Read the documentation
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You must read the documentation in order to use the program to its full
potential. The majority of support issues are fully explained in the
documentation. You can access this manual any time by pressing the Help
button while the program is running.
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Make sure your computer is secure
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BearShare, like all other Gnutella compatible programs or Internet servers,
allows other people to connect to your computer to receive files and
maintain their position on the network. Although BearShare only allows
people to see and download the files you tell it to, if your computer
is not secured properly a hacker could use it to compromise your
programs and data. The best way to protect yourself is through knowledge,
and Free Peers, Inc. recommends:
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Make sure you have WS2_32.DLL
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This Windows Update is required for most Windows 95 users. If you get an
error when you launch the program about this .DLL, please visit the
Support Center to get
the update.
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Make sure you can connect to the Internet
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In order for BearShare to work, you have to connect to the Internet before
you run the program. The "Auto connect" checkbox will automatically connect you
to the Gnutella file sharing network by contacting the Gnutella Service
Providers that are built-in to the program. These providers show up as
blue "Service" connections in your Hosts List.
If BearShare repeatedly fails making a connection attempt to these providers,
then you may not be able to use the program from that computer. In particular,
users behind firewalls or proxies that only allow outgoing connections on
specific port numbers may be unable to use BearShare.
If you cannot get a connection to the Gnutella network, please contact your
network administrator to determine if this situation applies to you and
can be remedied.
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Make sure your software is configured properly
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If you are using Internet Connection Sharing, or you use a hardware device to
connect multiple computers to the Internet (for example, a LinkSys router),
you need to set the proper IP address in the BearShare Setup dialog, as well
as enable the correct port forwarding settings on your firewall.
If you are at a college or business that has strict rules in its firewall
settings, you may not be able to use BearShare. Check your network administrator
to determine the proper settings, or even if the software is allowed to run.
This version of BearShare introduces some changes to the default
settings. If you have just upgraded BearShare, we recommend that you
exit the program, delete the FreePeers.ini file located in the directory
where you installed the program, and then run BearShare again. You will be
prompted with the Setup Wizard, and the program settings will be optimized
for you and everyone else on the network using new recommended values.
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Use the Community to assist you
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There are many users just like you in the BearShare.Net forums, and they
like to help new people get the program working right so that everyone
can share files with each other.
If you are having problems sharing, searching, or downloading, press
the Community button in the BearShare window to get to BearShare.Net,
or just go to BearShare.Net and
visit the Forums.
You should always periodically visit BearShare.Net to stay informed
about BearShare and Gnutella.
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Freeloading
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Freeloading is taking files without giving, and is highly frowned upon by
users who contribute. If you don't have files, you can still contribute
by running BearShare, since you are adding the 'glue' necessary to
keep the network together. As you download files they are automatically
added to your shared directories.
It is very important to share files. Without sharing,
the Gnutella community cannot support itself, and the people who are willing
to share will become reluctant to support freeloaders.
Make sure you share any files that you download, and any files that you
already have. You should see people being uploading from you almost
immediately if you have at least a small collection of files.
Sometimes, people think they are sharing but they aren't. To make sure you
are sharing, click the "Share files" checkbox in the Uploads page, and
make sure you are connected to the Gnutella network by checking "Auto connect".
Also make sure that your software is properly configured for sharing. If
you are behind a firewall or proxy, it is especially important that you
set the configuration properly. Visit BearShare.Net and post your specific
question if you are having trouble sharing.
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