Welcome to ABCDI. If you're reading this section you've probably been
around the warez groups for a little while and know what they offer
and why. You know how to download parts, uncompress them and use the
results. Well, things are a little different here than they are in,
say ABWI, and these differences can bite you in the rear if you aren't
aware of them. Please read this section and the rest of the FAQ with
the knowledge that things do not run the same in this group as they do
elsewhere, and for very good reasons. You'll get maximum benefit from
the group if you note the key details.
First, unlike the rest of the warez groups, we do NOT handle
requests. Yes, that can be a huge pain in the ass and may initially
seem like an asinine policy, but think things through. In ABWI, for
example, a request is for a file or set of files that are likely a
couple of megabytes, and rarely more than a couple hundred.
Here, 95% of the images are 500-700 Meg EACH. That does not include
the multi-CD posts for the big ticket items. Can you imagine the
strain on the news servers if these REQs were responded to by 2
well-intentioned individuals at the same time, even if it only happens
once. In reality, of course, you know that new people join every week
and will continually REQ for the exact image that was just posted last
week. Furthermore, making an image for posting is not a trivial task
and even with a T1 it is not a simple task to post either. It is just
not reasonable to handle REQs of this size with the current net
bandwidth and transmission speeds. Maybe when we're all on highspeed
lines things will evolve - if so, we'll be the first ones on the edge,
don't you doubt it <g>
Second, since the vagaries of news propagation can play havoc with
the abilities of people to receive all the parts of a post, we require
all posters to make an initial post and follow it up seven (7) days
after the LAST part has been posted with a complete repost.
Once two successful (ie. properly propagated to at least one major
server outside of the posting server) posts have been made, that's it.
Further traffic for that image must take place either in the parts
group (abcdi.parts) or via alternative means (ICQ, FTP, email,
snailmail, etc).
Third, posts are supposed to be spaced out to allow dialup users a
reasonable chance of retrieving at least one image at a time.
Currently, we recommend 30-40 parts of around 3MB each which keeps it
to about 100MB per image per day. Have patience, the entire thing will
come down the pipe. Equally, don't be too greedy. We'll be sorry if
you are unable to grab all 4 images that get posted over some period
of time, but we won't make special exceptions for you. This group is
not a beginners group nor for those severely bandwidth-challenged. Do
the best you can and make friends with the regulars. Some of them will
help arrange alternative means for you to get CDs that you are just
unable to get yourself.
Fourth, ALL discussion should go in the discussion group (abcdi.tools.d)
and not in the main group. That group is for posting ONLY.
Finally, read this FAQ all the way through. We have some standard
tools and procedures that are fully outlined inside. If you learn how
to follow/use them, you'll be on the end of a nice pipeline of quality
software for your evaluation. Be polite and ask questions when you
need to (in tools.d) and enjoy.
