Annoying Napster problem

While trying to download a perfectly legal piece of classical music off Napster today, I had a problem that has been creeping up a lot lately in the past two weeks.

When I start to download something off Napster, eventually the download will cut off and cut off my dial-up connection with it. Usually this happens when the song is at 99 percent (making it even more of a bitch), but for this particular file, Rhapsody In Blue for those interested, it kills off my connection almost immediately after starting.

Other than idleness, this is the only time my connection ever, ever drops or gets even remotely screwy. Any ideas what’s going on?

This may be a stretch, but is there an option in Napster that says to disconnect after each download?

Actually, that may not be that much of a stretch. When I first started using Napster all files ended at 99% completion. Are you using an older version?

No, I’m using the latest version, v2.0 BETA 8.24, and I checked to see if there’s any “disconnect after downloading” option. There isn’t.

Even if that were the case, it wouldn’t explain why my connection would go sour at the start of downloading, which is happening recently.

If it’s at all relevant, Rhapsody in Blue is a huge file, around 20 MB.

Well 99% is good enough isn’t it? I usually stick with anything over 95%

I have some questions for you, since I’ve had similar problems. I am in no way an expert, just some possibilities bsed on my expereince with Napster:

  1. What is your connection speed and what is the connection speed of the individual you are downloading from? If it is a 14.4 or 28 or even a 56K, I’d stay away. It takes so long to download, your computer might disconnect for other reasons. I religiously download only files from users with cable, DSL or T connections.

  2. If it is the same song over and over agains= that is the problem, are you trying to download it from different users and still having problems? If so, the mp3 file itself might be defective, and no matter what you will do, it will not download 100% to your expectations.

  3. Are you on the Internet while downloading? If so, maybe your compuer dial connection is getting overlaoded.

  4. Are ther other users downloading stuff from yout library? This will overload the system too.

This may sound dumb too, but the odd time I get idiots who cut you off at 99% just for fun. The thing is though, at 99% you may very well have the whole song anyhow. Just don’t automatically delete it. Play it, go right to the end and see how it sounds. I bet it is complete more times than not.

My $.02