and have a ratio equal to or greater than 0.5 to maintain it.


=== I accidentally posted a link to download.php and I'm being charged for the downloads ===
====I just qualified as a Power User, but my status hasn't updated?====


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause</span>: When you are logged in the download.php links are for your user, if you post them people will get your torrent and your key. If you are logged out the links are anonymous, posting them elsewhere will not work as they are only valid for 24 hours. Generating a new key does not solve this problem.
User status updates every day. Give it 24-48 hours and [http://bakabt.me/help.php use the help form] if it still does not update.


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: Wait 24 hours for the download link to become invalid (download links are only valid for 24 hours) or remove the download link from where you posted it. If no more new people are given your key you can generate a new key to get rid of the 'leechers'.




=== I'm uploading or downloading some torrents but I don't see them on my userpage. ===
==Warnings and Bans==


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause</span>: You downloaded a public torrent.
===I got a warning/was suspended/might be banned, what do I do?===
See: "[[Account Restrictions|Warnings, Suspensions and Bans]]"


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: Log in and re-download the torrent.


::'''I got warned but my hard drive crashed/ I got a virus/ Computer got thrown out of window/ Dog ate my homework/ Nobody really likes to leech my hentai/ etc so I lost all my files so I can't seed. Please unwarn me so I can download something to seed...'''
::
::If you racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt on a credit card and then suddenly lost your main source of income, do you think the credit card company is going to let you off with a debt writeoff (or even reactivate your card for more spending)?
::
::You got yourself into that situation, you'll have to [[For First Timers#Fixing Your Ratio|pull yourself out of it]].


=== "Failure: unregistered torrent pass" ===


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause</span>: The tracker can not find a user associated with the torrent pass you're sending it in your announce URL.
::'''But I've turned over a new leaf, and I am now a dedicated seeder who will keep his/her torrents running 24/7. Please unwarn me.'''
::
::If you have indeed turned over a new leaf, prove it by fixing your ratio. We've [[For First Timers#Fixing Your Ratio|outlined a few ways for you to do so]].


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: Log in to your Boxtorrents account and re-download the torrent from the site.
==Privacy==


=== "Failure: unregistered torrent" ===
====Why is my IP displayed on my details page?====


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause #1</span>: The torrent you downloaded is not/no longer tracked by our tracker.
Only you and the site staff can view your IP address and email. Other users cannot see that information.


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: Check if the torrent has been swapped or replaced. We occasionally prune old obsolete torrents or material that has become blacklisted.
====How do I hide torrents on my userpage?====


You can edit statistics display level through the [http://bakabt.me/settings.php settings page], in the '''User page''' tab.


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause #2</span>: The torrent was downloaded from another source and is using an invalid torrent key.
====Does BakaBT store information on the things I download?====


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: Download the torrent from Boxtorrents when logged in.
Yes. This is a statistics-tracking site after all, so we store as much information as is needed to implement the features you find on this site. You can [[FAQ#How do I hide torrents on my userpage?|hide your torrent statistics]], but no requests for deletion of data from our database will be entertained.




If you have checked and verified that it is neither of these causes, then it may be a database error. Report the torrent (click on the exclamation mark beside the torrent title) and let us know. Note that you need to be logged in to your Boxtorrents account in order to make reports.


=== "Failure: access denied, torrents limit reached" ===


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cause</span>: You are downloading too many torrents.


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Solution</span>: Users are allowed to download 3 torrents at a time. Power Users are allowed to download 10 torrents at a time. You are allowed to seed an unlimited number of torrents, regardless of your class.  Check your userpage to see which torrents you are already downloading.
= Torrent and Tracker Issues =




=== What are bonus torrents? ===


Bonus torrents are torrents with few seeders or few leechers, the idea of the bonus system is to keep older torrents alive. Bonus torrents are marked with an icon that looks like a yellow ball with a red "'''B'''" inside.  When you seed a bonus torrent (and have 100%) you will earn 1 bonus point per hour per bonus torrent. Bonus points can be exchanged for upload credit on the [http://www.boxtorrents.com/bonus.php bonus] page (this means you can add an amount onto your 'uploaded' stat on your user page).
==Common Torrent Error Messages==


{|cellspacing="20"
|-valign="top" style="font-size:12pt;"
!width=50%|<span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">"Finding peers"</span><br />
!width=50%|"Failure: unregistered torrent pass"


== Statistics Tracking ==
|-valign="top"
=== How is my traffic tracked? ===
|width="50%"|
'''Cause:'''<br>
You are '''not''' even looking in the right place to find what the error actually is.


BoxTorrents uses a passkey system to identify each user. Your passkey can be found on your [http://www.boxtorrents.com/my.php profile page]. When you announce, your passkey is used to identify you and to (very accurately) track your upload and download traffic, regardless of any IP changes. The passkey is automatically added to the announce URL of every torrent you download whilst logged in. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">'''YOU MUST NEVER, EVER GIVE OUT YOUR PASSKEY TO ANY OTHER PERSON.'''</span> Doing so will allow people to generate torrent traffic under your account. We will not be held responsible for any adverse effects this may have.
''Solution:''<br>
Find the trackers tab in your client, and see what status message is displayed next to the tracker url. Now you can troubleshoot further by referring to torrent error messages.


|width="50%"|
'''Cause #1:'''<br>
The tracker can not find a user associated with the [[FAQ#How is my traffic tracked?|torrent pass]] you're sending it in your announce URL.


=== My stats are not updating. What can I do? ===
''Solution:''<br>
Log in to your BakaBT account and re-download the torrent from the site.


Check that the torrent pass in your client's tracker announce URL matches the one shown on your [http://www.boxtorrents.com/my.php profile page]. If it doesn't (or if it does, but you're still having problems), then:Remove the torrent entries from your torrent client. Re-download the .torrent files and open them in your client. Force a hash recheck and resume activity.If that doesn't help, go to your [http://www.boxtorrents.com/my.php profile page] and regenerate your torrent pass. Wait about 10-20 minutes to be sure the tracker has recorded your key change, then repeat the above step.Use only official non-beta clients.


'''Cause #2:'''<br>
The torrent is using an expired public key. Note: Public key is only valid until the end of the month.


=== Best practices ===
''Solution:''<br>
Re-download the torrent file from the site.


If a torrent you are currently leeching or seeding is not listed on your userpage, stop the torrent and resume it again. (also see: I'm uploading or downloading some torrents but I don't see them on my userpage)Make sure you exit your client properly, so that the tracker receives the required information.If the tracker is down, do not stop seeding. Your traffic may not be tracked during downtime but as soon as the tracker is working again then your traffic will be tracked again.
|-valign="top" style="font-size:12pt;"
!width=50%|<span style="font-size:12pt;">"Failure: unregistered torrent"</span><br />
!width=50%|<span style="font-size:12pt;">"No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it"</span><br />


|-valign="top"
|width="50%"|
'''Cause:'''<br>
The torrent you downloaded is not/no longer tracked by our tracker.


=== What BitTorrent clients can I use? ===
''Solution:''<br>
Check if the torrent has been swapped, replaced or removed. We occasionally prune old obsolete torrents or material that have become [[Blacklist|blacklisted]].


''See [[BT_Clients]] for more information on what BitTorrent clients you can use.''
If you have checked and verified that it is neither of these causes, then it may be a database error. [[FAQ#Report_problems_that_I_noticed.3F|Report]] the torrent (click on the exclamation mark beside the torrent title) and let us know. Note that you need to be logged in to your BakaBT account in order to make reports.
<br>
<br>
'''Note:''' This message also is present on new offers, since the torrent needs to be approved first in order to be registered with the tracker.


There is currently no restriction on which clients you may use, but this will most likely change in the future. The tracker updates your stats correctly for most Bittorrent clients. However, we still recommend that you use the following clients:
|width="50%"|
* '''uTorrent''' [http://www.utorrent.com/ website]
'''Cause:'''<br>
* '''Azureus''' (aka Vuze) [http://http://azureus.sourceforge.net/ website]
The tracker is down


For any client, we urge you to keep it up to date, most clients have had some problems with earlier versions.
''Solution:''<br>
Check if the tracker is momentarily offline, you can see the tracker status in the topic title on [http://bakabt.me/webirc.php #BakaBT] channel. If it is down, there is nothing you can do except to wait for it to come back up. Leave your client running and stats will update correctly after the tracker is back online. If you stop torrents while it's down, they won't update.


Also, clients in alpha or beta version should be avoided.
If the tracker seems to be online and you're still having the problem, drop by the support channel at [http://bakabt.me/webirc.php #bakabt-support] and we'll try to see what the problem actually is.


We neither recommend nor will we provide support for:
|-valign="top" style="font-size:12pt;"
- BitComet
!width=50%|<span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">"Failure: access denied, torrents limit reached"</span><br />
- BitLord (modified BitComet with spyware added)
!width=50%|<span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">"Failure: use of this client is not allowed on our tracker, please see [[BT Clients#Whitelist|whitelisted torrent clients]]"</span><br />
- Shareaza


|-valign="top"
|width="50%"|
'''Cause:'''<br>
You are downloading too many torrents.


=== Why is a torrent I'm leeching/seeding listed several times in my profile? ===
''Solution:''<br>
Users are allowed to download 3 torrents at a time. Power Users are allowed to download 10 torrents at a time. You are allowed to seed an unlimited number of torrents, regardless of your class.  Check your userpage to see which torrents you are already downloading.


If for some reason (e.g. PC crash or frozen client) your client exits improperly and you restart it, it will have a new peer_id, so it will show as a new torrent. The old one will never have had its finished information sent and will be listed until the peer information times out. Just ignore it, it will eventually go away.
|width="50%"|
'''Cause:'''<br>
Your torrent client is not in the [http://bakabt.me/whitelist.php whitelist].


''Solution:''<br>
Use a torrent client that is in the [http://bakabt.me/whitelist.php whitelist]. See [http://forums.bakabt.me/index.php?topic=19305.0 this forum thread] for more information.


=== I've finished or cancelled a torrent. Why is it still listed in my profile? ===
|-valign="top" style="font-size:12pt;"
!width=50%|"Failure: you are warned, you are not allowed to download, see our wiki for more info"<br />


Some older clients do not report properly to the tracker when cancelling or finishing a torrent. In that case the tracker will keep waiting for the message - and thus listing the torrent as seeding or leeching - until the peer information timeout occurs. Just ignore it, it will eventually go away.
|-valign="top"
|width="50%"|
'''Cause:'''<br>
Your ratio is too low and your account has been [[FAQ#I_got_a_warning.2Fwas_suspended.2Fmight_be_banned.2C_what_do_I_do.3F|warned]].


''Solution:''<br>
Seed more and improve your ratio.


=== Why do I sometimes see torrents I'm not leeching in my profile?! ===


|}


Under our new keying system, it is not possible for the tracker to confuse you with another peer. If you see torrents listed in your profile that you are DEFINITELY not leeching/seeding on, then we suggest you take the following actions:
==Common Torrent-related Problems==
'''Change the e-mail and password on your account.''' If you did not give out your passkey then someone either has access to your email account or your Boxtorrents user account (or both).'''Go to your [http://www.boxtorrents.com/my.php profile page] and generate a new torrent pass.''' This will invalidate all your previous torrents ending whatever damage was done to your account. You will need to redownload your torrents.


===Well known site errors===


=== Can I login from different computers? ===
Errors in this section are considered to be well known. This means, other members have reported the error before and BakaBT experts are working to solve the problem or the problem is just temporary. Unless otherwise stated, you don't need to report the error again.


Yes.
====Some torrents on my userpage are listed in wrong tabs====


You might see your torrents listed on the tabs where it is not supposed to be, this is a known bug.
Examples:
# Missing, appearing/disappearing torrents in tabs.
# Torrents not in correct tabs
# Torrents listed in multiple tabs


=== Can I seed from different computers? ===
====I've finished or cancelled a torrent. Why is it still listed in my userpage?====


Yes, '''but you may not seed the ''same'' torrent from two different computers''' as the tracker will not understand how you can be in two places at once :P. In the worst case, you will automatically banned.
Some older clients do not report properly to the tracker when cancelling or finishing a torrent. In that case the tracker will keep waiting for the message - and thus listing the torrent as seeding or leeching - until the peer information timeout occurs. Just ignore it, it should go away after a few hours.


====I am seeing torrents on my userpage that I never downloaded / Someone has hijacked my account====


== Uploading ==
'''Cause #1:''' People are using your torrent key (you accidentally posted your [[FAQ#How is my traffic tracked?|torrent key]] publicly)<br>
=== Why can't I upload torrents? ===
'''Cause #2:''' You hot-linked to a .torrent file that is tagged with your passkey<br>
'''Cause #3:''' You posted a screenshot of your torrent program with your passkey visible<br>
'''Cause #4:''' You revealed your torrent passkey to one or more people<br>
'''Cause #5:''' You uploaded a .torrent file that has your passkey to another tracker.<br>
'''Cause #6:''' You sent a .torrent file that has your passkey to a friend, or hotlinked the torrent download button to him.


Power Users can make offers of torrents they wish to upload, which will be granted or rejected by staff. Staff members and certain approved users are permitted to upload directly without having to go through the approval procedure.
''Solution:'' Go to your [http://bakabt.me/settings.php settings page] and generate a new key.  All your old torrents will become invalid immediately, so <u>you will have to re-download your torrents</u>. Wait about 10-20 minutes to be sure the tracker has recorded your key change before resuming your torrenting.
Non-Power Users can not make offers.


To prevent similar issues occurring in future, do not hot-link to our torrent files (only link to the description page), and do not post your personal .torrent file (the one you download when logged in) to other trackers.


=== How do I make an offer if I'm a Power User? ===
====I'm uploading or downloading some torrents but I don't see them on my userpage====


First, begin by reading this section of the FAQ to make sure that you fully understand what is required of you. Failure to do so will see your offer rejected (depending on the mood of the staff member who handles it). Once you have finished reading, click the 'Offer' button on the left side of the page. When creating your torrent, be sure to set the 'private' flag, or the system will automatically reject your torrent. Once you've created your torrent, fill in the description of your torrent. Once you submit your torrent for approval, it will join a queue of torrents awaiting judgement. You may leave your client 'seeding' your torrent at this point, but make sure you redownload the torrent from the website to have your passkey added to the announce URL (you may also add this manually if you wish, but it is not recommended). If granted, your torrent will be immediately added to Box's torrent pool (and if you are 'seeding', you will begin immediately). If rejected, your torrent will remain in 'limbo', sitting on the queue with 'rejected' status until either you or a mod removes it.
'''Cause:''' You downloaded a public torrent.


''Solution:'' Log in and re-download the torrent.


=== What does 'Semi-granted' mean? ===
====My stats are not updating. What can I do?====


Offers require the approval of two admins or moderators before they are added to the tracker. 'Semi-granted' is the state an offer acquires when one admin/mod has granted it, pending further approval.
Check that the torrent pass in your client's tracker announce URL matches the one shown on your [http://bakabt.me/settings.php settings page]. If it doesn't (or if it does, but you're still having problems), then: Remove the torrent entries from your torrent client. Re-download the .torrent files and open them in your client. Force a hash recheck and resume activity.


If that doesn't help, go to your [http://bakabt.me/settings.php settings page] and regenerate your torrent pass. Wait about 10-20 minutes to be sure the tracker has recorded your key change, then repeat the above step. Use only official non-beta clients.


=== What can/can't I put in my torrents? ===


Please refer to our [[Rules#Torrent Content Upload Guidelines|Torrent Content Upload Guidelines]] and ('''ESPECIALLY''') the [[Blacklist]].
====Site stats are different compared to my BitTorrent Client for some torrents====


Your BitTorrent client is responsible for reporting the torrent upload/download statistics data to the tracker. This data is transmitted in pre-determined intervals (i.e. 30mins) and is incremental which means only the upload/download amount during that period (or successful tracker connections) is sent to the tracker. This mechanism is defined by the BitTorrent Protocol and is not specific to BakaBT. Statistics accuracy is important and is ensured by limiting the BitTorrent clients allowed trough the BakaBT BitTorrent Client Whitelist. The data collected trough the tracker is then reflected to your statistics page on the BakaBT site.


=== What should I put in the description? ===
Under normal circumstances, this mechanism works as intended and your statistics for any torrent will be properly sent to the tracker by your BitTorrent client and you will see similar stats on your client and the BakaBT stats page.


Always include who released the files and as specfic as possible an indication of the quality (bit rate, codec, etc.). '''See the next paragraph for more details'''.
However, the following events can prevent this mechanism from working properly
Include a short description of what you're uploading, usually people include a short plot summary; be careful of spoilers though.


# client loses internet connectivity during seeding/leeching (uploading/downloading) and is closed prior to re-establishing a connection
# client crashes due to an error or you forcefully terminate it
# client cannot connect to the tracker despite retries (it will continue its P2P activity with the last successful peer list received)
# tracker might be down for an unknown period of time
# your ISP is intervening with your connection to the tracker by manipulating packets
# administrative operations on the tracker/site software (data restore, upgrades)


You may mark-up your text using BBcode or HTML; you can find many examples of nice templates in other peoples' descriptions. While this is not necessary, you may like to 'pretty up' your description.
Due to these events, your statistics for a given torrent can be below what you expect it to be.  
It's also very much appreciated if you include images and/or screenshots and links to sites like AniDB and AnimeNewsNetwork, although it is not necessary.
Most BitTorrent clients will transmit the statistics data in the next successful connection when a tracker connection cannot be established immediately given that they are not closed.
Please note: when using HTML, be sure to include &lt;html&gt;&lt;body&gt; ... &lt;/body&gt;&lt;/html&gt; in the description, or the system will not know that you are using HTML and will treat your commands differently.


=== How is my traffic tracked? ===


We look for succinct, accurate descriptions of the contents of your torrent. '''<span style="text-decoration: underline;">With the exclusion of OST torrents, all descriptions MUST have genres specified in the description.</span>''' In addition:
BakaBT uses a passkey system to identify each user. Your passkey can be found on your [http://bakabt.me/settings.php settings page]. When you announce, your passkey is used to identify you and to (very accurately) track your upload and download traffic, regardless of any IP changes. The passkey is automatically added to the announce URL of every torrent you download whilst logged in. <b>'''YOU MUST NEVER, EVER GIVE OUT YOUR PASSKEY TO ANY OTHER PERSON.'''</b> Doing so will result in [[FAQ#I am seeing torrents on my userpage that I never downloaded / Someone has hijacked my account|undesirable outcomes]]. We will not help to fix any bad ratios caused by user's negligence of the security of their torrent passkey.
* For series/movies/OVAs, a plot summary and file details (sub group with video and audio codecs at the very least) will suffice.
* For OSTs, track listings and file information (codec, bit rate (if applicable), and ripper at the very least) will do.
* For manga, a plot summary and the scanlation group are the minimum requirements.


===What are bonus torrents?===
Bonus torrents are torrents with few seeders or few leechers, the idea of the bonus system is to keep older torrents alive. Bonus torrents are marked with bonus torrent icon [[File:Bonus_icon.jpg]]. When you seed a bonus torrent (and have 100% complete file) you will earn 1 bonus point per hour per bonus torrent. You cannot earn more than 10 bonus points per hour even if you are seeding more than 10 bonus torrents at a time. Note that bonus points can be earned more reliably and much faster through [[FAQ#Torrent_Adoption_System|adoptions]].


=== What is a good title for my torrent? ===
Bonus points can be exchanged for upload credit on the [http://bakabt.me/bonus.php bonus page] (this means you can add an amount onto your 'uploaded' stat on your user page).


The title only needs to contain the original Japanese title and possibly the English title as well. You may add the name(s) of the involved group(s) in the title as well (example: Japanese Title | English Title [fansub]). Words like "OVA" or "Movie" are not always necessary because of the category system (however, if the title of the show includes "OVA" or "Movie", you should add it). In case you're uploading only a particular season of a longer series, it is useful to include the season and/or the episodes (for example: My Series - Season 1 [01-25]).
Bonus status depends on the number of seeders as well as the seeder-to-leecher ratio, and a few other factors. And since the number of seeders and leechers on a torrent can change, a torrent can gain or lose bonus status as well.


Bonus status is checked and updated every hour.


=== What are good keywords for my torrent? ===
=== Best practices ===


You have to see the keywords as a second way to categorise torrents. Choose keywords that truthfully reflect the content of the files you're uploading and that allows it to be found in different ways than just searching for a title.
If a torrent you are currently leeching or seeding is not listed on your userpage, stop the torrent and resume it again. (also see: [[FAQ#I am seeing torrents on my userpage that I never downloaded / Someone has hijacked my account|I'm uploading or downloading some torrents but I don't see them on my userpage]]) Make sure you exit your client properly, so that the tracker receives the required information.If the tracker is down, do not stop seeding. Your traffic may not be tracked during downtime but as soon as the tracker is working again then your traffic will be tracked again.


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Good keywords are:</span> genres<sup>*</sup>, 720p/1080p, fansub group, author, director, that kind of stuff. Someone might be interested in all of "Miyazaki's" or Studio 4C works, searching for Miyazaki resp. Studio 4C will match the keywords and you have what you're looking for.
=== What BitTorrent clients can I use? ===


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Bad keywords are:</span> anything that appears in the title of the torrent or is already expressed otherwise (OST, OVA, HD, Movie, etc.). Alternate titles, codecs, and your own personal comments do not belong in keywords. Either add them to your title, or to your description. Fansub groups are permissible as keywords, even if they are already included in your torrent title.
See: "[[BT_Clients|Bittorrent Clients]]"


<sup>*</sup>- When listing genres, use AniDB's categories, not AnimeNFO or ANN, for consistency.
=== Can I upload your torrents to other trackers? ===
Yes. However, only post the public torrent files to other trackers, do not post the .torrent file you downloaded when logged in (otherwise [[FAQ#I am seeing torrents on my userpage that I never downloaded / Someone has hijacked my account|these things]] might happen). In other words, create a new .torrent file if you intend to upload it to other trackers.


(Of course, the torrent files you download through your torrent client are yours to do as you please.)


===='''Guidelines:'''====
==Using BakaBT from multiple machines==


* First of all, ask yourself the question: "If I were looking for an anime 'like' this one, what keywords would I be looking for?" and "which keywords are not needed?"
====Can I login from different computers/IPs?====
* Secondly, drop near duplicate keywords like 'Contemporary Fantasy' and 'Fantasy', as they are not both needed; just keep whichever applies more to your torrent.
* Add only useful keywords. No one will search for keywords such as 'mp3' or 'DVD'.
* Do '''not''' add duplicate keywords, for instance "Yuki Kajiura" and "Kajiura Yuki" or "Science-Fiction" and "Sci-Fi". Add only the one that currently exists in our [http://www.boxtorrents.com/keywords.php keyword list].
* This also holds for fansub names: add either (for instance) Abacus Subs or AbSubs, but not both; the latter is preferred because it is shorter.
*Do '''<span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span>''' add alternative titles or alternative spellings. See title guidelines.
* Check the [http://www.boxtorrents.com/keywords.php list of keywords] for existing keywords and/or common spellings. Keep in mind that the keyword listing is '''''case-sensitive''''' so match case, and '''<span style="text-decoration: underline;">matching other keywords is better than making a new one</span>'''.
* Check the [[Keywords|Keywords article]] for descriptions for most of the common keywords.


Yes. But you are advised not to log in at the computer of another BakaBT user; the system may identify you as a multi-account user.


====Keyword syntax====
See also: "[[Account Restrictions#Why was my account disabled?|Why was my account disabled?]]"


We've just discussed the semantics of keywords, but what about the syntax? First of all, not all characters are allowed. Only alphanumeric characters, dashes (-) and spaces are allowed. Furthermore, a keyword is allowed to have two spaces, no more. If you're making a keyword of a composed word (for instance: Mamoru Oshii) keep it one keyword, don't add a comma in between. Genres like "Magical girl" and "Law and Order" should also be written without commas.
====Can I seed from different computers/IPs?====


Yes, '''but you may not seed the ''same'' torrent from two different computers/IPs''' as the tracker will not understand how you can be in two places at once, and doing so may cause problems. In the worst case, you may be auto-banned by the tracker.


====Adding keywords to your torrent====


The field for entering keywords is above the description entry box. Typing in a word (or part of a word) will call up suggestions in a box. These suggestions are comprised of keywords that already exist on BoxTorrents. You should pick from the suggestions given to you to ensure consistency. Once you have clicked on the desired key word suggested, click 'Add' to associate it with your torrent. Repeat this process for as many keywords as you need (currently, there is a character limit on the keywords, so if you find that your last key word is getting cut off, remove it). Be sure to click 'Edit' below the description box when you're done, or none of your changes will be saved.


If you need to add a key word that isn't suggested, type it into the key word field and click on Add. This key word will be sent for moderation. If the key word is approved, it will be added to our official key word list and will appear on your torrent immediately. If rejected, it will be blacklisted, and will not show up again.
==Freeleech==


===What is Freeleech?===


=== What are "extra files" and what should I add? ===
'''<font color="#00AA00">[F]</font>''' symbol is used to indicate that a torrent is subject to '''Freeleech'''.


"Extra files" allow you to add (small) files to your torrent, files which you want to include but don't really belong in the torrent. You can think of .sfv/.md5 files for file verification (or hash tables in general) or .nfo files for credits and info. You are not allowed to add images. Linking to the files will not work, the link is dynamic and becomes invalid after 24 hours.
When a torrent is flagged with this symbol, it means leeching that torrent will not affect your download amount and will not decrease your ratio. Meanwhile seeding that torrent will continue to improve your ratio and will increase your upload amount. This is an excellent way to improve your ratio.  


Any and all files released by the original source should be included as "extra files" (granted they do not violate the "extra files" rules, such as credits pages from manga. Leave those INSIDE your torrent).
Torrents with specific type of content ([http://bakabt.me/browse.php?only=1&hd=1&reorder=1&q=1080p 1080p torrents], [http://bakabt.me/browse.php?only=1&c7=1&reorder=1 Artbooks], [http://bakabt.me/browse.php?only=1&c8=1&reorder=1 Music Videos], and [http://bakabt.me/browse.php?ordertype=size&only=0&reorder=1&q=&order=1 torrents smaller than 100 MB]) are subject to Freeleech, this is to promote their distribution.  
All video torrents (series/movies/ova) should have, but do not require, at least an .sfv or .md5 file with (official) hashes. You can get the CRCs from the fansubbers website or AniDB.net (the latter also lists md5 hashes amongst other hashes) if the CRC values are not in the file names.


DO NOT include these extra files in the contents of your torrent. Your offer will '''not''' be accepted if this is the case.
If you get the message 'This torrent contains improper files, please swap the torrent file.' at the top of your offer page, that's your clue that there is something wrong with your file structure.


'''Important:''' Warned members can not benefit from Freeleech, as they are not allowed to leech.


=== How do I attach extra files? ===
'''Note:''' This behavior is controlled by the BakaBT tracker, this means as long as the torrent is flagged with '''<font color="#00AA00">[F]</font>''', you can benefit from this feature during leeching even if you have downloaded the torrent file before it is flagged.


Simply edit your torrent (after it's been offered or uploaded), and there will be a box for you to enter the path of files you with to upload below the description box. Simply select it and click upload, and it will be attached right away.
====How often does global freeleech happen?====


Almost never. Don't ask us when it will be happening because we will ignore you.


=== What should I put in my torrents? ===
====The tracker went down. What do I do?====


What we look for in torrents are:
You wait until the tracker comes back up.


* [[FAQ#What should I put in the description?|A good description]]
====Why did the tracker go down?====
* <span style="text-decoration: underline;">File quality:</span><br/>Free of hash errors.
* <span style="text-decoration: underline;">File consistency:</span><br/>If possible, all files released by a single group, all file names in the same format as they were originally released by the group involved (original file names). This applies to ALL torrents.
* <span style="text-decoration: underline;">File structure:</span><br/>Do not pack files under different folders unnecessarily. An example would be packing episodes 1-12 in one folder, and 13-24 in another within the same torrent. NO ARCHIVING OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN MANGA.
* If uploading a manga, please follow these directions:
** Overlook archiving if the manga is very short (a oneshot), or if the scanlator(s) have released the entire manga in a single file. In these cases, unzip the file, but do not make any further modifications to folder structure or file names.
**If the scanlator(s) release a manga zipped by chapter or volume (assuming there is more than one), retain the archived chapters and offer the files in that state.
* <span style="text-decoration: underline;">No 'unnecessary' files:</span> do not include codecs or programs. Acceptable files are external translation notes (for series/movies/OVAs) and credits pages (for manga)). If you're unsure about anything, please say so in the comments of your torrent offer.


Imagine that you and a friend are working at a restaurant. All of a sudden 130,000+ people come into the restaurant and demand 10+ meals each. Obviously the restaurant can't handle that load and eventually shuts down. During its downtime, it will catch up on orders and eventually re-open. Same principle here, when too many people connect to the server, the server may become overloaded and shut down. Be patient, eventually the server will come back up.


=== What is this torrent swapping feature? ===
====What shouldn't I do?====


If, for any reason, something is wrong with your torrent (such as containing improper files or lacking a version 2 of an episode), you may request to swap the .torrent file. This will negate the need to delete the torrent and upload it again. You may apply to swap your own torrent files when they are either in the Offer stage or they are registered with the tracker.
* Do not Manually spam updates on the tracker. It will not help you connect faster; on the contrary, it puts extra strain on the server and may cause more downtime. That means you will not be able to enjoy the full benefits of the freeleech period.
* Do not leech only. Part of the purpose of freeleech is to help you improve your ratio. It would be foolish if you leeched and don't seed.


To do so, edit your torrent. There will be a section for you to select a new .torrent file to replace the current one and a space for you to enter a reason why. Upon sending the request, you will need to wait for a moderator or admin to grant the swap request.
=Downloading/Seeding and Connection Issues=




=== Can I upload your torrents to other trackers? ===


No. This generates extra traffic for the tracker without users visiting the site itself. It also usually results in the torrent being overrun by bad leechers, as users are not aware of the site rules.
==Common Questions==


Complaints from other sites' administrative staff about our torrents being posted on their sites will result in the banning of the users responsible.
====What's the difference between seeding and uploading?====


(However, the files you download from us are yours to do as you please. You can always create another torrent, pointing to some other tracker, and upload it to the site of your choice.)
''Uploading'' is posting a new torrent to our tracker, where it will appear on the [http://bakabt.me/offer.php Offered] or [http://bakabt.me/browse.php Browse] pages.


''Seeding'' is uploading data to other users on a torrent after you have completed the download.


== Downloading/Seeding ==
====I don't see the leeching, seeding, seeded torrent tabs in my stats page (anymore)====
=== Why do I have to wait before I can download a new torrent? ===
As of September 29th, 2010 those tabs have been removed. You can see the torrents you are seeding/leeching on the ''Active'' tab.


When new torrents are uploaded, those with Power User (or higher) status are given 'first dibs'. Other users must wait for the timer to expire before they can download the .torrent file. The amount of time you have to wait is proportional to the size of the torrent (the larger the torrent, the longer you have to wait). This is an incentive for people to become Power Users, and also provides a higher seed base when other users are permitted to join the swarm.
The BitTorrent protocol and clients are not designed to report the individual torrent status information in a way that the previous separate tabs mechanism could work as expected.


====I have leeched/downloaded the torrents but some torrents won't seed====


=== What do I do if a torrent has no seeds? ===
''Leeching'' a torrent requires seeders and the number of seeders generally determine how fast you can leech a torrent, higher the number of seeders - higher the download speed. Unfortunately this becomes a problem when you finish downloading the torrent and afterwards intend to seed it back because if there are too many seeders and no (or a small number of) ''leechers'' when you are seeding you won't get a chance to seed.


Hop on the forums and post in the [http://forums.boxtorrents.com/index.php?board=5.0 Reseed Request] section. Be sure to read the rules before posting.
An option is to continue seeding those torrents as much as possible and wait for the ratio for that torrent to reach 1.5 or alternatively you can download other torrent with more potential to ''seed'' (popular torrents with many ''leechers'')


See also [[FAQ#Freeleech|Freeleech Torrents]]


=== What's the difference between seeding and uploading? ===
====I have some files on my computer, how do I seed them or upload them to BakaBT?====


'Uploading' is posting a new torrent to our tracker.
See: "[[FAQ#I've finished downloading the files, so how do I seed back?|I've finished downloading the files, so how do I seed back?]]" and "[[FAQ#Why can't I offer new torrents?|Why can't I offer new torrents?]]"


'Seeding' is uploading data on a torrent once you have completed the download.
====Why do I have to wait before I can download a new torrent?====


When new torrents are uploaded, those with Power User (or higher) status are given 'first dibs'. By virtue of their good share ratio we trust that these users will stick around to help seed the torrent after they benefit from having exclusive access to the initial seeders. Other users must wait for the timer to expire before they can download the .torrent file.


=== Why did an active torrent suddenly disappear? ===
The amount of time you have to wait is proportional to the size of the torrent (the larger the torrent, the longer you have to wait). This is to encourage more people to become Power Users, and to build up a larger seed base before other users are permitted to join the swarm.


There may be three reasons for this:
====Why did an active torrent suddenly disappear?====
# The torrent may have been out-of-sync with the [[Rules|site rules]].
# The torrent may have been replaced by a superior offer.
# The uploader or a moderator may have deleted it because it contained bad files. A replacement will probably be uploaded to take its place.
# The uploader may have requested for its deletion, with an acceptable reason(s).
# The torrent was requested to be removed by a 3rd party.
# The torrent was requested to be removed by a 3rd party (usually in the form of a cease-and-desist letter).


It happens from time to time and we regret that no alerts will be given prior to deletion. If this is unacceptable, we suggest that you get your files from other public trackers (such as Anirena, Minglong or Nyaa) instead, where torrents are less likely to be removed.


=== I've finished downloading the files, so how do I seed back? ===
====What is a torrent passkey?====


Once your download has completed, most clients will continue to run the torrent in seeding mode until the ratio is 1:1. If this is not the case, try some of these steps:
See: [[FAQ#How is my traffic tracked?|How is my traffic tracked?]]
1) Simply press Start on your torrent again. Some clients might stop torrents that have finished downloading.
2) Check your client's settings regarding how much a torrent should be seeded to before stopping. Your settings may be preventing seeding. (e.g., uTorrent's 'Torrent Properties' dialogue box for each torrent has a ratio percentage figure which you can adjust)3) Force the torrent to start (e.g., in uTorrent, right click on the torrent entry and click 'Force Start'). This will force your client to ignore the rule mentioned above and seed until you stop the torrent.4) If all else fails, remove the torrent from your client, and see below for instructions on how to restore it to your client.


=== How do I resume a broken download or (re)seed something? ===
====I lost all my files, and I can't download or seed, help!====


Open the .torrent file in your client. When your client asks you for a download location, choose the location of the existing file(s), force a recheck/rehash. Start the torrent, and it will resume/reseed (see the entry above for more information).
See: [[For First Timers#Fixing Your Ratio|Fixing Your Ratio]]
Please note that most clients will require that file names match the ones specified in the .torrent file when it comes to multi-file torrents. Make sure that this is the case, or your client will not detect the files you have pointed it to.
If, for whatever reason, you have decided to rename your files, then you have two choices:
1) (Re)Rename your files to match the torrent's.2) Find a torrent client that supports custom file names in multi-file torrents. At the time of this guide, the newest uTorrent beta and Azureus clients support individual custom file names in multi-file torrents. For more information, see the programs' web pages.


==Connectivity and Speed Issues==


=== I'm seeding a torrent, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything! ===
If your question falls under any of these categories:
# Cannot access BakaBT
# Port number is '---'/other port-related issues
# Proxying and proxies
# Dynamic/static IPs and NAT
# Slow downloading/uploading


First, check that you actually have someone to upload any data to. If you are on a torrent that has something like 10 seeders and 2 leechers, the chances of you uploading a great deal are slim to none. If there are no leechers... what are you expecting?
Kindly refer to the [[Troubleshooting]] section for more information.
Second, see [[FAQ#Why is my port number reported as "---"? (And why should I care?)|this entry in the FAQ]] if you are not sure whether your ports are open.




=== Why do my downloads sometimes stall at 99%? ===


The more pieces you have, the harder it becomes to find peers who have pieces you are missing. That is why downloads sometimes slow down or even stall when there are just a few percent remaining. Just be patient and you will, sooner or later, get the remaining pieces.
==Torrenting Issues==


====I can't leech/seed a torrent====


=== What are these "a piece has failed a hash check" messages? ===
If the BakaBT tracker is preventing you from leeching/seeding a torrent, it will inform your client in the form of error messages through the trackers tab/pane. Look at the tracker status and refer to [[FAQ#Common Torrent Error Messages]]


BitTorrent clients check the data they receive for integrity. When a piece fails this check it is automatically re-downloaded. Occasional hash fails are a common occurrence, and you shouldn't worry.


Some clients have an (advanced) option/preference to 'kick/ban clients that send you bad data' or similar. It should be turned on, since it makes sure that if a peer repeatedly sends you pieces that fail the hash check it will be ignored in the future.
====I'm having trouble with this Bittorrent program, something's wrong with it====


Do a search in the [http://forums.bakabt.me/index.php?board=7.0 Help section of the forums], and see if someone else has faced the same issue.


=== The torrent is supposed to be 100MB. How come I downloaded 120MB? ===
If yours is a unique case, make a new post in the same section. Give clear and detailed information, and include links to the torrents you are having trouble with.


See the hash fails topic. If your client receives bad data it will have to redownload it, therefore the total downloaded may be larger than the torrent size. Make sure the "kick/ban" option is turned on to minimize the extra downloads. Overhead may also account for some of this data.
''Note: We only provide help for [[BT Clients#Whitelist|whitelisted torrent clients]]. Support for other clients will not be provided.


====What do I do if a torrent has no seeds?====


Hop on the forums and post in the [http://forums.bakabt.me/index.php?board=5.0 Reseed Request] section. Be sure to read the rules before posting.


=== What's this "IOError - [Errno13] Permission denied" error? ===
====I've finished downloading the files, so how do I seed back?====


If you just want to fix it reboot your computer, it should solve the problem. Otherwise, read on.
See: "[[For First Timers#Seeding|Seeding]]"


IOError means Input-Output Error, and that is a file system error, not a tracker one. It shows up when your client is for some reason unable to open the partially downloaded torrent files. The most common cause is two instances of the client to be running simultaneously: the last time the client was closed it somehow didn't really close but kept running in the background, and is therefore still locking the files, making it impossible for the new instance to open them.
====What are these "a piece has failed a hash check" messages?====


A more uncommon occurrence is a corrupted FAT. A crash may result in corruption that makes the partially downloaded files unreadable, and the error ensues. Running scandisk should solve the problem. (Note that this may happen only if you're running Windows 9x - which only supports FAT - or NT/2000/XP with FAT formatted hard drives. NTFS is much more robust and should never permit this problem.)
BitTorrent clients check the data they receive for integrity. When a piece fails this check it is automatically re-downloaded. Occasional hash fails are a common occurrence, and you shouldn't worry.


Some clients have an (advanced) option/preference to 'kick/ban clients that send you bad data' or similar. It should be turned on, since it makes sure that if a peer repeatedly sends you pieces that fail the hash check it will be ignored in the future.


== How can I improve my download speed? ==
====The torrent is supposed to be 100MB. How come I downloaded 120MB?====
The download speed mostly depends on the seeder-to-leecher ratio (SLR). Poor download speed is mainly a problem with new and very popular torrents where the SLR is low.


(side note: make sure you remember that you did not enjoy the low speed. Seed so that others will not endure the same.)
See: [[FAQ#What are these "a piece has failed a hash check" messages?|What are these "a piece has failed a hash check" messages?]]
If your client receives bad data it will have to redownload it, therefore the total downloaded may be larger than the torrent size. Make sure the "kick/ban" option is turned on to minimize the extra downloads.


There are a couple of things that you can try on your end to improve your speed:
====What's this "IOError - [Errno13] Permission denied" error?====


If you just want to fix it reboot your computer, it should solve the problem. Otherwise, see "[[Troubleshooting#What.27s_this_IOError_-_Error13_Permission_denied_error.3F|What's this "IOError - [Errno13] Permission denied" error?]]".


=== Do not immediately jump on new torrents ===
====Downloading or seeding is slow! How do I speed it up?====


In particular, do not do it if you have a slow connection. The best speeds will be found around the half-life of a torrent, when the SLR will be at its highest. (The downside is that you will not be able to seed so much. It's up to you to balance the pros and cons of this.)
See: "[[Troubleshooting#Speed Issues|Troubleshooting: Speed Issues]]".


= Torrent Offers and Adoptions =


=== Make yourself connectable ===


See the [[FAQ#Why is my port number reported as "---"? (And why should I care?)|Why is my port number reported as "---"? (And why should I care?)]]&nbsp; section.


== Torrent Offer System ==


=== Limit your upload speed ===
====What does 'New' mean?====
Newly offered torrents are not registered with the tracker until they are approved. Until then, they will not be available for download.<br />
The time it takes for torrent approval varies and is dependent upon many different factors, so a reliable estimate cannot be given.


The upload speed affects the download speed in essentially two ways:
====What does 'Semi-approved' mean?====


# Bittorrent peers tend to favour those other peers that upload to them. This means that if A and B are leeching the same torrent and A is sending data to B at high speed then B will try to reciprocate. So due to this effect high upload speeds lead to high download speeds.
Offers require the approval of two staff members before they are added to the tracker. 'Semi-approved' is the state an offer acquires when at least one staff member has granted it, but it is pending further approval.
# Due to the way TCP works, when A is downloading something from B it has to keep telling B that it received the data sent to him. (These are called acknowledgements - ACKs -, a sort of "got it!" messages). If A fails to do this then B will stop sending data and wait. If A is uploading at full speed there may be no bandwidth left for the ACKs and they will be delayed. So due to this effect excessively high upload speeds lead to low download speeds.


====What is 'On hold' status?====


The full effect is a combination of the two. The upload should be kept as high as possible while allowing the ACKs to get through without delay. A good thumb rule is keeping the upload at about 80% of the theoretical upload speed. You will have to fine tune yours to find out what works best for you. (Remember that keeping the upload high has the additional benefit of helping with your ratio.)
Pending notification for all offers that require more work. On hold status is usually followed with a reason.<br />
Offers on hold are no longer counted on the 'Offered' page.


====Why can't I offer new torrents?====


If you are running more than one instance of a client it is the overall upload speed that you must take into account. Some clients (e.g. Azureus) limit global upload speed, others (e.g. Shad0w's) do it on a per torrent basis. Know your client. The same applies if you are using your connection for anything else (e.g. browsing or ftp), always think of the overall upload speed.
Only Power Users can make new torrent offers, which will be granted or rejected by staff. Torrents offered by staff members and Power Uploaders are added to the torrent pool directly without going through the approval procedure.
 
Non-Power Users can not make offers.
 
=== Limit the number of simultaneous connections ===
 
Some operating systems (like Windows 9x) do not deal well with a large number of connections, and may even crash. Also some home routers (particularly when running NAT and/or firewall with stateful inspection services) tend to become slow or crash when having to deal with too many connections. There are no fixed values for this, you may try 60 or 100 and experiment with the value. Note that these numbers are additive, if you have two instances of a client running the numbers add up.
 
 
=== Limit the number of simultaneous uploads ===
 
Isn't this the same as above? No. Connections limit the number of peers your client is talking to and/or downloading from. Uploads limit the number of peers your client is actually uploading to. The ideal number is typically much lower than the number of connections, and highly dependent on your (physical) connection.
 
 
=== Just give it some time ===


As explained above peers favour other peers that upload to them. When you start leeching a new torrent you have nothing to offer to other peers and they will tend to ignore you. This makes the starts slow, in particular if, by change, the peers you are connected to include few or no seeders. The download speed should increase as soon as you have some pieces to share.
====Is there a limit to the amount of offers I can make?====


As a Power User you can offer a maximum of 5 torrents. When that limit has been reached you'll have to wait for staff to inspect one of your pending offers.


====Why are rejected torrents in the Recently rejected section?====


=== Why is my browsing so slow while leeching? ===
For rejected torrents, we will prune them after a minimum of 7 days, maximum of 30 days on the "recently rejected" list. While the torrents are in the recently rejected list, it will still occupy a slot on the uploader's account.<br />Please refrain from asking the admins or mods to prune the torrents before time.


Your download speed is always finite. If you are a peer in a fast torrent it will almost certainly saturate your download bandwidth, and your browsing will suffer. A client like Azureus allows the user to limit uploads &amp; downloads. You will have to use a third-party solution, such as [http://www.netlimiter.com/ NetLimiter].
====I have another question related to torrents and offers====


If it is any of the following questions:
# What can I offer/not offer to BakaBT?
# I have files that I would like to upload, how do I upload them here?
# What should I put in the description?
# How should I name my files?
# What are good keywords for my torrent?
# Why does it say "This torrent contains improper files, please swap the torrent file" on the torrent page?
# What are "extra files" and what should I add?
# How do I attach extra files?
# What should I put in my torrents?
# What is this torrent swapping feature?


Browsing was used just as an example. The same would apply to gaming, IMing, etc., ...
Kindly see: "[[How to make an offer]]"


== Torrent Adoption System ==


== Connection Issues ==
====Why should I adopt a torrent?====


=== My ISP uses a transparent proxy. What should I do? ===
You adopt because the (faulty) description of a torrent does not sit right with you, and you have the irresistible urge to fix it, put it right and provide accurate information for future users of BakaBT who will chance upon said torrent.


''Caveat: This is a large and complex topic. It is not possible to cover all variations here.''


Short reply: change to an ISP that does not force a proxy upon you. If you cannot or do not want to then read on.
''Note: The adopter effectively becomes the new owner of the torrent. As such, he/she is expected to carry out the usual duties of the torrent owner. They'll be responsible for re-seeding the torrent if it dies (so adopters <u>must</u> have the torrent files), keep descriptions up to date, and make torrent swaps where necessary. Torrent adopting is not stamp-collecting.''


''Note 2: Many users are under a false impression that adopting torrents will inadvertently fix your ratio or give you freeleech right even if you are warned. This is <u>'''false'''</u>.<br />Only seeding can increase your ratio, and by adopting you are assumed to already have the files you planning to adopt and therefore seed.''


==== What is a proxy? ====
====What should I do to ensure that my adoption request will be granted?====


Basically a middleman. When you are browsing a site through a proxy your requests are sent to the proxy and the proxy forwards them to the site instead of you connecting directly to the site. There are several classifications (the terminology is far from standard):
* Submit a proper reason for adoption. Tell us what you are going to fix, what you will add, what you will do with the torrent. If the reason for adoption is "I will fix the torrent", we're not likely to be convinced. Look at the checklist below for things that you need to point out in your request.
* It helps if you have a portfolio.
** Users who consistently submit good torrent descriptions (by adopting, or making torrent offers) will obviously be trusted more than users without said portfolio. So if you already have torrents in your ''Uploaded'' tab, do take a look at them and work on those first before adopting new torrents.
** If you are a new user with no prior experience do not worry, we will sit you through the description-editing process and help you bring it up to speed, all you need is a willingness to learn and dedication to the adoption process.
* Seed the torrent. While owners are not expected to seed the torrent files 24/7, being a seed on the peerlist gives us the assurance that you have the files are will be able to re-seed the torrent as and when the need arises.


{|border="1"
{| role="presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
| <strong>Checklist for adoptions</strong>
|-
|-
! '''Type''' !! '''Description'''
| Are the links working?
|-
|-
! Transparent ||align="left"|  A transparent proxy is one that needs no configuration on the clients. It works by automatically redirecting all port 80 traffic to the proxy. (Sometimes used as synonymous for non-anonymous.)
| Are all images being displayed correctly?
|-
! Explicit/Voluntary ||align="left"|Clients must configure their browsers to use them.
|-
|-
! Anonymous ||align="left"|The proxy sends no client identification to the server. (HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR header is not sent; the server does not see your IP.)
| Are all images hosted on BakaShots?
|-
|-
! Highly Anonymous ||align="left"| The proxy sends no client or proxy identification to the server. (HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR, HTTP_VIA and HTTP_PROXY_CONNECTION headers are not sent; the server doesn't see your IP and doesn't even know you're using a proxy.)
| Is all information correct and complete for that release?
|-
|-
! Public ||align="left"| (Self explanatory)  <!-- O rly? -->
| Is there a higher quality release?
|-
|-
| Are you seeding the torrent you wish to adopt?
|}
|}


====What do I need to do after I adopt a torrent?====
Bring it up to date, in accordance with the [[How_to_make_an_offer#Description_Content|torrent description content guidelines]].<br />Keep tabs on it, and re-seed the torrent if it dies (has 0 seeders).


A transparent proxy may or may not be anonymous, and there are several levels of anonymity.
====That sounds complicated, can you help me?====


In general, we will give advice when needed, but first you should check out this [[Adoptions_for_Dummies|guide]]. It covers most of what you'll ever need!


==== How do I find out if I'm behind a (transparent/anonymous) proxy? ====
====Bonus points bounty for a successful adoption====


Try [http://www.proxyjudge.org ProxyJudge]. It lists the HTTP headers that the server where it is running received from you. The relevant ones are HTTP_CLIENT_IP, HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR and REMOTE_ADDR.
Upon successful completion of an adoption, depending on the work you've invested, you'll either get 1/10th of the bounty (for minimal or no changes, if none are required), the full bounty, 1.5 x the bounty for a really good job, or 2.5 x the bounty for excellent work.<br />The amount you receive is, of course, at the supervising mod's discretion.


====What if I want to replace the torrent files with a better, superior version?====


==== Why is my port listed as "---" even though I'm not NAT/Firewalled? ====
[http://bakabt.me/upload.php Make a new torrent offer], and add a comment, giving the URL of the torrent you wish to replace. The adoption system is meant for fixing torrents, not replacing them.


The BoxTorrents tracker is quite smart at finding your real IP, but it does need the proxy to send the HTTP header HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR. If your ISP's proxy does not then what happens is that the tracker will interpret the proxy's IP address as the client's IP address. So when you login and the tracker tries to connect to your client to see if you are NAT/firewalled it will actually try to connect to the proxy on the port your client reports to be using for incoming connections. Naturally the proxy will not be listening on that port, the connection will fail and the tracker will think you are NAT/firewalled.
= Is there an RSS feed available for BakaBT? =


RSS Feeds are only available for Power Users. You will see the RSS Feed link appear when you become one.


=== I am on a dynamic IP/I just changed my static IP recently, and it seems to have affected my bittorent connection settings. ===
To get fast updates on newly approved torrents alternatively you can join [irc://irc.rizon.net/BakaBT #BakaBT] where all new approvals are announced by our bot.
Boxtorrents uses a keypass-based system (See: [http://wiki.boxtorrents.com/index.php/FAQ#How_is_my_traffic_tracked.3F How is my traffic tracked?]). Changes in your IP will not affect your connection to the tracker, as long as you downloaded the torrent file when logged in.


= Can I add an RSS feed in my torrent client? =


=== There are peers in the swarm, but I can't connect to any of them. Why? ===
No. RSS feature is purely for informative purpose, automatic torrent leeching via RSS is not supported.
Your ISP may be shaping traffic. Enable encryption in your torrent client, and set it to the highest level possible.


'''Note:''' This does not hide your IP from other peers!
= How can I get an avatar on the Blog? =


Wordpress has its own Avatar-System with which you can have the same avatar on all Wordpress-Blogs you have an account on.


=== Why can't I connect to www.boxtorrents.com? Is the site blocking me? ===
For this you have to go to [http://www.gravatar.com/ Gravatar] and sign up with your e-mail address with which you created your account on the blog
Your failure to connect may be due to several reasons.
Wait for the e-mail with the activation-key, click on the link and enter the needed information.


==== Maybe my address is blacklisted? ====
After logging in click on <u>"Add one by clicking here"</u>, choose the location of the avatar and resize the box to fit your avatar.
The site blocks addresses of banned users. This works at Apache/PHP level, it's just a script that blocks logins from those addresses. It should not stop you from reaching the site. In particular it does not block lower level protocols, you should be able to ping/traceroute the server even if your address is blacklisted. If you cannot then the reason for the problem lies elsewhere.
Now you only have to choose a rating for it and you are finished.


==== Your ISP blocks the site's address ====
(In first place, it's unlikely your ISP is doing so. DNS name resolution and/or network problems are the usual culprits.)
There's nothing we can do. You should contact your ISP (or get a new one). Note that you can still visit the site via a proxy, follow the instructions in the relevant section. In this case it doesn't matter if the proxy is anonymous or not, or which port it listens to.


Notice that you will always be listed as an "unconnectable" client because the tracker will be unable to check that you're capable of accepting incoming connections.


== Is there an RSS feed available for BoxTorrents? ==
RSS Feeds are only available for Power Users. You will see the RSS Feed link appear when you become one.


An mIRC script is available that will check the RSS feed every x minutes, if there are any new torrents uploaded then it lists the new torrents, you can also manually check for new torrents. [http://force.power-net.org/?page=mscripts&amp;gsinfo=1 Information about the script], [http://force.power-net.org/?page=download&amp;section=mscripts&amp;id=1 Download Link].


= What if I can't find the answer to my problem here? =


== What if I can't find the answer to my problem here? ==
So, after reading all that, you still can't find a solution? Read on. Post in the [http://forums.bakabt.me/ forums], by all means. You'll find it's a friendly and helpful place, '''provided you follow a few basic guidelines''':
So, after reading all that, you still can't find a solution? Read on.
* You might have missed a few wiki pages. Did you know we also have the following wiki pages?
Post in the [http://forums.BoxTorrents.com/ forums], by all means. You'll find it's a friendly and helpful place, '''provided you follow a few basic guidelines''':
# [[Site Rules]]
* Make sure your problem is not answered in this FAQ. There's no point in posting just to be sent back here amidst a torrent of angry remarks telling you not to waste other people's time.
# [[For First Timers|Beginner's FAQ]]
* Before posting, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">'''read the stickied topics'''</span> (the ones at the top). Many times, new information that still hasn't been incorporated in the FAQ can be found there.
# [[Troubleshooting]]
* Help us in helping you. Do '''not''' just say "it doesn't work!". Provide details so that we don't have to guess or waste time asking. What client do you use? What's your OS? What's your network setup? What's the exact error message you get, if any? What are the torrents you are having problems with? The more you tell the easiest it will be for us, and the more probable your post will get a reply that's useful, as opposed to 'more info'.
# [[Account Restrictions]]
# [[How to make an offer]]
# [[Format Preferences|What we allow on BakaBT]]
* Make sure your problem has not been answered in this FAQ. There's no point in posting just to be sent back here amidst a torrent of angry remarks telling you not to waste other people's time.
* Before posting, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">'''read the stickied topics'''</span> (the ones at the top of each subforum page). Many times, new information that still hasn't been incorporated in the FAQ can be found there.
* Help us in helping you. Do '''not''' just say "it doesn't work!". Provide details so that we don't have to guess or waste time asking. What client do you use? What's your OS? What's your network setup? What's the exact error message you get, if any? What are the torrents you are having problems with? The more details you give the easier it will be for us, and the more likely your post will get a useful reply, as opposed to a reply that just asks for more information.
* PLEASE make an effort to make your posts readable. There is nothing worse than trying to decipher a post that looks like it was written by someone mashing their face on the keyboard. Perfect spelling isn't necessary, but basic grammar and punctuation definitely helps.
* PLEASE make an effort to make your posts readable. There is nothing worse than trying to decipher a post that looks like it was written by someone mashing their face on the keyboard. Perfect spelling isn't necessary, but basic grammar and punctuation definitely helps.
* ... and needless to say: be polite. Demanding help rarely works. Asking nicely for it usually does the trick.
* ... and needless to say: be polite. Demanding help rarely works. Asking nicely for it usually does the trick.
* '''DO NOT''' send a private message to a staff member. If you don't wish to post in the forums, use [http://www.boxtorrents.com/help.php the help form] instead, or ask on the [[IRC]] channel.
* '''DO NOT''' send a private message to a staff member. If you don't wish to post in the forums, use [http://bakabt.me/help.php the help form] instead, or ask on the [[IRC|IRC channel]].
* To prove that you have read this FAQ before seeking help, please quote the words 'Gelatin Fish Sandwich' in your post. We are quite serious. Failure to do so will result in your thread being locked immediately or your help request being ignored. This phrase is subject to change.
* To prove that you have read this FAQ before seeking help, please quote the words 'Amorphous Plate Wiggle' in your post. We are quite serious. Failure to do so will result in your thread being locked immediately or your help request being ignored. This phrase is subject to change.

Latest revision as of 02:50, 20 December 2021

Questions We Don’t Like Answering Over and Over Again
In here, you might just find the answers you're looking for!

If you are new to Bittorrent and/or the anime fansub scene, you should take a look at the Beginner's FAQ as well.



Site information and Basic Help

What makes BakaBT different?

There are many anime torrent sites but BakaBT is unique in the quality of our content. Our goal is to provide torrents only for completed anime or anime-related material and we pick only the best versions. We do not accept public submissions; only Power Users and Power Uploaders may do so.

All submissions are thoroughly checked before they are added to our ever-growing list of series; by ever-growing, we really mean ever-growing in the sense that even old torrents are still seeded. Our mantra in short: quality over quantity, and ease-of-use.

Do keep in mind that BakaBT exists because of its users; old content is still available because of the many dedicated seeders who provide you with good download speeds, so returning the favour is a must.

Before you do anything here at BakaBT, we suggest you read the Rules! There are only a few rules to abide by and most are common sense.

How do I...

Bookmark a torrent or remove a bookmarked torrent?

Click on the star icon labelled 'Bookmark' next to the torrent title at the top of every torrent page. If the star icon appears grey, the torrent is not bookmarked; If it is yellow, the torrent is bookmarked.

On your userpage, the torrents you have bookmarked will show up under the 'Bookmarked' tab (below your 'Uploaded' tab).

Add a torrent to my wishlist?

Click on the scroll icon labelled 'Wishlist' next to the torrent title. If the scroll icon appears grey, the torrent is not in your wishlist; If the scroll appears blue, the torrent is in your wishlist.

On your userpage, the torrents you have put in your wishlist will show up under the 'Wishlist' tab (below your 'Bookmarked' tab).

Get notified on torrent swaps and new comments for a torrent?

Click on the bell icon labelled 'Notify me' next to the torrent title. If the bell icon appears grey, the torrent is not in your notify list; If the bell appears golden, the torrent is in your notify list.

On your userpage, the torrents you have put in your notify list will show up under the 'Notify' tab (below your 'Wishlist' tab).

Report problems that I noticed?

A report is a system message that informs staff members of issues that need attention. Staff members will deal with these issues as they see fit. Only Power users can use the report feature on the tracker.


Reporting Torrents

The report function brings a torrent or a comment to moderators' attention. Use this function if:

  1. A torrent does not comply with site rules (e.g., if it is blacklisted material)
  2. It has corrupted files
  3. The link is broken (i.e., you are unable to download the .torrent file)
  4. Image links are broken (PM the uploader first; if you get no reply after a week then report it). Please note that a single broken image is not grounds for reporting, if all other images conform to the rules. Report if images are of wrong resolution, don't have subtitles or are in the wrong format.
  5. A better version of the torrent exists (Note that we do allow XViD releases. TV fansubs are allowed alongside DVD rips with only R1 subtitles). Please link us to the newer torrent in that case.
  6. Other torrent-related problems (e.g. groupings not set or incorrectly set)
  7. Reporting a torrent for unrelated reasons will incur warnings; and bans will be issued if abuse continues. In other words, don't report a torrent just because you don't like the user, or because you are having trouble getting a good download speed on it.
To report a torrent, click on the exclamation mark icon labelled 'Report' next to the torrent title. If the exclamation mark icon appears grey, the torrent has not been reported; If the exclamation mark appears red, the torrent has been reported (by you or someone else).


Reporting Comments

Report comments if:

  1. They are abusive or contribute to flaming.
  2. They constitute useless spam (such as 'seed this' or 'approve this').
  3. They contain unhidden spoilers for the anime.
  4. They flout any of the tracker guidelines.
To report a comment, click on the exclamation mark icon labelled 'Report' next to the 'Quote' button in the upper-right corner of the comment box. If the icon is labelled 'REPORTED' in capital letters, the comment has been reported to site staff and will be dealt with soon.


Reporting Forum Posts

Report forum posts if:

  1. They are abusive or contribute to flaming.
  2. They contain unhidden spoilers for the anime.
  3. They flout any of the forum guidelines.
The report link for forum posts is at the bottom-right corner of each forum post.


Reporting Stat-Hackers

If you find people with downright impossible torrent statistics, post a link to their userpage in this forum thread and include a reason for suspicion.


Reporting Site Errors

Errors you get with site behaviour (especially if you get error messages) can be reported in the Site Errors forum thread. Read the first post and do a quick search before reporting; someone might have reported the problem already.


Other Reports

Reports regarding other things (that do not have a proper reporting channel) may be reported using the help form. Do not abuse this feature.

Why is some content on the blacklist?

The Blacklist#Torrent Content Upload Guidelines are self-explanatory. We are quite specific about the kind of animation we archive, and also require that they meet certain quality standards.

Stuff on the blacklist is there because it is liable to get BakaBT into *trouble*.

What information about me does BakaBT store? Is it secure?

We store your account information used for registration. your email is hidden from other users, and only shown to site staff.

The amount of upload and download you get on each torrent, as well as your total upload and download, is stored permanently by the server until your account is deleted. These upload and download statistics will always be shown wherever relevant. Torrent stats will be shown in peerlists (if you appear in them), and in your userpage under the relevant columns (if you chose not to hide them).

Information about torrents that you are leeching and/or seeding, as well as torrents you have leeched and/or seeded, are stored on the server. If you have enabled privacy settings, only information for the past 30 days will be kept. If privacy settings are disabled, all prior information is stored on the server.

Account information

How many accounts am I allowed to have?

One. Ever. You are only allowed a single account in your lifetime. What would you do with more than one account anyway? Users who are found with more than one account will have the newest ones disabled and warnings issued. Repeated attempts to create new accounts will result in permanent bans of all accounts from our site.

Can my friends and family use their account on the same computer?

This is highly discouraged, as the system will identify both of you as multi-account users.

What do you do about stat-hackers?

Permanent ban, no appeal. See Why Stat-Hacking on BakaBT is a Losing Proposition for more information.


Registration and Login

I registered an account but did not receive the confirmation e-mail!

Mail can sometimes take up to half a day to be sent out by our server. Please be patient.
Remember to check your spam/trash/etc. folder in case our confirmation mail doesn't appear in your Inbox.
If the mail is nowhere to be found, drop by #bakabt-support on IRC to ask for further assistance.

Alternatively, try another email address (GMail accounts tend to see the most success so far).
Accounts registered using 'disposable' email accounts will be rejected by the server, so do not use those. Get a proper email account.

If you registered for an account and got the confirmation email, but decided you don't like the username you picked, leave the email alone (do not click the confirmation link). Unconfirmed accounts are removed after 3 days so you can try again with a different username.

Help! I cannot login!? (a.k.a. Login of Death)

See: Troubleshooting: Login Issues

Another solution is to visit your settings page.

I've lost my user name or password! Can you send it to me?

Use this form to have the login details mailed back to you (Or click "Lost Password?" beside the login field).

Can you change my username or rename my account?

Users can request their tracker account renamed in our support channel #bakabt-support only once. You are required to state a valid reason for your request, otherwise it will be rejected. Using your real name in your nick is a valid reason; getting tired of your old name is not.

Forum usernames are not renamed.

Note that if your tracker account is renamed, members might have trouble identifying you later (different tracker account name & forum username).

Also the users cannot request existing account names so please check availability before asking.

Forum registration is closed, what do I do?

Your main site account and forum account are linked. However, your forum account needs to be activated via your main site account. To do this, go to your settings page and scroll down to the checkbox that says "Enable Forum Account". Check the box, enter your password in the "Change password field" twice and click "Submit Changes". Your forum account will then be active.

How do I verify if my forum account is active?

There are 2 ways to verify if you've successfully activated your forum account:

  • After you've enabled the account and saved the changes, the checkbox next to the "Enable Forum Account" field will remain checked and greyed out, followed with "Forum account enabled".
  • Alternatively you can double-check by clicking the Forum account link from your profile page. If you've activated it successfully you'll see your Forum Profile page, otherwise you'll encounter the following error: "The user whose profile you are trying to view does not exist."
I've confirmed I've activated my account, but every time I try to log in I get the "Wrong Password"

If you are certain you've followed all the steps correctly and have not simply mistyped your password, please use the Help Form to explain your issue and we'll provide you with assistance as soon as possible.

Account Pruning and Deletion

Will my account still exist if I don't use it for a while?

Accounts are pruned after 11 months of disuse (i.e. not logging into the tracker account). Accounts with 0 download and 0 upload are pruned earlier. (See also: "Forum Account").

Donator accounts (people who've donated to BakaBT and received a donator status) have the option of disabling inactivity pruning, and safeguarding their account for as long as they choose.
The option is disabled by default, and can be found in your settings page.

My account is gone! Can you recover it?

Remaking your account

  • For a limited time we're allowing pruned users who activated their forum accounts to remake their accounts.
  • All you need to do is, login to your forums account, go to your forum account's profile page, and click the Remake pruned account link
  • If you forgot your login credentials and have trouble recovering your password join us on IRC
  • If it's unrecoverable just follow the steps below.

New account creation

Normal registration is not available at this time. We're moving to an invite based system and are conducting interviews to hand out invites at the moment. (See also: "Sign up").

I don't want my account anymore. Can you delete it?

Leave your account alone and it will be pruned after 11 months (See: "Will my account still exist if I don't use it for a while?").

User Classes

What are the different user classes?

Class Description
User Normal user, can choose to view hentai, can adopt torrents, can register in our forum. Cannot make torrent offers.
Power User Higher user, can view peer lists and report bad torrents or comments. Has access to RSS feed. Can make torrent offers. Maximum 5 offer slots available to a power user at any given moment in time.
Uploader Deprecated and merged with the Power User class.
Power Uploader These people can upload directly to the torrent pool without requiring moderator approval. These people are appointed by staff if deemed a trustworthy member of the BakaBT community. Don't ask about becoming one.
Moderator/Admins Appointed by Admins. Don't ask about becoming one.

How do I become a Power User?

Both seed and leech at least 25GB and have a ratio equal to or greater than 0.5 to maintain it.

I just qualified as a Power User, but my status hasn't updated?

User status updates every day. Give it 24-48 hours and use the help form if it still does not update.


Warnings and Bans

I got a warning/was suspended/might be banned, what do I do?

See: "Warnings, Suspensions and Bans"


I got warned but my hard drive crashed/ I got a virus/ Computer got thrown out of window/ Dog ate my homework/ Nobody really likes to leech my hentai/ etc so I lost all my files so I can't seed. Please unwarn me so I can download something to seed...
If you racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt on a credit card and then suddenly lost your main source of income, do you think the credit card company is going to let you off with a debt writeoff (or even reactivate your card for more spending)?
You got yourself into that situation, you'll have to pull yourself out of it.


But I've turned over a new leaf, and I am now a dedicated seeder who will keep his/her torrents running 24/7. Please unwarn me.
If you have indeed turned over a new leaf, prove it by fixing your ratio. We've outlined a few ways for you to do so.

Privacy

Why is my IP displayed on my details page?

Only you and the site staff can view your IP address and email. Other users cannot see that information.

How do I hide torrents on my userpage?

You can edit statistics display level through the settings page, in the User page tab.

Does BakaBT store information on the things I download?

Yes. This is a statistics-tracking site after all, so we store as much information as is needed to implement the features you find on this site. You can hide your torrent statistics, but no requests for deletion of data from our database will be entertained.



Torrent and Tracker Issues

Common Torrent Error Messages

"Finding peers"
"Failure: unregistered torrent pass"

Cause:
You are not even looking in the right place to find what the error actually is.

Solution:
Find the trackers tab in your client, and see what status message is displayed next to the tracker url. Now you can troubleshoot further by referring to torrent error messages.

Cause #1:
The tracker can not find a user associated with the torrent pass you're sending it in your announce URL.

Solution:
Log in to your BakaBT account and re-download the torrent from the site.


Cause #2:
The torrent is using an expired public key. Note: Public key is only valid until the end of the month.

Solution:
Re-download the torrent file from the site.

"Failure: unregistered torrent"
"No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it"

Cause:
The torrent you downloaded is not/no longer tracked by our tracker.

Solution:
Check if the torrent has been swapped, replaced or removed. We occasionally prune old obsolete torrents or material that have become blacklisted.

If you have checked and verified that it is neither of these causes, then it may be a database error. Report the torrent (click on the exclamation mark beside the torrent title) and let us know. Note that you need to be logged in to your BakaBT account in order to make reports.

Note: This message also is present on new offers, since the torrent needs to be approved first in order to be registered with the tracker.

Cause:
The tracker is down

Solution:
Check if the tracker is momentarily offline, you can see the tracker status in the topic title on #BakaBT channel. If it is down, there is nothing you can do except to wait for it to come back up. Leave your client running and stats will update correctly after the tracker is back online. If you stop torrents while it's down, they won't update.

If the tracker seems to be online and you're still having the problem, drop by the support channel at #bakabt-support and we'll try to see what the problem actually is.

"Failure: access denied, torrents limit reached"
"Failure: use of this client is not allowed on our tracker, please see whitelisted torrent clients"

Cause:
You are downloading too many torrents.

Solution:
Users are allowed to download 3 torrents at a time. Power Users are allowed to download 10 torrents at a time. You are allowed to seed an unlimited number of torrents, regardless of your class. Check your userpage to see which torrents you are already downloading.

Cause:
Your torrent client is not in the whitelist.

Solution:
Use a torrent client that is in the whitelist. See this forum thread for more information.

"Failure: you are warned, you are not allowed to download, see our wiki for more info"

Cause:
Your ratio is too low and your account has been warned.

Solution:
Seed more and improve your ratio.


Common Torrent-related Problems

Well known site errors

Errors in this section are considered to be well known. This means, other members have reported the error before and BakaBT experts are working to solve the problem or the problem is just temporary. Unless otherwise stated, you don't need to report the error again.

Some torrents on my userpage are listed in wrong tabs

You might see your torrents listed on the tabs where it is not supposed to be, this is a known bug. Examples:

  1. Missing, appearing/disappearing torrents in tabs.
  2. Torrents not in correct tabs
  3. Torrents listed in multiple tabs

I've finished or cancelled a torrent. Why is it still listed in my userpage?

Some older clients do not report properly to the tracker when cancelling or finishing a torrent. In that case the tracker will keep waiting for the message - and thus listing the torrent as seeding or leeching - until the peer information timeout occurs. Just ignore it, it should go away after a few hours.

I am seeing torrents on my userpage that I never downloaded / Someone has hijacked my account

Cause #1: People are using your torrent key (you accidentally posted your torrent key publicly)
Cause #2: You hot-linked to a .torrent file that is tagged with your passkey
Cause #3: You posted a screenshot of your torrent program with your passkey visible
Cause #4: You revealed your torrent passkey to one or more people
Cause #5: You uploaded a .torrent file that has your passkey to another tracker.
Cause #6: You sent a .torrent file that has your passkey to a friend, or hotlinked the torrent download button to him.

Solution: Go to your settings page and generate a new key. All your old torrents will become invalid immediately, so you will have to re-download your torrents. Wait about 10-20 minutes to be sure the tracker has recorded your key change before resuming your torrenting.

To prevent similar issues occurring in future, do not hot-link to our torrent files (only link to the description page), and do not post your personal .torrent file (the one you download when logged in) to other trackers.

I'm uploading or downloading some torrents but I don't see them on my userpage

Cause: You downloaded a public torrent.

Solution: Log in and re-download the torrent.

My stats are not updating. What can I do?

Check that the torrent pass in your client's tracker announce URL matches the one shown on your settings page. If it doesn't (or if it does, but you're still having problems), then: Remove the torrent entries from your torrent client. Re-download the .torrent files and open them in your client. Force a hash recheck and resume activity.

If that doesn't help, go to your settings page and regenerate your torrent pass. Wait about 10-20 minutes to be sure the tracker has recorded your key change, then repeat the above step. Use only official non-beta clients.


Site stats are different compared to my BitTorrent Client for some torrents

Your BitTorrent client is responsible for reporting the torrent upload/download statistics data to the tracker. This data is transmitted in pre-determined intervals (i.e. 30mins) and is incremental which means only the upload/download amount during that period (or successful tracker connections) is sent to the tracker. This mechanism is defined by the BitTorrent Protocol and is not specific to BakaBT. Statistics accuracy is important and is ensured by limiting the BitTorrent clients allowed trough the BakaBT BitTorrent Client Whitelist. The data collected trough the tracker is then reflected to your statistics page on the BakaBT site.

Under normal circumstances, this mechanism works as intended and your statistics for any torrent will be properly sent to the tracker by your BitTorrent client and you will see similar stats on your client and the BakaBT stats page.

However, the following events can prevent this mechanism from working properly

  1. client loses internet connectivity during seeding/leeching (uploading/downloading) and is closed prior to re-establishing a connection
  2. client crashes due to an error or you forcefully terminate it
  3. client cannot connect to the tracker despite retries (it will continue its P2P activity with the last successful peer list received)
  4. tracker might be down for an unknown period of time
  5. your ISP is intervening with your connection to the tracker by manipulating packets
  6. administrative operations on the tracker/site software (data restore, upgrades)

Due to these events, your statistics for a given torrent can be below what you expect it to be. Most BitTorrent clients will transmit the statistics data in the next successful connection when a tracker connection cannot be established immediately given that they are not closed.

How is my traffic tracked?

BakaBT uses a passkey system to identify each user. Your passkey can be found on your settings page. When you announce, your passkey is used to identify you and to (very accurately) track your upload and download traffic, regardless of any IP changes. The passkey is automatically added to the announce URL of every torrent you download whilst logged in. YOU MUST NEVER, EVER GIVE OUT YOUR PASSKEY TO ANY OTHER PERSON. Doing so will result in undesirable outcomes. We will not help to fix any bad ratios caused by user's negligence of the security of their torrent passkey.

What are bonus torrents?

Bonus torrents are torrents with few seeders or few leechers, the idea of the bonus system is to keep older torrents alive. Bonus torrents are marked with bonus torrent icon Bonus icon.jpg. When you seed a bonus torrent (and have 100% complete file) you will earn 1 bonus point per hour per bonus torrent. You cannot earn more than 10 bonus points per hour even if you are seeding more than 10 bonus torrents at a time. Note that bonus points can be earned more reliably and much faster through adoptions.

Bonus points can be exchanged for upload credit on the bonus page (this means you can add an amount onto your 'uploaded' stat on your user page).

Bonus status depends on the number of seeders as well as the seeder-to-leecher ratio, and a few other factors. And since the number of seeders and leechers on a torrent can change, a torrent can gain or lose bonus status as well.

Bonus status is checked and updated every hour.

Best practices

If a torrent you are currently leeching or seeding is not listed on your userpage, stop the torrent and resume it again. (also see: I'm uploading or downloading some torrents but I don't see them on my userpage) Make sure you exit your client properly, so that the tracker receives the required information.If the tracker is down, do not stop seeding. Your traffic may not be tracked during downtime but as soon as the tracker is working again then your traffic will be tracked again.

What BitTorrent clients can I use?

See: "Bittorrent Clients"

Can I upload your torrents to other trackers?

Yes. However, only post the public torrent files to other trackers, do not post the .torrent file you downloaded when logged in (otherwise these things might happen). In other words, create a new .torrent file if you intend to upload it to other trackers.

(Of course, the torrent files you download through your torrent client are yours to do as you please.)

Using BakaBT from multiple machines

Can I login from different computers/IPs?

Yes. But you are advised not to log in at the computer of another BakaBT user; the system may identify you as a multi-account user.

See also: "Why was my account disabled?"

Can I seed from different computers/IPs?

Yes, but you may not seed the same torrent from two different computers/IPs as the tracker will not understand how you can be in two places at once, and doing so may cause problems. In the worst case, you may be auto-banned by the tracker.


Freeleech

What is Freeleech?

[F] symbol is used to indicate that a torrent is subject to Freeleech.

When a torrent is flagged with this symbol, it means leeching that torrent will not affect your download amount and will not decrease your ratio. Meanwhile seeding that torrent will continue to improve your ratio and will increase your upload amount. This is an excellent way to improve your ratio.

Torrents with specific type of content (1080p torrents, Artbooks, Music Videos, and torrents smaller than 100 MB) are subject to Freeleech, this is to promote their distribution.


Important: Warned members can not benefit from Freeleech, as they are not allowed to leech.

Note: This behavior is controlled by the BakaBT tracker, this means as long as the torrent is flagged with [F], you can benefit from this feature during leeching even if you have downloaded the torrent file before it is flagged.

How often does global freeleech happen?

Almost never. Don't ask us when it will be happening because we will ignore you.

The tracker went down. What do I do?

You wait until the tracker comes back up.

Why did the tracker go down?

Imagine that you and a friend are working at a restaurant. All of a sudden 130,000+ people come into the restaurant and demand 10+ meals each. Obviously the restaurant can't handle that load and eventually shuts down. During its downtime, it will catch up on orders and eventually re-open. Same principle here, when too many people connect to the server, the server may become overloaded and shut down. Be patient, eventually the server will come back up.

What shouldn't I do?

  • Do not Manually spam updates on the tracker. It will not help you connect faster; on the contrary, it puts extra strain on the server and may cause more downtime. That means you will not be able to enjoy the full benefits of the freeleech period.
  • Do not leech only. Part of the purpose of freeleech is to help you improve your ratio. It would be foolish if you leeched and don't seed.

Downloading/Seeding and Connection Issues

Common Questions

What's the difference between seeding and uploading?

Uploading is posting a new torrent to our tracker, where it will appear on the Offered or Browse pages.

Seeding is uploading data to other users on a torrent after you have completed the download.

I don't see the leeching, seeding, seeded torrent tabs in my stats page (anymore)

As of September 29th, 2010 those tabs have been removed. You can see the torrents you are seeding/leeching on the Active tab.

The BitTorrent protocol and clients are not designed to report the individual torrent status information in a way that the previous separate tabs mechanism could work as expected.

I have leeched/downloaded the torrents but some torrents won't seed

Leeching a torrent requires seeders and the number of seeders generally determine how fast you can leech a torrent, higher the number of seeders - higher the download speed. Unfortunately this becomes a problem when you finish downloading the torrent and afterwards intend to seed it back because if there are too many seeders and no (or a small number of) leechers when you are seeding you won't get a chance to seed.

An option is to continue seeding those torrents as much as possible and wait for the ratio for that torrent to reach 1.5 or alternatively you can download other torrent with more potential to seed (popular torrents with many leechers)

See also Freeleech Torrents

I have some files on my computer, how do I seed them or upload them to BakaBT?

See: "I've finished downloading the files, so how do I seed back?" and "Why can't I offer new torrents?"

Why do I have to wait before I can download a new torrent?

When new torrents are uploaded, those with Power User (or higher) status are given 'first dibs'. By virtue of their good share ratio we trust that these users will stick around to help seed the torrent after they benefit from having exclusive access to the initial seeders. Other users must wait for the timer to expire before they can download the .torrent file.

The amount of time you have to wait is proportional to the size of the torrent (the larger the torrent, the longer you have to wait). This is to encourage more people to become Power Users, and to build up a larger seed base before other users are permitted to join the swarm.

Why did an active torrent suddenly disappear?

  1. The torrent may have been replaced by a superior offer.
  2. The uploader may have requested for its deletion, with an acceptable reason(s).
  3. The torrent was requested to be removed by a 3rd party (usually in the form of a cease-and-desist letter).

It happens from time to time and we regret that no alerts will be given prior to deletion. If this is unacceptable, we suggest that you get your files from other public trackers (such as Anirena, Minglong or Nyaa) instead, where torrents are less likely to be removed.

What is a torrent passkey?

See: How is my traffic tracked?

I lost all my files, and I can't download or seed, help!

See: Fixing Your Ratio

Connectivity and Speed Issues

If your question falls under any of these categories:

  1. Cannot access BakaBT
  2. Port number is '---'/other port-related issues
  3. Proxying and proxies
  4. Dynamic/static IPs and NAT
  5. Slow downloading/uploading

Kindly refer to the Troubleshooting section for more information.


Torrenting Issues

I can't leech/seed a torrent

If the BakaBT tracker is preventing you from leeching/seeding a torrent, it will inform your client in the form of error messages through the trackers tab/pane. Look at the tracker status and refer to FAQ#Common Torrent Error Messages


I'm having trouble with this Bittorrent program, something's wrong with it

Do a search in the Help section of the forums, and see if someone else has faced the same issue.

If yours is a unique case, make a new post in the same section. Give clear and detailed information, and include links to the torrents you are having trouble with.

Note: We only provide help for whitelisted torrent clients. Support for other clients will not be provided.

What do I do if a torrent has no seeds?

Hop on the forums and post in the Reseed Request section. Be sure to read the rules before posting.

I've finished downloading the files, so how do I seed back?

See: "Seeding"

What are these "a piece has failed a hash check" messages?

BitTorrent clients check the data they receive for integrity. When a piece fails this check it is automatically re-downloaded. Occasional hash fails are a common occurrence, and you shouldn't worry.

Some clients have an (advanced) option/preference to 'kick/ban clients that send you bad data' or similar. It should be turned on, since it makes sure that if a peer repeatedly sends you pieces that fail the hash check it will be ignored in the future.

The torrent is supposed to be 100MB. How come I downloaded 120MB?

See: What are these "a piece has failed a hash check" messages? If your client receives bad data it will have to redownload it, therefore the total downloaded may be larger than the torrent size. Make sure the "kick/ban" option is turned on to minimize the extra downloads.

What's this "IOError - [Errno13] Permission denied" error?

If you just want to fix it reboot your computer, it should solve the problem. Otherwise, see "What's this "IOError - [Errno13] Permission denied" error?".

Downloading or seeding is slow! How do I speed it up?

See: "Troubleshooting: Speed Issues".

Torrent Offers and Adoptions

Torrent Offer System

What does 'New' mean?

Newly offered torrents are not registered with the tracker until they are approved. Until then, they will not be available for download.
The time it takes for torrent approval varies and is dependent upon many different factors, so a reliable estimate cannot be given.

What does 'Semi-approved' mean?

Offers require the approval of two staff members before they are added to the tracker. 'Semi-approved' is the state an offer acquires when at least one staff member has granted it, but it is pending further approval.

What is 'On hold' status?

Pending notification for all offers that require more work. On hold status is usually followed with a reason.
Offers on hold are no longer counted on the 'Offered' page.

Why can't I offer new torrents?

Only Power Users can make new torrent offers, which will be granted or rejected by staff. Torrents offered by staff members and Power Uploaders are added to the torrent pool directly without going through the approval procedure. Non-Power Users can not make offers.

Is there a limit to the amount of offers I can make?

As a Power User you can offer a maximum of 5 torrents. When that limit has been reached you'll have to wait for staff to inspect one of your pending offers.

Why are rejected torrents in the Recently rejected section?

For rejected torrents, we will prune them after a minimum of 7 days, maximum of 30 days on the "recently rejected" list. While the torrents are in the recently rejected list, it will still occupy a slot on the uploader's account.
Please refrain from asking the admins or mods to prune the torrents before time.

I have another question related to torrents and offers

If it is any of the following questions:

  1. What can I offer/not offer to BakaBT?
  2. I have files that I would like to upload, how do I upload them here?
  3. What should I put in the description?
  4. How should I name my files?
  5. What are good keywords for my torrent?
  6. Why does it say "This torrent contains improper files, please swap the torrent file" on the torrent page?
  7. What are "extra files" and what should I add?
  8. How do I attach extra files?
  9. What should I put in my torrents?
  10. What is this torrent swapping feature?

Kindly see: "How to make an offer"

Torrent Adoption System

Why should I adopt a torrent?

You adopt because the (faulty) description of a torrent does not sit right with you, and you have the irresistible urge to fix it, put it right and provide accurate information for future users of BakaBT who will chance upon said torrent.


Note: The adopter effectively becomes the new owner of the torrent. As such, he/she is expected to carry out the usual duties of the torrent owner. They'll be responsible for re-seeding the torrent if it dies (so adopters must have the torrent files), keep descriptions up to date, and make torrent swaps where necessary. Torrent adopting is not stamp-collecting.

Note 2: Many users are under a false impression that adopting torrents will inadvertently fix your ratio or give you freeleech right even if you are warned. This is false.
Only seeding can increase your ratio, and by adopting you are assumed to already have the files you planning to adopt and therefore seed.

What should I do to ensure that my adoption request will be granted?

  • Submit a proper reason for adoption. Tell us what you are going to fix, what you will add, what you will do with the torrent. If the reason for adoption is "I will fix the torrent", we're not likely to be convinced. Look at the checklist below for things that you need to point out in your request.
  • It helps if you have a portfolio.
    • Users who consistently submit good torrent descriptions (by adopting, or making torrent offers) will obviously be trusted more than users without said portfolio. So if you already have torrents in your Uploaded tab, do take a look at them and work on those first before adopting new torrents.
    • If you are a new user with no prior experience do not worry, we will sit you through the description-editing process and help you bring it up to speed, all you need is a willingness to learn and dedication to the adoption process.
  • Seed the torrent. While owners are not expected to seed the torrent files 24/7, being a seed on the peerlist gives us the assurance that you have the files are will be able to re-seed the torrent as and when the need arises.

What do I need to do after I adopt a torrent?

Bring it up to date, in accordance with the torrent description content guidelines.
Keep tabs on it, and re-seed the torrent if it dies (has 0 seeders).

That sounds complicated, can you help me?

In general, we will give advice when needed, but first you should check out this guide. It covers most of what you'll ever need!

Bonus points bounty for a successful adoption

Upon successful completion of an adoption, depending on the work you've invested, you'll either get 1/10th of the bounty (for minimal or no changes, if none are required), the full bounty, 1.5 x the bounty for a really good job, or 2.5 x the bounty for excellent work.
The amount you receive is, of course, at the supervising mod's discretion.

What if I want to replace the torrent files with a better, superior version?

Make a new torrent offer, and add a comment, giving the URL of the torrent you wish to replace. The adoption system is meant for fixing torrents, not replacing them.

Is there an RSS feed available for BakaBT?

RSS Feeds are only available for Power Users. You will see the RSS Feed link appear when you become one.

To get fast updates on newly approved torrents alternatively you can join #BakaBT where all new approvals are announced by our bot.

Can I add an RSS feed in my torrent client?

No. RSS feature is purely for informative purpose, automatic torrent leeching via RSS is not supported.

How can I get an avatar on the Blog?

Wordpress has its own Avatar-System with which you can have the same avatar on all Wordpress-Blogs you have an account on.

For this you have to go to Gravatar and sign up with your e-mail address with which you created your account on the blog Wait for the e-mail with the activation-key, click on the link and enter the needed information.

After logging in click on "Add one by clicking here", choose the location of the avatar and resize the box to fit your avatar. Now you only have to choose a rating for it and you are finished.



What if I can't find the answer to my problem here?

So, after reading all that, you still can't find a solution? Read on. Post in the forums, by all means. You'll find it's a friendly and helpful place, provided you follow a few basic guidelines:

  • You might have missed a few wiki pages. Did you know we also have the following wiki pages?
  1. Site Rules
  2. Beginner's FAQ
  3. Troubleshooting
  4. Account Restrictions
  5. How to make an offer
  6. What we allow on BakaBT
  • Make sure your problem has not been answered in this FAQ. There's no point in posting just to be sent back here amidst a torrent of angry remarks telling you not to waste other people's time.
  • Before posting, read the stickied topics (the ones at the top of each subforum page). Many times, new information that still hasn't been incorporated in the FAQ can be found there.
  • Help us in helping you. Do not just say "it doesn't work!". Provide details so that we don't have to guess or waste time asking. What client do you use? What's your OS? What's your network setup? What's the exact error message you get, if any? What are the torrents you are having problems with? The more details you give the easier it will be for us, and the more likely your post will get a useful reply, as opposed to a reply that just asks for more information.
  • PLEASE make an effort to make your posts readable. There is nothing worse than trying to decipher a post that looks like it was written by someone mashing their face on the keyboard. Perfect spelling isn't necessary, but basic grammar and punctuation definitely helps.
  • ... and needless to say: be polite. Demanding help rarely works. Asking nicely for it usually does the trick.
  • DO NOT send a private message to a staff member. If you don't wish to post in the forums, use the help form instead, or ask on the IRC channel.
  • To prove that you have read this FAQ before seeking help, please quote the words 'Amorphous Plate Wiggle' in your post. We are quite serious. Failure to do so will result in your thread being locked immediately or your help request being ignored. This phrase is subject to change.