4oD

[-pops-]

This morning I succumbed to badgering about downloading the "on demand" TV service from Channel 4.

After much swearing and cursing and a System Restore later, I am up and running again.

Be warned. It's the biggest system hog that you could imagine and my machine was rendered completely unusable for anything else while it told me it would take two and a half hours to download a 23 minute programme - which I didn't want particularly, it was only an experiment. One awful thing about it is that there is no way of stopping the damnable thing downloading. I tried a reboot and it started up again on its own.

Worst of all, though was a message from my firewall:

Denial of Service "Ping of Death" attack detected.

Description:

In a Ping of Death attack, the hacker uses a packet with a size that is larger than the normal standard. When your system encounters a packet of this size, it often crashes, hangs, or reboots.

So Channel 4 - you can stuff your software wherever you want to provided its not on any of my machines.

Bah!

[-pops-]

I notice the BBC is on the second wave of promoting their own crappy on demand software again - which requires you to be connected to a peer to peer service - and we all know what that can entail - as well as using up your bandwidth (not good if you're on a capped service).

[Boris]

So overall, you're saying this is not something you'd recommend ?

BTW what sort of spec is the PC you tried this on ?

[-pops-]

The computer is my "best" one - well exceeding the minimum specifications to supposedly be able to run the software - a 3 GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, XP Pro, 300GB "C" drive, 6 to 7Mb BB connection.

I am able to download a 2+ hour film in DVD quality from Google Groups in about 15 - 20 minutes, I'm not used to a crappy quality 23 minute C4 effort showing Jamie Oliver cooking tomatoes taking well over 2 hours to download.

[Boris]

Would you be happier if he was cooking peppers instead ? :D

[-pops-]

:(

[Boris]

There is a good side to this :)

I have similarly been encouraged to try this out by my "(Wo)management "

...................and having seen your experience she has now completely given up the idea

[Chris]

I'm not to into this ON-DEMAND / BBC iPlayer thing [got in the beta, just not done anything yet].

We already have loads of repeats on the TV on all channels, so If I miss something I'll catch it on the repeat. And with most digital channels the next ep, the previous ep, the ep that was shown 3 weeks ago is usually shown. I must be desperate to have to watch something within [is it?] 7 days?

It would be good to be able to get a HQ/HD files on the download [even If I had to pay for it] but that is ages away I can only assume. iTunes is mean't to have TV shows and films available in a few weeks, so I'll take a look at that.

I do have a few DVD series from TV and that's better than what is on offer now.

[CurlyWhirly]

One awful thing about it is that there is no way of stopping the damnable thing downloading. I tried a reboot and it started up again on its own.

Definitely to be avoided then, especially for me as I'm on a 20 GB capped service :0

If it was me I would have turned my PC off and then it wouldn't be able to take control!

Worst of all, though was a message from my firewall:

Denial of Service "Ping of Death" attack detected.

Description:

In a Ping of Death attack, the hacker uses a packet with a size that is larger than the normal standard. When your system encounters a packet of this size, it often crashes, hangs, or reboots.

So it can also affect your PC's stability as well

[-pops-]

If it was me I would have turned my PC off and then it wouldn't be able to take control!

I did turn off in an attempt to stop the download. When I booted up again it picked up from where it left off. The only way I could think of to stop it was a System Restore - which I did and got rid of the pestilential software, never to be seen again in any of my machines.

[CurlyWhirly]

I did turn off in an attempt to stop the download. When I booted up again it picked up from where it left off. The only way I could think of to stop it was a System Restore - which I did and got rid of the pestilential software, never to be seen again in any of my machines.

I can't believe that Channel 4 have the gaul to release anything as bad as that

Thanks for the warning and I will be forewarned to stay away from 'on demand TV' courtesy of Channel 4 in future !

[-pops-]

I also checked out the EULA for the BBC system. That requires you to allow them to connect you to P2P software thus allowing any twit, fool and idiot access to your computer.

NO THANKS!!!!

[Coreper]

you could try this:

unplug your internet cable [the first thing i do when my computer is infected with a virus]

turn on your computer

then find out, by using the Task Manager, which process is causing the downloading [Process Explorer is good too]

then remove everything related to that process, but NOT the windows system files [you can check easily if they are used by windows, using Unlocker]

then perform a full system scan using antivirus or antispyware software [DO NOT install before you follow these steps, so put them on a usb stick [via another computer] so you can access the setup files later, without internet access]

then check if the program, which causes youre computer to download, is noted on your startup processes list [by using Start > Run > msconfig > Startup]

then uncheck it

let me know if it worked [i recommend you print this, so you wont have to access the internet]

note: internet may not be used at all during these steps, this keeps anyone from taking control of your computer or letting the program download anything

btw: if possible, i recommend that you download update files for you anti-virus and anti-spyware tools, so you will have the latest updates for the software [and again, download them via another computer, put them on a usb stick]

[-pops-]

Too late.

I've removed that software and I will not have it back.

Fannying about unplugging this and unhitching that is not what I want from, what is after all modern, software.

I don't know really why I bothered downloading this rubbish software in the first place - it's not as though it is necessary at all. If you miss a TV programme on any of the UK channels, you can guarantee there will be at least one repeat in the future.

[andsome]

Too late.

I've removed that software and I will not have it back.

Fannying about unplugging this and unhitching that is not what I want from, what is after all modern, software.

I don't know really why I bothered downloading this rubbish software in the first place - it's not as though it is necessary at all. If you miss a TV programme on any of the UK channels, you can guarantee there will be at least one repeat in the future.

That's a laugh. BBC are in the habit these days of playing some programmes more than once in one week. While ITV 1 play most of the soap operas several times a week on their other channels. With over 100 channels at available, we sometimes have difficulty finding anything worthwhile watching at all. :D

[Mike567]

Are they streaming videos :o, i saw a advert to download that old movie cant remember the name was that actually a download or do you stream it, thats just madness streaming media like that, would be good when the ISP's catch up :D

[-pops-]

They are downloaded to the hard drive to be watched later - I was told by the software that a 23 minute program would take more than two hours to download. I am on 8Mb BB.

They are then supposed to be auto-deleted after 7 days unless you have paid to keep them for longer.

[CurlyWhirly]

I also checked out the EULA for the BBC system. That requires you to allow them to connect you to P2P software thus allowing any twit, fool and idiot access to your computer.

NO THANKS!!!!

I think I'll stay away from the BBC version as well then

This is what I intending streaming when it's launched as it sounded like a great idea.

Oh well not to worry.