I have found that link checkers also are great assistants when it comes to checking a bunch of download links from file sharing websites like Rapidshare. It’s a really painful experience to find a broken link after you have downloaded the major part of a file with the working ones above it.

Just so you know, Chrome Web Store has these (few) link checkers to help you out in different ways.

Link Checker

A really simple link checker extension that works quietly with color codes. The Chrome extension with the broken image necklace icon (in case you are wondering about the icon) works by color coding the links. A small percentage counter shows the stage of completion. Errors are shown in red, Successful returns are shown by green, timed out links are shown by blue, and failed links dumped with a red highlight. It doesn’t return perfect results always, but do recheck the links displayed in red.

Check My Links

This link verifying Chrome extension also works on the principle of color codes. It highlights broken links in red with the error code displayed next to it. Status of links is displayed as shown in the screenshot. Mailto and JavaScript links are ignored and the number of links passed or failed is published in the Link Check Report with colored tags. Sometimes the link checker does time out.

WGTools Link Checker

This link checking extension checks the validity of links from different file sharing websites like Rapidshare and displays a summary report. It works from the toolbar as well as from the right-click context menu. It basically is like a shortcut that takes you to the WGTools link checking page.

RapidShare Link Validator

The Rapidshare Validator acts automatically when you land on a page that has links from the file sharing website. The icon on the address bar changes color when it detects a page with Rapidshare links. Valid links get the green icon. Invalid links are stroked out and the icon is shown in red.

Nope

Try out this Chrome extension on the test page and you will get the utility. This extension automatically detects a misleading link which attempts to take you to a different domain than the one intended by the link text. The warning could help you protect your browser from phishing attacks and other malicious websites.

SafeLinks FREE

Just like the earlier extension, SafeLinks FREE also tries to protect you from unsafe links. It works on the current webpage or any link you explicitly select. Use SafeLinks with a right-click on the current page or on a selected link. The extension uses the feedback from web safety rating websites like McAfee, Norton, and Trend Micro to return safe or unsafe results. The only little grouse I found with this extension was that the feedback from the three above mentioned services was slow on some webpages.

Checking links for malicious intent is a much more vital use of link checkers. But I was also surprised by the relative lack of extensions available for the purpose. Did I miss any? What are your thoughts on link checkers? Do you use one or any other URL tools in your Chrome browser?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Skip this nonsense and get your files. Tucan Manager makes downloading files from single-click file sharing sites as simple as using BitTorrent to download files. The program bypasses the requirement to wait a minute or two before clicking on a download link, and can even queue multiple files for successive downloads if you like.

With support for 13 different single-click sharing sites, Tucan Manager will quickly become your go-to tool for downloading from sites like MegaUpload and MediaFire. Go ahead and download Tucan Manager for Linux, Mac and Windows, but keep reading to see what this program can do.

Using The Application

So you have a link to a file on the likes of RapidShare, but don’t have time to babysit the downloading process. No problem. Just file up Tucan Manager and click “Add Downloads“.

As you can see, all you need to do is paste your link. You can even post multiple links, if you want, with the use of a comma. Once you’ve entered your links you can test to make sure they work:

This will let you know whether the link you’ve copied is valid or not. Some files are taken down from these services (particularly illegal ones), so that might be the explanation for an error. If not, check to make sure your link is a valid one by visiting it with your browser. If this is possible but Tucan doesn’t work, keep reading to find out how to update your services.

Anyway, assuming your links are valid, Tucan will start downloading. The obligatory waiting period still happens:

But, unlike when you use RapidShare with your browser, you don’t need to wait until the waiting period is over. Heck, the program will even solve any captchas for you. Your download will happen automatically:

If you have multiple files set to download Tucan will work through them all in order without your input. This can make using these sites a lot easier, so enjoy!

Supported Sites

Which sites, you ask? Well, as mentioned, Tucan Manager supports 13 different sites as of this writing. These sites include:

• 4shared
• megaupload.com
• sendspace.com
• zshare.net
• filefactory.com
• uploading.com
• rapidshare.com
• hotfile.com
• badongo.com
• fileserve.com
• mediafire.com
• depositfiles.coms
• easy-share.com

Tucan Manager includes a nifty internal updating feature, meaning the scripts that enable downloading from these different sites are kept working for you. If one of these sites isn’t working check the “Service Configuration” panel in your preferences. If updates are available you’ll find them there.

Coming Features

What else could this program do? Well, uploading files.

The team at Tucan Manager say this feature is in the works, and there’s even a button on the main toolbar for doing so. Here’s hoping uploading is added soon, and Tucan becomes a complete manager for all things related to file sharing.

I always like finding programs that make life simpler, and Tucan certainly counts. If you want the hassle to be taken out of downloading certain files I highly recommend it. Do you like Tucan? Let us know in the comments below, and also feel free to recommend any other simple file sharing services.

Rapidshare was probably one of the first such file hosts on the Internet, and to date it remains the biggest player in an ever increasing market.  However, if you’ve ever had to handle multiple Rapidshare downloads in a hurry, you’ll know how frustrating it tends to be to have to wait for 15 minutes before continuing on to your next download.

Unless you are one of those who possesses a paid account, you’ll know that it’s a royal pain to download as a free user. Some of us here at MUO face the same problem and so we’ve put together some methods to ease the pain of dealing with multiple Rapidshare downloads.

The Method

Rapidshare keeps a tab on your present IP and doesn’t let the same IP download multiple files in the space of 15 minutes. Therefore, it is only logical to conclude that if somehow one could keep changing one’s IP address at the end of each download, one can reduce the waiting time between subsequent downloads to a large extent.

If you are connected directly to the Internet (via Ethernet), you can just renew your IP by using some cool command line Kung-fu. However, if you are behind a router, you will need to follow a few more (slightly complex) steps to restart your router and assign it a new IP. We will cover both these methods below.

The Tools

Previously featured Rapidshare download client, RapidDownload: We will be using this minuscule piece of software to automate the whole process of downloading a file from Rapidshare. This means no Captcha and no clicking through a thousand screens before you can reach your download. However, this won’t eliminate the 15 minute wait before your next download. For that you will need the tools mentioned below.

Telnet Scripting Tool: The Telnet Scripting Tool will load a script and pass it to telnet. For those who want to know about Telnet, click here. This script will then act as a mechanism to restart your router so as to assign a new IP address to your router.

Notepad: Notepad will be used to actually create the script, which will be passed to the telnet client. This comes with Windows.

Putting It All Together

• The first thing that you’d want to do is download RapidDownload. Once done, extract it to a path of your liking.
• Next up, download the Telnet Scripting Tool and put it in the same folder as RapidDownload.
• That was the easy part. Now you’ll have to edit some files according to whether you are behind a router or directly connected to the Internet via Ethernet.

When You Are Directly Connected To The Internet (via Ethernet):

• Go to the folder where you extracted RapidDownload.
• Once there, right click on the file IP_Changer.cmd and click on Edit. This will open the file in Notepad (or your favourite text editor).
• Remove the word “REM“ from each of the three lines at the bottom of the page.
• Save the file and exit.

When You Are Behind A Router:

• This is slightly more complicated, but with us guiding you along, you will do just fine. If you are on Windows XP, you will do just fine. If you are on Windows Vista/7, you will need to enable Telnet by going to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Turn Windows Components On/Off. Once there, place a checkmark next to “Telnet Client“. Then click OK and wait for the process to finish.

• Next, create a TXT file in the same directory where you’ve extracted RapidDownload and Telnet Scripting Tool. Let this file be called “disconnect.txt“. Open it in Notepad. In there, type the  lines you see in the screenshot below and save the file.

NOTE: The command to restart a router may vary from router to router. Check yours by following the steps at the bottom of this tutorial.

• Now, finally edit the IP_Changer.cmd file and add the following lines at the bottom of it : TST10.exe /r:disconnect.txt
• Save the file and close it.

And that’s the end of the hard part. From here on in, just open the downloads.txt file in your RapidDownload folder and paste all the Rapidshare links that you want to download. Then launch rapiddownload.exe and keep it running. It will automatically download all the files you want.

You can fine-tune the process further by opening the rapiddownload.ini file and editing the line “SecondsOfWaitAfterIPChanger=120″ and setting it to some other value which is more convenient for you (this should normally include the time it takes for your router to be assigned a new IP).

Once all that is configured, say goodbye to all the endless waiting times for Rapidshare downloads and have fun getting all the files you ever wanted. Do note that this isn’t a perfect process and one or two files may get skipped from time to time (although in my experience, that’s pretty rare).

As mentioned above, the command to reboot your router might differ. So use the following to find out your router’s keyword.

• Click Start > Run > cmd.exe
• Type telnet, and press enter.
• Type o 192.168.1.1 (or whatever the address is for configuring your router)
• Enter the username and password for configuring your router. In case you haven’t changed the default settings, type “admin“ for both username and password. If nothing works check your router manual.
• Once you have logged in, type “?“ (without the quotes) and press Enter. This will show you a list of all the commands that are accepted by your router. You should see a command similar to “restart” or “reboot” here.
• Type exit. Use the command you saw above in place of “restart” in the text file you are creating.

If you have other methods to easily handle multiple Rapidshare downloads, do share them with us in the comments.

Image Credit : stock:xchng.

The problems with video streaming always boils down to quality. Not all movies free streaming movies offer enjoyable resolutions, especially when you live outside the U.S. and are deprived of Hulu and the like.

As a RapidShare user, I recently went looking for a streaming platform. After all, movies can be uploaded in splendid quality, and downloaded only partly, if necessary. This tutorial details how. Unfortunately, due to all the restrictions, this technique doesn’t work for free RapidShare accounts.

DISCLAIMER

Be sure to inform yourself of copyright laws in your country. Downloading copyrighted material can be illegal and punishable by law. Doing so will be at your own risk.

Step One – Install The DivX Web Player

The application we’re going to use, RapidWareX, streams RapidShare movies with the DivX web player; an incredible and equally famous video platform. To save us a bit of trouble later, download and install the DivX web player on your computer.

Step Two – Install RapidWareX

Next, we’re going to download and install RapidWareX. Essentially a fully-fledged RapidShare downloader, this application can be used for other purposes than just a streaming intermediary. In this article, we’re only going to discuss the latter aspect.

Because the RapidWareX application is merely a single EXE file, you just need to unzip it to the right folder, and optionally add a quick start shortcut manually. In the application, add your account details under Settings, and press Update. Apart from the green checkmark, RapidWareX will also show you how many megabytes you’ve got left. Remembering your details will eliminate this step in future occasions.

Step Three – Start The RapidWareX Stream

To launch a RapidShare streaming session, fire up the application and go to the Add Links tab. In the second big text field, add your RapidShare link(s) and press the streaming button as indicated in the screenshot below. RapidWareX supports the following formats:

• DivX or XviD encoded.
• Extensions .avi .divx or .mkv.
• Collection of uncompressed and unencrypted .rar files (storage mode).
• Collection of HJSplit files (e.g. *.avi.001).

You can use FilesTube (recommended) or an alternative RapidShare search engine. Using FilesTube’s advanced search, you can omit results from other file sharing sites, and even specify the file type.

Your primary browser will launch with a final verification of the input link(s). In case Auto Detect doesn’t provide the right results, here you can also specify the link type manually.

A final button gets you your video, in all its glory. The DivX web player gets you the same resolution as you would’ve had with a finished download. Of course, you can also switch to full screen, or even make the video pop out of your browser in a separate window.

With less than a few minutes effort, you can start watching a video from RapidShare as soon as you’ve got the link.

Do you know any other cool video streaming alternatives? Let us know in the comments section below.

For those who support the spirit of free-ness, living in the Rapidshare world is a kind of cat and mouse game. On one side, Rapidshare is always improving its way to try to ‘force’ the free users to switch to premium users; whereas on the other side, the free users are also always improving their way to get around every ‘obstacle’ to download the files that they want without having to pay the premium price.

A Minuscule Rapidshare Download Manager

RapidDownloader is yet another Rapidshare download manager, similar to jDownloader. But what makes RapidDownloader unique is that this one focuses on the function and light weight of the app so much that the developer chose to abandon the pretty UI and use a text interface instead.

The download comes as a zip file of only 12KB in size. In the world of gigabytes and terabytes, this size could be considered a speck of dust. You could download it in less than a second. And when you extract it, you’ll have a 45KB folder – bigger, but still extremely small – with everything that you need inside, ready to use, no installation necessary.

However, no installation doesn’t mean no set up. There are some things that you need to prepare prior to using RapidDownloader.

The first thing that you would want to do is to read the “Readme.txt“. You’ll find some quick info about this app inside.

Next, edit the “Downloads.txt” file. Put all of your Rapidshare links there. You could insert the links tidily line by line, or you could just select all text in one conversation at some forum which contains some Rapidshare links and paste the text inside the Downloads.txt. RapidDownload is able to recognize those links among other text.

With your download links ready, you can start RapidDownloader – the “.exe” one. This tiny app will be opened as a text window displaying all of the ‘status updates’.

You can minimize the app and forget about it. It will hide itself in the taskbar and work dutifully in the background; downloading all the files one by one, waiting and retrying the downloads when necessary.

All the downloaded files will be saved inside the “Downloads” folder within the RapidDownload folder. The app will also create “history.dat” – to record the history of all downloaded files so they will not be re-downloaded; and “error.txt” – to record the history of all errors.

Further Adjustments

Although everything will work as it is, RapidDownloader gives its users some tweaking possibilities.

First, the IP changer. There’s a file called “IP_changer.bat” that you can edit using Notepad. The function is to bypass the waiting time. Rapidshare is famous for making its free users wait for long minutes/hours between downloads. To eliminate the waiting time, you can change your IP and continue downloading the next file as “another entity”.

There are several ways that you can use to change the IP using “IP_changer.bat”. If you know a command line proxy switcher, you can insert one here. Or you could try the codes that are already written in the file by erasing the word “REM” (sans quote) in front of the last three lines in the text.

Next, the configurations. Open the “RapidDownload.ini” file using Notepad and edit the ones that you want to customize. You could set the download location by writing down the path after the “DownloadFolderPath=” command. The waiting time after executing the IP Changer can also be adjusted to whatever number of seconds you want.

To activate other commands, change the “0″ after the equal signs into “1″.

And finally, the final command. If you want to execute something after all the downloads finish, write the command line here. I was thinking something like scanning the files for viruses, or popping out notifications about the finished downloads. Honestly, I’m not geek enough to be able to come up with examples; but if you are a command line maestro, maybe you could help us out with several examples of command lines to use?

One little footnote before wrapping everything up, there are many sites that you can use to find Rapidshare files to download, including the big “G” and “Y”. One example of such sites is FilesTube.

My short experiment with RapidDownloader told me that this app is worth keeping. But what about you? Have you tried the RapidDownloader? Do you use other alternative Rapidshare download managers?  Please share using the comments below.

Image credit: Frankie Roberto