P2P Network Connection Guide

P2P file sharing networks are different from connecting to the web. On the web you connect to business class servers that are always available and at fixed addresses. On the P2P networks you are dependent on other transient users. People regularly enter and leave the network. They may be on slow computers or computers with a slow dialup Internet connection. Their P2P software may regularly drop connections or not effectively connect to other users. There are many reasons why users may provide little or even no access to other P2P users on the network. Thus P2P network connections are inherently unpredictable.

It is common to occasionally experience temporary or even short-term problems connecting to individual networks. Given enough time you eventually will find well-behaved and well-connected users for stable connections.

Part of the advantage of TrustyFiles is it provides access to 6 different networks . This means you'll still get plenty of results even if you can't connect to one or two!

TrustyFiles automatically handles your connections. It keeps trying to find good connections, and if dropped, finds more connections. TrustyFiles typically finds connections within several seconds. Sometimes it may take a few minutes if it's been a while since your last connection or you run into unstable nodes.

If you're having problems getting connections, here is our recommended plan of action in order.

1. Get the Windows fix. Please be aware of a Windows connection limitation. The Microsoft Windows XP SP2 update and a number of succeeding XP patch updates install a system file - tcpip.sys - with settings that limit your computer's outgoing Internet connections. This restriction can make it difficult for TrustyFiles to make network connections. Even if you have changed your tcpip.sys file in the past, Windows XP updates regularly include the file and re-establish this limitation. Be sure to check after every Windows update. Get the fix, directions, and info.
   
   
2. If you just installed TrustyFiles or TrustyFiles, skip to step 5 below. Otherwise continue with step 3.
   
   
3. Wait. Just let TrustyFiles work its magic and find nodes on its own. Give it at least 5 minutes.
   
   
4. Node reset. If that's not working, go to the command menu. Manually Disconnect all poorly behaving networks and then Connect them back. That helps TrustyFiles find a network segment that is more stable.
   
   
5. Get fresh nodes. We can provide you a recent Nodes file that gets connections. This is especially heplful if you just installed TrustyFiles or it's been a while since you used it.
   A. Download the file (right click to save it).
   B. Make sure TrustyFiles is fully closed.
   C. Copy the new Nodes.dat file to the Data folder (default location C:\Program Files\TrustyFiles\Data or C:\Program Files\TrustyFilesPro\Data.
   D. Restart TrustyFiles.
   
   If that doesn't help, to get an even a more current copy.
   
   
6. It's not the nodes, it's your computer or network. If none of this works, there may be a problem with your firewall or network setting. See our Advanced Network page.