oh .. did you try redownloading the torrent file? Something that sometimes happens is the original Tracker URL ID code gets changed. I know how to change this in Vuse, do not have a clue how you would change it in LW. Perhaps opening a new copy of the torrent file might fix it.

For Vuse, you open the freshly downloaded torrent file. Then Right-click it, choose Advanced -> Tracker/Torrent -> Edit Tracker URL(s), then Right-click on he URL in the list & choose Edit & copy the new URL. Edit the old torrent but paste in the new URL. I achieve this by opening the torrent file on windows & copy the details across to my mac (same computer) or to Transmission (another torrent program.)

What happens when you add the torrent to Vuze? Does it show the percentage done and if not, have you tried force checking the torrent?

If it says 0% done, are you sure you are pointing it to Limewire's primary torrent folder, where the already downloaded data for the torrent is located?

BTW if Vuze says "Error: Path\XXXXX.XXX file is corrupt" X being some file in whatever torrent you are downloading, just delete that particular file and try force checking again.

If none of the above, what does the error say? (without specific file names)

Sorry for the delay in replying - I've been out of the country.

I can't remember what the Vuze error message was, and I'd rather not find out just yet - LW does seem to be a little flaky and in the last day or so I've crashed it by running Dosbox (maybe to be expected) and then VLC Media Player (maybe not to be expected). I don't want to load any software that I don't have to right now. What I can remember is that it refused to load the torrent.

What I did was to search for the torrent on other sites. The size may give a hint as to what it was. I found another that seems to have no seeds for the first day, and then a third that is working. So far I'm about 30% through and due to finish in about 14 days.

Moving on, what is the reason for avoiding large downloads? Is it solely the risk of data loss?

M

I have no idea. I don't avoid them.. but then again I only use real torrent programs for torrents

Huge files generally have fewer seeds/peers. You can end up with milti-GB files sitting on your drive for a long time while awaiting the last few MBs. I have a 5-GB file that I have waited months to complete. And if the files are archived, you may not be able to tell if you got a good copy until the download is complete. Would it not suck to find out, 14 days from now, that your file is mis-named, poorly ripped, or spam?

Well if you manage to find multi-GB files (as in larger than 1080p or alternatively Bluray) in one single archive, then let me know where, because I would love to see a +40GB torrent with one single multirar archive.

Unless I'm quite sure of the quality beforehand, I always download 1 working file first. Also you can check comments below most links, or just stick to what you know is legit.

On a public torrent, there is always a chance of all seeders leaving, but it's a risk you choose to take. And 5GB really isn't that much bandwidth.

Out of the thousands of torrents I've downloaded over the years, no matter the size, very few have not completed.. unless they were a longshot from the start, like 2 seeds and 0-10 leechers with speeds of a few KB/s a second. Even fever have been mislabeled or useless.

Just to let you all know: the download has finished. 86.05gb in a little under 22 days. I still have no idea why the first stopped, nor why the second, which has downloaded the same set of files, worked. But thanks for all the suggestions.

M