Downloading Files: Explanation of "Types", etc.
 

When downloading computer files and programs, there seem to be a variety of "types" of files and compressions you can choose, like "bin", "cue", "exe", "rar", "zip", etc. What do these abbreviations stand for. Which types are best, and which types will be easily opened on MAC OSX?
Since this is Limewire, not Kazaa or another Windows-based p2p client, can one asdsume that all files being shared are Mac-based, not Windows?

This is an edgy topic in a forum like this. First of all, bin means binary, exe means executeable, zip means compressed. You may want to Google cue and rar, I'm not exactly sure what they stand for. I would think that you will have a hard time finding programs for Mac on LW. And finally, when a program is "cracked" that means that someone has (illegally) discovered the source code for that program. Once that has been done the program can be manipulated in any way the "programmer" wants to. Second, a "keygen" is a key generator. These tools are used for programs that require a "key" to activate them, Windoze XP for example. Cracked versions of software are usually bugged (have spyware/adware/virii/trojans imbedded in them). NOTE: these sorts of programs are called warz or appz. They are illegal to download, install, and use. Now that I've told you more than you need to know about software piracy, the topic will not be discussed any more in this thread. I hope this has answered most of your questions.

deepblue

Please refer to the forum rules: http://www.gnutellaforums.com/announ...?s=&forumid=29 this is not a wares site & if it were it would've been closed down a long, long time ago!

If you want mac files, you should be searching for: dmg, sit, possibly binhex, & possible toast image files. All formats you mentioned 'only' apply to windows files.
exe files are executable files/programs. rar & zip are compressed formats similar to sit files. cue & bin (if I'm correct) are cd image formats for windows.

Reply for Lord Of The Rings
 

Thanks for your reply and info. Apparently my post was problematic in connection with this Forum's rules, based on your reply and the fact that one whole part my post was edited out. This was my first time posting on this forum for Limewire, and I'm sorry if I unwittingly violated any rules; that was not my intention. You said this was not a wares (warez?) site and reffered me to the rules, which I did read, and now I'm confused.
I linked to this Forum directly from Limewire, an app where people are definitely sharing, via p2p, copyrighted audio, video and computer programs. Looking through the categories & posts, beyond basic "functionability" problems, there are definitely questions about file names, abbreviations, and other points that would indicate the copyrighted nature of the files being shared. I'm confused how any discussions about Limewire, which itself is a forum for sharing copyrighted files, could even exist without alluding to the questionable legality of p2p sharing.
P.S. I tried to send this reply just to moderator Lord Of Rings as a private message, but couldn't seem to access that, so I'm posting it regularly and would appreciate any clarification with this issue which seems like a built-in contgradiction. Thank You

I 'think' you need to register as a member before you can access all the xtras such as sending pm's.

Whilst I edited your post I did not edit your answers. I actually answered to one of your threads not realising 2 others had already answered an identical thread from you. So I combined them.

Quote from the mod squad (Peerless): 'This is NOT a warez forum, and never will be...they tend to have short life spans...'

Limewire has no control over how the program is used. LW is designed for peer 2 peer sharing. It was never intended that some of the files shared might be copyright, etc. LW has no control over how the user population utilises LW & what files they choose to share/dwnld. Because you can doesn't mean you should, & certainly LW does not in any way or form condone/approve of this type of file-sharing. There's many a file out there that's being shared that is NOT bound by copyright, etc. And that applies to all types of files.

If you share/dwnld copyright material, we don't want to know about it! We could only recommend you check to make sure it's not coyright 1st. I totally refute this statement b/c it's not true! This forum is about helping people who have issues in regards to using LW & some related issues they may come across. We are not totally 2 dimensional in our help. We will go as far as we feel we can (extend our help.) But bring legality into the topic & we can only suggest you read the rules or do a search for legal/illegal on this forum. We are not interested in hearing about people who use LW inappropriately or particularly about specific questions about such things.

You put the hard question to me whilst making untrue assumptions (/misgivings) along the way, well I've put the hard answer back to you. We're happy to help if you have genuine questions that relate to LW or its use.

Got it, LOR
 

Well LOR I appreciate your deciphering some of those abbreviations for me anyway. When I first asked about them, I had no way of knowing that might be an edgy or unethical question, or bring up legal issues. I just wanted to know which of those file types would download/open correctly on a Mac OS, so I didn't waste time downlolading something I can't even uncompress or that's made for Windows OS. Unfortunately, there is no clear info on LW's download page, once you've entered a search, that indicates what all these weird terms mean, even though almost every program LW finds has one of these extra codes attached to it. Prior to this I only downloaded audio files, and they're straightforward, all mp3 and virtually all for Mac, so no problem. I know LW has no control over how it's used, and I'm gratified to hear that many of it's files are non-copyrighted material. Personally, just about everything I've seen there looks like something copyrighted, not public domain, so that seems a bit hard to believe, but maybe I'm just not searching in the right spots. Anyway, it appears I unwittingly asked questions that were too legality-specific for a forum that's mostly about advising how to make LW function right, and so maybe this forum was the wrong place to post, and for that I'm truly sorry. As I said, I would have know way of knowing that asking what "bin", "rar" or "keygen" meant would be problematic or inappropriate. Thanks again and goodbye