Tutorial : Automating downloads from Rapidshare, Megaupload, Hotfile & other file sharing websites using JDownloader

Torrents suck! Really. The worst cases are when the torrents get old. I don’t even get a speed of 100 KBps on my 256 KBps connection.
So I decided to use file sharing websites to download stuffs. But there are many problems associated with it:-
1. Wait or pay – I can’t do both. I have a night 2:00am to morning 8:00am plan, so I cannot just sit back & download every file overnight.
2. Some links are always broken or unavailable – Imagine downloading 50 files just to know that 51st file is unavailable. I need a program to check all the files prior to download.
3. Hotfile & Rapidshare allows you to download one file every 15 minutes (unless premium). These websites block IP addresses for a period of time. However my ISP provides me fresh IP every time I connect to the internet.  So I want a program which resets my connection after downloading every file.
So, my search began for such a program which provides all of the above mentioned features at the famous software download website “Softpedia“. While I had a little chance of getting a single application with all of these features, I stumbled upon a very powerful software “JDownloader” . It had all the features I had asked for. But the real challenge was to configure its options to make it behave just as I wanted.
Step 1: DOWNLOADING REQUIRED PROGRAMS
Download JDownloader from here or here(mirror). If you don’t have java installed, download it from here. JDownloader is about 26 MB while java is about 12 MB in size.
Step 2: INSTALLATION
Install Java first (if you don’t have it installed on your PC) then install JDownloader.
Step 3: RUNNING JDOWNLOADER
After the installation is complete, the JDownloader window will open. The “downloads” tab shows all the currently downloading files or the files which have been queued. The “linkgrabber” tab can automatically add up links from the clipboard & checks them before attempting to download them. The “settings” tab can be used to configure options.

Step 4: CONFIGURING AUTOCONNECT
Autoconnect in JDownloader means disconnecting & reconnecting your internet connection again to reset the IP address of the computer. This works only if your ISP allots you a new IP everytime you connect to the internet (dynamic IP) & will not help you if your IP is static IP i.e. it does not change after reconnecting.
All file sharing websites offer certain limitations in the form of waiting times to free users. For example, hotfile.com & rapidshare.com allows one file download per 15 minutes to free users. They actually block you IP for the desired time so that you cannot download during that duration.
JDownloader resets the IP by autoconnecting.
There are two ways of configuring Autoconnect in JDownloader depending on the way you connect to the internet:-
1. If you have an always on internet connection i.e. you get connected just by turning on your router, then you need to set up a reconnection script on your router. To do so, go to “settings” tab in JDownloader. Click “Reconnection” in the left pane. In the “LiveHeader/Curl” tab, click select router & select your router model from the list. Enter your router username & password in their respective boxes and click “Create connection script” If the script connection is successful, you can test it by clicking “change IP” button.
2. If you connect by dialling through Windows, you need to put a batch script under the “Batch” tab.  The syntax of the script is :
rasdial /disconnect
rasdial "connection name"[space]"username"[space]"password”
with quotes
Replace connection name, username & password by their respective values.
Click “change IP” button to test autoconnect.

Step 5: SCHEDULING DOWNLOADS
The inbuilt scheduler in JDownloader is disabled by default. To enable it click “Addons” in the menu bar followed by “Manage Addons”. Activate scheduler by clicking on the check box beside “schedule”.
Now you can schedule start & stop downloads by clicking “Addons > Schedule” in the menu bar.

Pros:- Everything including the ability to change IP & schedule downloads.
Cons:- Requires Java to run, no help or support files included.
My Verdict:- If you are looking to download as fast as you can for free from file sharing websites, look no further.
My Rating:- Five out of Five stars

del.icio.us Tags: download from rapidshare,autmatic downloads,scheduled downloads,download from file sharing,megaupload,hotfile,mediafire

Office 2010 Beta now available for free download

After providing Technical Preview versions of the forthcoming version of Office 2010 to select corporate institutions, Microsoft is now offering free download of its Beta version to general public. Although both TP & Beta versions got leaked on torrent sites before their general availability, the feeling of getting software from original developer is different feeling altogether. While I got my hands on a leaked version of TP version back in September, I thought of upgrading to beta yesterday when it became available.

Everyone can download the Beta from the Microsoft Office Website. The download size is 684 MB. Until now, only the Professional Plus version is available for download which consists of Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, InfoPath, OneNote & SharePoint Workspace. Enterprise edition will be available for download soon.

So obviously, the question you would be asking is what’s new in 2010 than in 2007 ? If I say ”nothing but only eye candy!” Yes, that’s all. There is nothing much new in Office 2010 except some minor enhancements in functionality like the ability to remove personal details, etc. As a student, I have to regularly use PowerPoint for my projects. I was looking forward to PowerPoint 2010 for new templates & word art styles. Even Word 2010 (like Word 2007) does not support uploading pictures to a blog post in Blogger.  I was indeed very disappointed. Also the software has serious performance issues – it starts up slower than Office 2007.

So basically Office 2010 is just an ‘old wine in a new bottle’. Microsoft seriously needs to revamp the functionality of its newer version of Office or it will be the same Vista story again.

Pros:- Believe me, there are none.

Cons:- Everything else starting from the long installation time to start up & bugged activation process.

My Verdict:- If you are using Office 2007, stay put. If you’re using Office 2003 or lower, upgrade.

My Rating:- One star out of Five - only for the ‘looks’

Windows 7 is Here !!!!!!!!

I know that I’m pretty late to announce this news but hey! I do need to test & see what it is worth before reviewing it in my blog.

So basically, nothing has changed since the RC. I expected some minor fine tuning in the OS before it was ultimately released to the market. But I was disappointed. However none of the Windows users seem disappointed since the OS is getting rave reviews & getting sold like cakes or biscuits. Also the popularity of this OS can be judged by the fact that it has become the favourite topic for those “underground” people since many cracks & activators were being offered for download on file sharing websites even before the OS actually hit the market!!

I am not going into the features of this OS since there are many websites (including Microsoft.com) & other blogs to tell you that. Also if your PC meets the system requirements for Windows 7, why not try the OS (until you are a linux fan)? I am sure you won’t regret spending money to get Windows 7. And it is cheaper than its Vista counterparts. Even those Vista haters are using Windows 7 so why shouldn’t you ?

OKAY now that I have created a rosy picture of Windows 7, that does not mean that you won’t encounter any problems while using this OS. Actually, even I encountered two blue screens in one month in Windows 7 while I never got any i my three years of XP!!! But still, this OS is for me until Windows 8 gets released in 2012. That’s because of its simplicity, security & overall performance.

Pros :- Fast, reliable & clean user interface.

Cons:- A bit unstable, requires a third party security software,has minor glitches, requires heavy hardware, compatibility issues with older software & games.

My Verdict:- Get it unless you have a 5 year old PC.

My Rating:-  four stars out of five

If you liked this post, please comment.