dat files help required

[leebagpuss]

Please could anyone tell me how to view incomplete avi files before they are downloaded. I have irfan viewer but it only works some of the time. Iif I want to download a movie - which could take upto 4 days on my 56k modem - I would like to know what I am getting. I usually download from kazza but their viewer sucks. I'm sorry if this subject has already been covered but I have made a search - honest!

kind regards

[logannsan]

D/L Divfix..found in the tools section on this site..

[leebagpuss]

Thanx for the reply. I downloaded that program but it doesnt seem to work. I need something that plays dat files not just incomplete avi files. Thanx anyway

[gll99]

Use virtualdub but make sure you tick the box "popup extended options" when you click on the file..open.

Then if its an mpeg click on the box to accept incomplete streams. If its a avi do nothing most of the time but occasionaly click on open compatibility mode if the other won't work. Do not reindex since it will take a long time and you only need this if you plan to jump around the file. When you preview the file it will be very slow between clicks so don't do anything but click on the play button and then the stop button when you are done. Exit as usual.
Copy the dat file so that you don't get a "file already in use" conflict. Just open the copy and you don't have to stop your download.

On rare occasion when vdub can't open the file properly try again later. Sometimes the file is on a weird boundary and vdub doesn't recognize it or you get an abnormal termination. In that case just download a bit more and take another copy and retry.

[leebagpuss]

Cheers buddy,
I will try it out next time im downloading from kazaa