Need help with Par2 checking, repairing, and Unraring

[tdb]

I've read the AltBinz wiki (including the Problem Solving section), thread on "Par2 checking, repairing & Unraring," and read through several of the threads on this forum related to Par/Rar related issues.  However, I still cannot find an answer to some problems I am having. 

I am using Windows XP and AltBinz version 0.25 and I have followed all recommended Advanced Settings for Par2 and Rar from the AltBinz wiki page.  I am dealing with two separate problems.  Here is a description of the first one.

1.  Using Newzleech (within AltBinz) or Binsearch, I download an NZB and import it into AltBinz.  This is done automatically for me when I right-click on what I want from the Newzleech search results and click "Add to queue" from within AltBinz.  If I am using Binsearch, then I just click the "Create NZB" button on their web site and AltBinz automatically opens and adds those files to my queue.

AltBinz successfully downloads the small Par2 file along with all the necessary Rar files.  However, nothing shows up in my Par2 tab.  The Rar files are not automatically checked nor Unrared for me.  This only happens on certain files and I'm not sure why it is only some files and not others since I download all my NZBs the same (via the method described above).  I have read some other threads on this forum and it leads me to believe that the NZBs I am downloading could be the cause, but how do I know for sure?

I am able to successfully Par2 check and Unrar these files using QuickPar and WinRAR from outside of AltBinz.  I checked the log for these particular files which are not auto-Par2 checked and auto-Unrared, but there does not seem to be anything unusual in the log file.  The usual Article finished, Article started, decoded statements exist.  Please let me know if there are any specific lines in the log I need to look at or post here which would help in solving this problem.

Now for my second problem.

2.  I download the NZB files via Newzleech or BinSearch and AltBinz successfully downloads the small Par2 file and the complete Rar set.  Once again, AltBinz does not automatically do the Par2 check nor the Unrar.  However, this time, something does show up for this set of Rar files in my Par2 tab.  I see the following icon with the par2 filename of the Rar set I am interested in.  For Blocks, I see "0/1979" blocks.  Under the Unrar column, I see the stack of books, but that's it (no check mark or anything).

Outside of AltBinz, I am able to open the downloaded small par2 file and check the Rar set with QuickPar and everything is OK, so I am able to manually unrar with WinRAR.  What is the problem here and how come AltBinz does not automatically Par2 check and Unrar?

Thank you for any assistance you may be able to provide.

[Hecks]

The easiest answer to both questions is: pm Rdl/mods a link to the exact search result for the NZB on Newzleech/Binsearch so we can check it out, or come to the irc channel and do the same (#alt.binz @ EFNet).

[tdb]

I have sent both you and Rdl a PM.  Thanks.

[Hecks]

I have sent both you and Rdl a PM.  Thanks.

Received, thanks.  That downloaded & unrared fine here without needing a repair using both 0.25.0 and 0.28.2 with standard settings.

And MEH now I suppose I'll have to watch it.

You added: "Also... after this set of files were downloaded, the rest of my files have not been automatically Par2 checked or Unrared."  Obviously the PAR2 thread has choked <vagueness>  for some reason </vagueness> on your machine.  Solution: restart Alt.Binz and re-import small PAR2 if needed or just unpause one of the others.  Otherwise QuickPar solves all manner of problems, as you've discovered.

While we're at it, might as well make sure that Alt.Binz directories are excluded from anti-virus checker or anything else that might interfere with your download.  This is the equivalent of: make sure you take a lollipop on the way out.

[tdb]

Hmm... I wonder why it didn't work for me.

Well I shut down and restarted AltBinz, then I manually imported the small Par2 files into the Par2 tab like you said and AltBinz immediately began checking all the files, but it did not repair any of them.  After it checked all the files, it went to extract the first file and got stopped 47% of the way through because the Rar set is damaged.  However, now it's just stuck there at 47% and it did not bother to try and unpause the remaining Par2 files so it could download them and then repair the Rar set.  Do you have any idea what is going on?

In the meantime, I had to manually unpause the needed Par2 files and once those were downloaded, THEN AltBinz started doing the auto-repairs and auto-unraring.  How weird is that?  Why didn't it unpause the needed Par2 files automatically?

[Hecks]

To answer your last question: because Alt.Binz choked on what seems now to have been a corrupted file.  Choked as in: suffocated almost to death, needing Heimlich manoeuvre before it could continue.

Who knows why some people's downloads get corrupted and others don't?  Could be: bad network connection, bad server, bad memory, bad hard-drive, naughty firewall peskiness, anti-virus meddling etc etc.  I got it from Giganews and everything was hunky dory.  That should narrow down things for you a bit, since now you know: 1) it's not an Alt.Binz problem 2) its not a problem with the post.

In any case: the good news is that the PAR2 stuff is a lot better in later versions, especially if you use the modified multicore (strawberry flavored) version provided by Rdl to contributors.  Sooooooo ... the Donate button is your new friend.

[tdb]

That it is.  Hecks, you've convinced me to make a donation, which I just did.  Can't wait to try out the latest version of AltBinz.

[Hecks]

Cool, I see you have Contributor status already.  Follow the links in the New Versions forum (from forum index), make sure you try the new par2.exe from there too. 

[tdb]

I have yet another question.

Is it better to pause downloads while Par2 checking and Unraring?  I understand it will take a bit longer to get my files extracted, but will it help alleviate the wear and tear on my hard drive or does it really make that much of a difference?