Bit torrents is an alternative to the p2p or Peer to Peer way to share files over the internet. Instead of downloading a client which you use to search for share files then queue to download them with bit torrent you need an application (see below for a list) that will allow you to open .torrent files (small files which contain the information of who has what pieces of a file and where it is being tracked).

1. So let’s get started download one of the following applications:

· µTorrent (http://www.utorrent.com) – windows 95 to Vista recommended

· Azureus (http://azureus.sourceforge.net/) Windows/Mac Compatible

· BitComet (http://www.bitcomet.com/)

· Transmission (http://www.transmissionbt.com/) Mac Client

· Tomato Torrent (http://sarwat.net/bittorrent/) – Mac Client

There are no doubt hundreds more clients but I find these to be among the most commonly used an easy to set up. You can find installation instructions and quick set up guides on each of the sites

2. Once you have a client installed you need to the torrent files. There are thousands of sites out there which allow users to share torrent files. Some of the commonly know public trackers include:

· Demonoid – recently closed down due to legal issues.

· Mininova – Still going strong currently the largest public tracker.

· ThePirateBay – Another large public tracker.

· BTJunkie – Bit torrent search engine

· Torrentz – Another bit torrent search engine

These sites should get you started with what you’re looking to download but try and find yourself a couple of private tracker sites which are much more reliable in terms of download speeds and new releases. Although these public trackers boast the largest number of torrents and active users you may often come across slower download speeds and sometimes finding yourself stuck with an incomplete download.

The above sites have search facilities that allow you to find torrents based on their title and or description. Once you have found the torrent file you are looking for there are a couple of things worth checking. First are there any seeds (people with complete files sharing them)? Second read the comments if there are any about the file you can often find out how good the quality of the download is here or any problems with the files other users may have had.

3. Ok you have picked the torrent you want to download. Download the file by either clicking the link to the torrent file or right click ‘save as’ however you want to do it just make sure you end up with a .torrent file on your PC.

4. Next all you need to do is open that torrent file by double clicking it and it should open in your client of choice. This will start the connection with other users and begin the download.

5. If you have any difficulties with the connection not starting once the torrent is open in your client then this is likely to be issues with either a software firewall or hardware firewall on your router. To remedy this you need to allow access to user defined ports on your firewall allowing access for the program (see instructions on your firewall for how to do this.)

Other Useful Resources:

µTorrent a beginners guide

Mooter’s BitTorrent Guide

TorrentFreak - Bit Torrent News

10 Most popular torrent sites 2007