Loss of Mb of Videos after downloading

[HartsVideo]

Hi,

This just started happening about 2 weeks ago. When I download a movie, I don't get the size of the file. The entire movie is downloaded but the person has a 724,000Mb file and after I download it, it's only 709,000Mb (example). This happens all the time now, with every movie. :refilao: I've been doing this for a couple of years and I used to get the full number of bytes. What could be causing this to happen all of a sudden?

Hart

[garryheather]

The studio deliberately seeding corrupt files to make you buy the original when it comes out on DVD ?

[DarrellS]

It didn't just start happening, you just started noticing it. BTW, I believe you mean't KB not MB.

Here are a couple of pages that might help you understand. Your download (file sharing) program is seeing the true size and Windows is not. It tells you how to calculate it if you're a mathmatician.

I thought you could put a 717MB movie on a disc but from what I've read, if you know what you're doing, you could fit an 800MB movie on a 700MB disc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabyte

http://www.osta.org/technology/cdqa7.htm

[HartsVideo]

Hi DarrellS,

Thanks for responding.

I didn't just start noticing it. I always compare the size of the file I have with the sizes of other files to see if I could get better resolution. I've always downloaded the exact number of kb *blush* as the original file.

I spent the last 2 weeks getting a virus and a trojan out of my pc. The reason I asked this question is because files didn't start losing kb until after I finally rid my pc of these monsters. I wouldn't mind losing kb, but the resolution is poor, even if they're 800,000kb. When I pause them, 1/8" or 1/16th squares show. Movies that I downloaded prior to this don't do that when paused.

I'm trying to find out if the virus and trojan damaged a program in my pc so that these things are happening.

Denise

[DarrellS]

A virus has nothing to do with video resolution. The quality of your videos will depend on the bitrate and a video that is over 2 hours and only 800MB is going to be pretty crappy in quality.

If you're downloading zip and execute files from a file sharing network, you're gonna keep getting virus though. Bearshare and Limewire are full of these files.

We're not supposed to be talking about downloading copyrighted movies off the internet so your thread will probably get locked.

[ROF]

Can't agree more. If you are downloading two hour movies that are smaller than 1GB in file size they are going to look like crap no matter you do with them after this. I wouldn't download any full feature movie that is less than 3-5GB in size. But if you are downloading copyrighted films that are that small in size at least your Optician will be getting plenty of money from you after you keep viewing such poor quality films. Just please do not harm your children or other peoples children by allowing them to view such distorted features. If you want to kill your own eyesight by all means they are your eyes but do not bring the children into your crimes.

[JohnnyMalaria]

How exactly are you determining the expected and actual file size? How does the website determine the size?

It might be due to quoting KB vs MB. e.g., 724000KB is 707MB.

[HartsVideo]

The movies that are downloaded are not copyright protected, so you can put your mind to ease about that.

I'm also not downloading zip or exe files.

Kb vs Mb was my error only.

I've never heard of Bearshare and wouldn't go anywhere near Limewire.

The files are from friends/family, not a studio, so that I know that they're not deliberately seeding corrupt files, but thank you for your suggestion garryheather.

When a search for a particular movie produces its results, the kb is always listed, i.e., 834,291Kb . I have always downloaded the exact number of kb. Always. Now, I'm short by several hundred. When I do a search for the same file that I just downloaded, everyone has 834,291Kb but mine is listed as 756,432Kb. When I click on the top bar and choose size, it says 756,432Kb. The fact that I'm no longer receiving the entire file is clear . . . there's no dispute about that.

Most of the files are very clear, some DVD quality. But that isn't the issue. If the virus and trojan didn't damage one of my programs, they may have changed a setting in my pc so that other vital portions of the movie are not included in the download such as (a very poor example here -->) a codec. I don't know what that something might be so I turned to you, video gurus that you are, and I was hoping you might have a suggestion as to which settings I might look into or point me in the right direction.

And ROF? If you don't want to offer help regarding this matter, don't hinder it. Opinions are like a**holes . . . everybody's got one. Or, to put it much more gently, "Let he without sin cast the first stone." So drop it.

Denise

[mats.hogberg]

This is surely not video related at all - If you download a file (any kind of file) and you don't receive as many bytes as you expected (but the computer thinks it's got it all) there's something wrong with the app you're using for downloading, or further out the transport chain.
Or does this effect only appear when you DL video files? If so: What kinds? AVI? MPG? WMV? or all video types, but nothing else?
What do you use to retrieve these files?

/Mats

[HartsVideo]

I haven't downloaded any other files except video files since I rid my pc of the virus and trojan, so I don't know if an entire file other than a video file will lose kb. I can no longer run BitDefender (I've tried the on-line scan and a downloaded version of it), but that's the only other change that I've seen in my pc so far.

I've run about 10 to 15 different programs (CCleaner, Dial-a-Fix, Pc onPoint, Power Defragmenter GUI, AM-DeadLink, Microsoft Word, Winzip, etc) and no other ones have had a problem. The files that I download are .avi, both divx and xvid. None of them have been mpg's, mpeg's or wmv's since the virus/trojan problem.

A bit more info about my pc . . . I have Windows XP Pro with SP1 and SP2, NETFramework 1.0. About 6 months ago, I installed 2.0 but it caused a lot of problems with my video programs so I uninstalled it.

This is my hobby. I sell nothing. I make cartoon DVDs for my grandson (Popeye, Heckle & Jeckle, and other toons that were made in the 20's, 30's and 40's) and they're the only files that I've ever burned (vcd). I don't back up on DVD (I have a svcd and vcd burner). I back up using an ext hd. I even have video clips of Thomas Edison! This is the extent of my use of the files, other than watching them on my pc monitor.

Other than losing kb, the program runs fine but I'll try reinstalling it. Thanks for your suggestion. . . I appreciate it. I'll let you know if it helps.

Denise

[JohnnyMalaria]

When a search for a particular movie produces its results, the kb is always listed, i.e., 834,291Kb . I have always downloaded the exact number of kb. Always. Now, I'm short by several hundred. When I do a search for the same file that I just downloaded, everyone has 834,291Kb but mine is listed as 756,432Kb. When I click on the top bar and choose size, it says 756,432Kb. The fact that I'm no longer receiving the entire file is clear . . . there's no dispute about that.

It could be that the size quoted by the website is wrong - may be an older version of the same video? What size is reported to your browser isn't necessarily the true size. For example, I could put a download link for something on my site and make your browser think it is 100MB when it is only 1MB.

Unless it's embarassing (!), can you share the link you use?

[HartsVideo]

The size of the files have never been quoted as wrong until I had the virus and trojan. I'm sure it could be done, but my friends/family have never and would never do that, nor do I think they know how do it or that it could even be done. Nothing dubious is going on. It's software related inside my pc.

The links are on private servers so unless I ask and you become registered, you wouldn't be able to log in.

I've been doing this for about 6 or 7 years. The entire process is as familiar to me as the palm of my hand. Of course, 7 years ago, I still had a 56k modem and have had cable for the past 3 years, but nothing else has changed.

I didn't uninstall and reinstall the program yet. I only reinstalled it in case something was missing. Problems have been resolved by doing that in the past. . . I just didn't think of it until reinstalling the program was mentioned. If I uninstall the program and then reinstall it, it would take a of couple hours to re-establish all the proper settings and connect to all the servers again. I just spent the last two week fussing with my pc and I want to use it for a while instead of fussing with more programs and settings. I'll see if this has helped. If not, I'll go the entire uninstall/reinstall route.

Denise

[offline]

Good luck with your reinstall, but if that does not work, more details re: software used and settings will need to be posted in order for anyone to help diagnose the problem. I assume here that you have done a hash check (if available) to confirm your loss of data?

[HartsVideo]

I haven't done the uninstall then reinstall yet but the software is solely a video player, either MediaPlayer, WinAmp, Media Player Classic, RealPlayer, VLC, whatever works. Settings are all default.

If I'd done a hash check, I wouldn't be here asking this question.

The reinstall didn't work. I'm still losing 100's of kb when I download a video.

[mats.hogberg]

Download using what?

/Mats

[DarrellS]

When a search for a particular movie produces its results, the kb is always listed, i.e., 834,291Kb .

This quote puzzles me and leads me to believe that you are using a P2P software to download movies. Don't know of any websites that allow family and friends to upload and store full length movies with a searchable database to download. Maybe I'm just not up to par with the newest internet trends.


If I downloaded a clip using P2P software, here is what I'd see...

example: 14,636,768 (bytes)

When it gets to my computer, it would read...

14,294 (kilabytes)

It looks like I've lost kilabytes but if I right click on the file and choose properties, I see...

Size: 13.9 MB (14,636,768 bytes) and

Size on disk: 13.9 MB (14,639,104 bytes)

If I use Windows to download a clip, it will read in megabytes...

example: 64.2 MB

When it gets to my computer, it reads...

65,776 KB

If I right click on the file and choose properties, I see...

Size: 64.2 MB (67,354,018 bytes) and

Size on disk: 64.2 MB (67,354,624 bytes)

If the file you're downloading is 800,000,000 bytes or more, the difference in these numbers will be huge.

Like I stated in my first reply, it didn't just start happening, you just started noticing it. Windows never gives you the same reading before and after you download a file. You are not losing data so you don't need to worry that the virus has messed up your downloader but it would be wise to avoid what you did to get the first virus. The virus just has you paranoid.

BTW, Popeye and Heckle & Jeckle are copyrighted cartoons. Some users here might not have a problem with downloading copyright material for their personal use but nobody here can condone it or help other users in those endeavors.

[greymalkin]

yes this seems to be quite a sophisticated network your friends/family have built up.

[HartsVideo]

If I downloaded a clip using P2P software, here is what I'd see...

example: 14,636,768 (bytes)

When it gets to my computer, it would read...

14,294 (kilabytes)

It looks like I've lost kilabytes but if I right click on the file and choose properties, I see...

Size: 13.9 MB (14,636,768 bytes) and

Size on disk: 13.9 MB (14,639,104 bytes)

What you said is true. I know that's how it works. But what should show, after I download the movie, is the same size that everyone else shows. If A copied from B who copied from C who copied from D and A, B, C and D all show 757,000kb and I copied from D but I show 702,000kb, then something is wrong. So I copied from A, B and C and they all show 757,000kb but all of mine show 702,000kb in a display.

I'm not paranoid since the virus and trojan. I noticed the problem when viewing the videos. The quality is extremely poor now, as if part of the file isn't there, such as if there are 3 layers and only 2 have been uploaded to my pc . . . it's the best way I can explain it.

As I've said, I've been doing this for a few years now and I know what to expect. I know that several files from a series that I downloaded prior to the virus and trojan have very good quality and the ones that I downloaded after the virus and trojan have very poor graphics. I checked the size of the files that I received prior to the virus and trojan and they're the same size as A, B, C and D. Now they're no longer the same size. Something isn't getting through to me or something isn't getting through from the file to the player.

My pc's been on for over 2 days now so I'll be rebooting within the next day or so. When I do, I'll uninstall the program, run RegSeeker and PConPoint to get rid of any residue left over from the uninstall, and then reinstall it and hope that it changes something. If not, I just finished getting the last of the parts I need to build a new pc last week. I'll start putting it together. Hardware I can do. Software is a mystery. I've put off building it because of software headaches I know that I'm going to have. CMOS and things like that might as well be Chinese words. I can install and run programs but settings like that, downloading all the right and up-to-date drivers will be tough.

Thanks for your advice.

Denise

[JohnnyMalaria]

But what should show, after I download the movie, is the same size that everyone else shows. If A copied from B who copied from C who copied from D and A, B, C and D all show 757,000kb and I copied from D but I show 702,000kb, then something is wrong. So I copied from A, B and C and they all show 757,000kb but all of mine show 702,000kb in a display.

Just a thought - is the 702,000kb the size of the file or the reported size on the disk. Could it be related to different cluster sizes between your PC and the others? Have you reformatted, converted from FAT32 to NTFS or anything like that?

And what if you send your smaller-than-expected file to one of the others? Will they get the right size? That would help determine if it is a genuine byte shortage or not!

[guns1inger]

Cluster size differences would only account for it if the disc was very fragmented, as slack space only occurs on the last cluster of a file or fragment. However, if the files was very fragmented . . .

There are two different issues at play here. One is how the size isbeing represented, and the other is the perceived quality of the video. The video quality issue likely lies in changes to setting in your playback device. Codecs such as Divx now include deblocking filters for playback, as do both major GFX card providers. If these had been turned on previously, they may have helped hide the generally lower quality of the video (if I had a dollar for every person who has posted here to tell us their Divx file was DVD quality until they converted it to DVD . . . . ). the trojan, or more likely, somthing you did while trying to rid yourself of the trojan/virus may have turned this off, hence showing the videos as they truely are.

Then again, perhaps you have had an epiphany and are not able to see the true quality of over compressed files . . . . . .

But you certainly cannot download 2 layers of a movie and lose the third ; a) movies aren't stored that way, and b) if you were missing some of the file it would either be unplayable in most players (WMP won't play partial files) or it would suffer break-up similar to scratched DVDs or bad digital signals.

[HartsVideo]

Just a thought - is the 702,000kb the size of the file or the reported size on the disk.

The 702,000 is the reported size on my screen:

Person - File Name - Size
A.............Wacky..... 757,000kb
B.............Wacky..... 757,000kb
C.............Wacky..... 757,000kb
D.............Wacky..... 757,000kb
Me...........Wacky..... 702,000kb
Me...........Wacky..... 702,000kb
Me...........Wacky..... 702,000kb
Me...........Wacky..... 702,000kb

Could it be related to different cluster sizes between your PC and the others?

I couldn't answer that question. I don't have the technical knowledge.

Have you reformatted, converted from FAT32 to NTFS or anything like that?

No, I didn't do anything like that. I run things like CCleaner, PConPoint and RegSeeker to clean up my C drive and I use virus/malware/ad-ware/trojan programs such as SpyBot and Ad-Aware a few times a week. I have Sygate Firewall and AVG anti-virus turned on. I run TrendMicro, Panda, Windows Defender, and Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool every other month or so. Other than that, I don't fool around with settings. Most of them are set at default unless I know exactly what I'm doing.

Other than that, I don't know any additional information that I can give you. As I said in my last post, I'm going to be doing the uninstall/clean-up/reinstall tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have good results. If not, it looks like I'm going to have to start putting that pc together. Maybe this is a good thing . . . it'll give me the push I need to start doing it. I'll let you know how I make out with the uninstall/clean-up/reinstall tomorrow.

Denise

[HartsVideo]

I can't speak for another person's hard drive but I defragment mine about once or twice a week using Power Defragmenter GUI.

The strange thing about it is that the files that I had in my pc play fine, excellent quality. The files that I've downloaded since the virus/trojan problem have very poor quality. On most of them, tiny squares that are about 1/8" or 1/16" can easily be seen during playback. I'm mostly into cartoons. The older the cartoon, the better I like it. I have some dated back to the early 1900's and seeing a video clip of Thomas Edison was out of this world. It was history in the making. I'm very happy that none of these files were damaged. I have them stored on an external hard drive and the damage didn't get that far. I had a trojan named Csrrs.exe.
http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/dangerous_files/2607-Csrrsexe.html
The virus is called eSellerateEngine.dll
http://www.2-spyware.com/file-esellerateengine-dll.html

On top of that, I received very bad advise at a computer help forum. I was told that all services should be running on my pc. So I clicked on My Computer > Manage > Services and Applications > Services, and turned everything on. Well, come to find out, TlntSvr.exe should not have been turned on:

Microsoft’s Telnet Server service for Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003. When running, this service gives Telnet access to remote users. For the layman : Telnet access is a method of connecting and login onto a remote computer and run DOS commands, command-line programs, and DOS commands which can start Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003 services on the remote PC/server.

Recommendation :
This service should only ever be turned ON by advanced users who know about Telnet, who know what they are doing, and who know how to securely configure their PC/server with Telnet services running (ie: through securely restricting access to a specifically set up “Telnet Users” group). In all other cases the safest startup setting for this service is Disabled. If you find your Telnet Server service set to start at boot-up, and you know you do not want to provide Telnet services, then you most probably are infected by a virus or were at some stage prior –

The full report can be viewed at http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist_t.htm

So I really had 3 very bad things going on inside my pc. They did some damage but the only damage that I've seen so far is to new cartoons and video clips that I get. I only care about the kb size change because it drastically reduces the quality of the picture. I have a 19" LCD monitor with 1280x1024 resolution. It might not be the best for picture quality but it's pretty good.

You had said:

The video quality issue likely lies in changes to setting in your playback device. Codecs such as Divx now include deblocking filters for playback, as do both major GFX card providers. If these had been turned on previously, they may have helped hide the generally lower quality of the video

Wouldn't that affect all of my videos, not just the new ones? Would you tell me the names of the settings and where they're located so that I could check them?

In a previous post, you asked me about cluster sizes. I think that because I have a 32-bit system, my cluster sizes are 32. Again, I'm not sure about that but I think most people still have 32-bit systems. (my new pc is going to be a 64-bit system)

Again, I'll be doing the uninstall/clean-up/reinstall tomorrow and hopefully it'll eliminate the problem.

[mats.hogberg]

I only care about the kb size change because it drastically reduces the quality of the picture.

If indeed you're losing data in the transfer of video, it will manifest itself as pieces missing, or a not at all playable video file. It wont be seen as pixelization or lower visual quality. Like guns1inger says, that's simply not how it works.
For (I've lost count)'th time: What do you use for your file transfers?

/Mats

[offline]

This is my hobby. I sell nothing. I make cartoon DVDs for my grandson (Popeye, Heckle & Jeckle, and other toons that were made in the 20's, 30's and 40's)

Because it is not certain that you are not talking about warez, this topic will be locked until the Moderators receive evidence otherwise. Popeye and all characters are registered trademarks of King Features. Please purchase a licenced copy of your cartoons.