# Napster question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2001, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napster-question/51024 "2001-01-20T16:11:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napster-question/51024/1 "2001-01-20T16:11:23Z")
It seems that whenever I’m (allegedly) downloading from Napster the majority of my downloads are interrupted by a TRANSFER ERROR. I was just wondering if any computer wizards out there knew what causes these errors? ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napster-question/51024/2 "2001-01-20T16:27:56Z")
Usually because the person you’re getting the song off has dropped the connection or stopped (cancelled) the transfer. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napster-question/51024/3 "2001-01-20T18:00:10Z")
If you are not already doing so, try to get the song from the source with the lowest ping. That will often be the fastest and most reliable source. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@Farmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napster-question/51024/4 "2001-01-20T19:44:21Z")
Also, download from someone with Cable, DSL, T1 or T3 connection. These are the users that are almost always connected to the network. Modem users often get there songs and then log off, and also it’s slow. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napster-question/51024/5 "2001-01-20T22:08:47Z")
No, it isn’t “usually” the reason that the other person disconnects. I keep seeing people taking files from me and getting interrupted by transfer errors even though we’re both still connected. Transfer errors happen a lot without anyone disconnecting. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napster-question/51024/6 "2001-01-20T22:23:16Z")
Revtim is right, make sure you ping the results of a search. A good number of people will say they are on a slow connection so that fewer people will download from them. Sorting by connection type can be useless, especially since it is the user who specifies the connection. A person on a modem can say they are on a T1 and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napster-question/51024/7 "2001-01-20T22:24:44Z")
Oh and in case you’re like some of my friends who didn’t know, the lower ping numbers are better than high ones. I know people who were purposefully downloading from the highest ping they could find.