A Guide To Creating A Video Torrent On Mind-Warp PaVilion
This guide appeared in its original form on Savage
Jaw and has been modified for use by members of Mind-Warp PaVilion
Big thanks go to all at Savage Jaw for allowing its
use
For this guide we will be using: 'David Bowie - Fashion Rocks' DVD
The software used is:
Windows XP Professional
DVD Decrypter
µTorrent
1600
µTorrent is freeware.
Some Words About DVD Decrypter: There is some debate about whether the use of DVD Decrypter is legal. Mind-Warp PaVilion does not encourage or condone its use for copying copy-protected, region-protected or copyrighted DVDs, nor does it host DVD Decrypter on its website. For further information we suggest a Google search and we leave it up to the individual to decide whether or not to use this software. Information is also available at Wikipedia. The use of DVD Decrypter in this guide is for demonstration purposes only.
Please Note:
Since this Guide was written an updated version of µTorrent
(v1.6.1 build 490) has been released. While this updated version
does not affect any of the steps described in this Guide we recommend that
the updated version of µTorrent be used.
See here
for details and links.
Step 1 - Create a root folder for your DVD files. This folder should be labelled to reflect the artist and the DVD title. For this example we'll call it DavidBowie_FashionRocks;
Within this root folder create a sub-folder called VIDEO_TS. It is important that this sub-folder be called exactly this as this is where your DVD files will be saved. This sub-folder should be named in UPPER CASE.
Step 2 - Open DVD Decrypter and insert the disc.
You will notice that DVD Decrypter defaults to a folder with the same name as the disc label of your DVD and it also creates a sub-folder called VIDEO_TS. To alter the destination folder to the one you have created, click on the folder icon in the 'Destination' dialogue box;
...and select the VIDEO_TS folder you created in your root folder;
The root folder, in this case called 'DavidBowie_FashionRocks',
will also contain your info text file and artwork if you have it, but you
should save these outside the VIDEO_TS folder.
Step 3 - Ensure that DVD Decrypter is set to 'Mode > File'
By default DVD Decrypter should have selected all files shown in the right-hand window. If this is not the case simply left-click on the first file, hold down <Shift> and left-click on the last file. This will select all files.
Click on the 'Decrypt' button;
When ripping is complete you will get a dialogue box;
Ensure no files were skipped and also check to ensure no Read Errors occurred;
If Read Errors did occur, delete any existing files and rip the DVD again.
Click 'OK' and close DVD Decrypter.
Your root folder should now look like this;
Step 4 - Open
up Notepad and create a file called (in this
case) DavidBowie_FashionRocks.txt
and insert details. Here you can copy and paste the MWP
Video Torrent Announce Template
into Notepad and fill in
the blanks.
Please Note: It is very important that your info text file contains all the relevant information about your upload.
To find the technical information about your DVD that MWP requires for your info text file and your Torrent Announce see the MWP Video Technical Guide for PC Users (PowerDVD).
Notes on the Info Text File:
- Because we don't have scanable artwork for this title
we have included a link in the info text file to the artwork in the MWP
Gallery.
- Because this title has been previously uploaded to
MWP we have included a Torrent History acknowledging the original uploader
and date.
Save your info text file to the root folder you created
- in this case D:\DavidBowie_FashionRocks.
Do not save it within the VIDEO_TS folder.
You will notice that once you've created the info text
file you can use it in your Torrent Announce. You've already filled in
all the fields so now you just have to copy and paste it into the Announce.
If your Torrent originated on another tracker, like DimeADozen for example,
please include that
info text file in your Torrent if you still have it,
and include the information in your own info text file.
A rule of thumb for descriptions of previous uploads
to other sites is;
Initial upload (to, for example, DimeADozen) is called
"Originally Seeded To.." or "Uploaded To.."
Subsequent uploads to other sites (MWP for example) are
called "Seeded To..".
Subsequent uploads to the same site at a later
date (MWP for example) are called "Reseeded To..".
NOTE: At this point it is a good idea, though not essential, to defragment the drive that you've saved your DVD files to. Because DVD files are large it is likely that they were not saved contiguously during ripping. Defragmenting will put them back together, speed up the torrent-making process and minimise the risk of errors when you create your Torrent.
Fragmented
Defragmented
We're now ready to create the Torrent.
Step 5 - Open µTorrent. Click 'File' -> 'Create New Torrent...'
Click on 'Add directory' and browse to the root folder you created which contains the VIDEO_TS folder and the info text file.
Ensure that you add the correct Trackers info - for Mind-Warp
Pavilion it is found
under 'Torrents' -> 'Upload' on the MWP Tracker page:
This is it - http://www.mindwarppavilion.org/ezt/announce.php
Copy and paste MWP's Announce URL into the field in uTorrent.
Leave the rest of the fields in the µTorrent
dialogue box in their default state:
- 'Skip Files' should be empty
- 'Piece Size' should be Auto-Detect
- 'Other' -> 'Start Seeding' and 'Private Torrent' should
be unchecked
When you're ready click 'Create and save as...'
When the Torrent has been created you will get a dialogue box asking where you want to save the .torrent file to. We recommended that you save it to a location on your HD where it can be easily found again.
A Note About .torrent Naming Conventions: When µTorrent creates and saves a .torrent file it will, by default, give the .torrent file the same name as the root directory that was specified - in this case 'DavidBowie_FashionrRocks.torrent'. However, Mind-Warp PaVilion would be grateful if you would include Artist, Title, Torrent Type and MWP's URL in the .torrent file name. To do this simply modify the .torrent file name during this 'save as' phase. In this example, as we save the .torrent file, we are renaming the .torrent file as;
DavidBowie_FashionRocks_DVD[www.mindwarppavilion.org].torrent
It is also acceptable to include spaces in the .torrent File Name, so it could look like this;
David Bowie - Fashion Rocks DVD [www.mindwarppavilion.org].torrent
The reasons for asking that MWP's URL be included are simple; it helps everybody remember where the Torrent came from (and this includes you when you're browsing through your harddrives looking for a particular Torrent) and it is also beneficial to MWP and its members to have the .torrent file name point back to MWP should the Torrent appear on an anonymous tracker.
When you have saved the .torrent file click 'close' in the µTorrent dialogue box and exit µTorrent.
CAUTION: Once you have created your .torrent file you MUST NOT alter any of the files contained within your Torrent. This includes, but is not limited to, editing your info text file. Any alteration to ANY file within your Torrent after your .torrent file has been created will result in you not being able to seed your Torrent.
Now you're ready to upload your Torrent to the Mind-Warp
Pavilion Tracker.
Step 6 - Go
to MWP's Tracker page - http://www.mindwarppavilion.org/ezt/
and click
on 'Torrents' -> 'Upload'.
This will take you to a page where you enter the details
of your Torrent:
Note that we're only looking at the top of the page at the moment. When the fields are filled in for this example it will look like this:
Note that we have done a copy and paste of the already created info text file into the Description dialogue box. If your info text file is as complete as it should be, there won't be a need for any additions to the description. However, the Description box allows you to format your text such as giving the Artist and Title a larger font, different colour, underlining etc.
Here is an example of a completed Video Torrent Announce as it should appear on the MWP Tracker.
To complete the bottom of the Upload page fill in the fields as required.
Choose a 'Category' and 'Type' that seem appropriate for
your Torrent.
Ensure that you check the boxes relating to MWP's policies
regarding;
Torrents
Allowed,
General
Guidelines and
Prohibited
Artists/Bands.
We recommend that you familiarise yourself with these
policies and check them often as they are subject to change without
notice.
PLEASE NOTE: Do not include a scan of any artwork in your Announce as there is no telling if this image will be available in the future if and when your Torrent is seeded to another tracker or reseeded to MWP . Rather, you should either include the artwork in your Torrent or upload it to the Gallery and provide applicable links.
Click on the Upload Torrent button ONLY ONCE. There may be a delay between your clicking the button and getting the 'Torrent successfully uploaded!' screen. This is normal.
After you see the above screen the Tracker should immediately send the .torrent file back to your computer and you should get a dialogue box asking you where you want to save the .torrent file to. Please note that in order for you to seed the Torrent you have just uploaded, you have to download and save the now personalised .torrent file from the Tracker.
Important! Do not save the .torrent file to the root folder you initially created. You will get an error if you do. We recommend that you have a folder called, for example, BitTorrent where you can save all your .torrent files in one place whether they are downloads from another seeder or a Torrent that you are uploading and seeding yourself.
Note: When you see the dialogue box below, or something similar if you use a different web browser, you can choose one of the options available. If your BT Client is set up to automatically handle .torrent files you can choose to have your BT Client open the .torrent file you are downloading in which case the .torrent file will be saved to your BT Client's folder or to wherever you have specified. If you want to save the .torrent file to another location choose 'Save it to disk' and then select a location.
In this case we have saved the .torrent file to a folder
called F:\BitTorrent1.
Step 7 - NOTE: Your Torrent will not be visible on MWP's Tracker until you start seeding it yourself. To do this open µTorrent and click on 'File' -> 'Add Torrent':
Browse to the folder that contains your .torrent file, highlight it and click 'open'
You will get the following Dialogue Box. In the 'Save
As' box at the top browse to where
your Torrent files are located - in this example D:\DavidBowie_FashionRocks
When you have selected the correct folder µTorrent will perform a check of the files and compare them to the details held in the .torrent file.
When µTorrent has finished checking and has found the files to be exactly what the newly downloaded, personalised .torrent file information contains, µTorrent will start seeding.
Finished! MWP will send an email to members telling them that your new Torrent exists and your Torrent will become visible on the Tracker.
