File Sharing

Gnutella

When you first fire up your Gnutella client, it will attempt to make several connections to the network. This may take a little time as it 'feels' around for other computers to talk to.

Once you are connected, type in a filename in the search field. You can narrow the results by indicating the file type that you want. This will help you avoid some bad music video, when all you wanted was the MP3.

If a download refuses to begin at all, it's very possible that the remote user who has the file may not have enough bandwith left for you (in other words, he or she may already have people connected to his/her machine)

FastTrack

FastTrack is a younger network than Gnutella, but is quickly becoming more popular. One of the features that FastTrack clients provide is the ability to automatically download the same file from another computer when necessary. FastTrack programs will let you limit your searches to audio, video, or everything. If KaZaA returns a search for you, you may notice a few files with a red "X" next to them. These are files that are inaccessible because the user is behind a firewall (something that protects company networks). Another neat feature these programs offer is the ability to search for more files from the same artist, album, and even user! This means you can discover new music from users with similar tastes.

Most importantly...Have Fun! It's exciting to find new songs you've never heard before, filling your computer to the max, and building your own custom CD's. If you get stuck...be patient, and try and work it out. The rewards are worth it!