Useful Tools To Improve Torrent Experience

Torrent files are commonly used to transfer popular media between users. There are numerous tools and programs I have found useful to enjoy the media I've shared through torrents over the years. I wanted to make a quick list and share these various programs with torrent world readers.

General Tool: WinRAR

The most common program you will need to open the content is WinRar. Large torrent files are often packed into multiple .zip or .rar files, in order to open these you need to use a program like Winrar, which knows what to do with those file types.

Video Tools and Utilities:

There are a number of useful tools that you can use if you are trying to view a video file. These range from helpful, to required/essential.

• Video player such as VLC or Windows Media Player.
• Gspot Codec Utility - This utility will identify codec errors, and inform you what codec you need to play a particular video file.
  
• The optimal Video and Audio Codecs - Follow this Guide to Codecs which explains why codec packs are bad, and lists the most commonly needed video and audio codecs.

Another video tool that is incredibly useful, is AVS Video Converter. This program supports almost every imaginable video format, and can transfer one file type to any other type. There are also loads of settings that you can set to either maximize conversion speed, or get the best quality possible.

DVD/ISO Emulators, Burners, and Other Tools:

The most common file format DVD files are packed in are .ISO files. The most common program used to read these various DVD formats is Daemon Tools. This program simulates a DVD drive, and treats the .iso file in the same way your DVD drive would read an actual disc. PowerISO is also common and quite similar, but I personally have little experience with that program.

A second handy DVD tools is the DVD burning program ImgBurn. As the name suggests, ImgBurn will burn almost any type of DVD file (referred to as an image) to a physical disc. ImgBurn is one of the best (free) DVD burning programs, and supports even top quality 8.5GB DVD+R DL Verbatim discs, are required for modern systems like blue ray.

DVD Decrypter is the final program in this category and is widely used by PC media users. This program allows you to backup or restore movies you own on DVD, and either change the file format to allow transfer to a hard drive, or save your personal DVD to a preferred storage device.