Downloads don't show after re-install of Win 7 and Bit Torrent

[phalcon51]

I had to re-install Win 7 after a chronic BSOD episode. Before I wiped the drive I was able to backup my completed downloads and their .torrent files iin Safe Mode to an external drive. After re-installing Win 7 and Bit Torrent I transferred the backed-up downloads and .torrent files to the directories I specified in Bit Torrent Preferences, but none of them show up when I start Bit Torrent. Is there any way to get Bit Torrent to recognize these files?

Thanks for any help.

Gary

[Harold Feit]

Follow http://user.utorrent.com/help/guides/migrate

[phalcon51]

Thanks for the info and the quick reply!

[phalcon51]

Well, it looks like I still need some help with this problem. The situation now is as follows:

I have all my previously completed downloads in my Finished Downloads folder and all the related .torrent files in a Dot Torrents - Finished folder. They show up only under the Downloading and Inactive headings in the Torrent listings in Bit Torrent. However, under both headings the status column reads "Error: Can't open .torrent". When viewing the .torrent files in the Dot Torrents - Finished folder it doesn't show the Bit Torrent icon next to the file name and the File Type column lists them all as LOADED files instead of TORRENT files.

I've tried following the directions for migrating the completed files and .torrent files at the page linked to above, but so far I can't get anything to work. All of the downloaded files are complete and playable and all the .torrent files are exactly as they were in the previous install when everything was working as it should.

Any help that anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Gary

[Harold Feit]

Did you have the store .torrents in and the automatically load torrents from locations the same?

If so, DON'T.

[phalcon51]

No, I have the "Store .torrent files in" pointing to the "Dot Torrents - Active" folder and the "Automatically load .torrents from" pointing to the

"Dot Torrents - Finished" folder.

Any problem with those settings?

[Harold Feit]

The "Move .torrents for finished jobs" needs to be different again if it's set.

And don't delete .torrent files from any of these folders.

[phalcon51]

Not quite sure I understand what you mean.

The "Move torrents for finished jobs" is pointing to the "Dot Torrents - Finished" folder.

Does this need to be changed?

[Harold Feit]

Yes.

[phalcon51]

Sorry to be so dense, but how do I need to change it?

[Harold Feit]

None of those three locations can be set to point at the same location.

BitTorrent expects them all to be different and will actually cause file deletion or damage if you have them set the same like you currently do.

[phalcon51]

Okay, so I just created a new folder under Bit Torrent called "Dot Torrents - Completed"

Previously, I had the following:

"Store .torrents in" pointing to "Dot Torrents - Active"

"Move .torrents for finished jobs" set to "Dot Torrents - Finished"

"Automatically load .torrents from" set to "Dot Torrents - Finished"

I now have "Automatically load .torrents from" pointing to "Dot Torrents - Completed"

So now all three point to different folders

I currently have all of my .torrent files (shown as LOADED files in My Computer) for completed downloads in the "Dot Torrent - Finished" folder

and all of the finished downloads in the "Completed Downloads" folder. All other folders are empty.

After saving the change in Preferences and restarting Bit Torrent it still has the message "Error-Can't open .torrent" listed after every file listed in

"Downloading" and "Inactive".

Is there some action I need to take at this point to force Bit Torrent to change this?

[Harold Feit]

At this point, remove and re-add the torrents is about all you can do, since BitTorrent is expecting the .torrent files to be in a location that they aren't.

You might need to remove the .loaded extra extension from them.

[phalcon51]

Do I use the "Remove" command or the "Remove and delete .torrent" command?

Will either of these delete the actual contents of the torrent? (in my case they are all videos of various auto and motorcycle races)

And thanks for all the help! Very much appreciated.

Gary

[Harold Feit]

just remove.

[phalcon51]

Okay, I did all of the above and I'm about to re-add the .torrent files. Do I use "File > Add Torrent"?

How can I get Bit Torrent to recognize the already completely downloaded files in the "Completed Downloads" folder associated with these .torrent files so that it doesn't try to download them again? (I tried adding one test .torrent file with it's associated downloaded file located in either the "Completed Downloads" folder or the "Active Downloads" folder and in both cases it just tries to re-download the file)

[Harold Feit]

Use the "Choose Save Dir" option if your downloads and completed files are not in the default save downloads in location.

[phalcon51]

I need a little clarification.

I currently have the completed files (which is all of them) in the "Move completed downloads to:" > Completed Downloads folder.

The "Put New Downloads In:" > Active Downloads folder is empty.

All of my completed .torrent files are in the "Move .torrents for finished jobs to:" > Dot Torrents - Finished folder

The "Store .torrents in:" > Dot Torrents - Active folder is empty

Do I need to move any of these files to another location?

[Harold Feit]

I'd move all the completed downloads to the location your new downloads would end up in at first.

[phalcon51]

Done.

Now, do I still use File > Add Torrent (choose save directory)

or just File > Add Torrent?

[phalcon51]

Nevermind, got it sorted out and working!

Harold, thanks very much for your help and especially for your patience with my noobie questions.

Gary