Oct 24, 2013, 12:08 pm
![[Image: iKHVnIi.png]](https://i.imgur.com/iKHVnIi.png)
F.A.Q.
This document is a list of frequently asked questions, their answers and a list of important tutorials.
Suprbay
1.
Welcome to Suprbay
Welcome to Suprbay
a. What is this forum about?
SuprBay is the official forum of The Pirate Bay. You can get help here for all of the Bay sites. Members use these forums as a way to communicate with others that have an interest in file sharing as well as to join in discussions.
b. Who's in charge?
Every member of TPB or SB staff have a badge to indicate their position:
Suprbay:
![[Image: administrator.png]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/suprbay/administrator.png)
Administrators oversee the forum at the highest level.
![[Image: supermod.png]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/suprbay/supermod.png)
Super Moderators can moderate in any forum.
![[Image: moderator.png]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/suprbay/moderator.png)
Moderators generally have a specific forum (or several) that they are in charge of.
For a full list, click here.
a. What is this forum about?
SuprBay is the official forum of The Pirate Bay. You can get help here for all of the Bay sites. Members use these forums as a way to communicate with others that have an interest in file sharing as well as to join in discussions.
b. Who's in charge?
Every member of TPB or SB staff have a badge to indicate their position:
Suprbay:
Administrators oversee the forum at the highest level.
Super Moderators can moderate in any forum.
Moderators generally have a specific forum (or several) that they are in charge of.
For a full list, click here.
2.
Posting
Posting
a. Where should I post first?
Anywhere you like.
A good place to start is by introducing yourself and saying hello.
If you are looking for a specific torrent and would like help finding it then post in the Request forums. Please note the requests sections have some specific rules, which are posted at the top of each request section's sub forum page.
If you need help with something or would like to start a discussion, then post in one of these forums.
If you are an uploader and would like to advertise your uploads then start a thread in this forum. (One thread per uploader)
If you find a bug in TPB or SB, or need help with navigating then start a new thread here. Please search before starting new threads in the Site Issues forum, chances are that a thread already exists for the topic you wish to discuss.
If you are having trouble logging in to TPB or SB or need help changing your account details, or would like to discuss any matter relating to either your TPB account, your torrents, or your SB account then start a new thread here. Note that members can create 1 thread only in the Account Issues forum, it is private and only yourself and staff/crew can view your thread.
If you download fake or infected torrents then start a new thread here. The Report Torrents/Comments forum is for reporting fakes, malware, ***** *****, mis-categorized torrents and/or spam. Note that the only threads you can see here are ones you have created. Please only report fakes/malware etc that you see on the real TPB site (see bottom of any forum page for the official domain), and not some proxy/mirror site. Proxies have nothing to do with us.
If you don't want to stay on topic, or you just feel like letting loose then join in one of The Void threads. Or start one of your own.
b. Why is my post/thread in the Trashcan?
Moderators always give a reason when posts get moved to the Trashcan. Generally it falls into one of these circumstances:
Redundant threads
Before making a new thread use the forum Search and you might find that a thread already exists on that topic.
If you make a thread that is too similar to an existing thread then it will be trashed.
Frequently Asked Questions
If questions are asked often enough they are put into this document. Posting a thread asking a question that has already been answered here will result in your thread getting trashed.
Thread Hijacks
Posting on topic is important to maintain the viability of threads. If a thread's subject has nothing to do with you unique problem, posting about it in that thread is called 'Thread Hijacking'. It distracts the thread from its original subject and therefore the offending post will be moved to the Trashcan.
c. How do I post?
Making new threads and posting replies is easy.
When viewing threads just type into the Quick Reply box and click the Post Reply button, click the![[Image: newreply.gif]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/calm/english/newreply.gif)
button to use the full editor or click the ![[Image: newthread.gif]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/calm/english/newthread.gif)
button when viewing forums to start a thread of your own.
d. How do I update a post or correct a mistake in a post?
![[Image: postbit_edit.gif]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/calm/english/postbit_edit.gif)
This button appears on every one of your posts. Click it and select between Quick Edit (a plain text editor right there in the post) or Full Edit with format options.
Note, you can only update a post for 7 days after making the original post.
e. How do I quote another post?
How do I quote several posts?
There are actually several built in ways to quote posts and also a manual method. It depends on what your intent is:
To quote one post in the full editor - click this button on that post.
![[Image: postbit_quote.gif]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/calm/english/postbit_quote.gif)
To quote multiple posts in the Quick Reply window, click this button on all the posts you would like to quote:
![[Image: postbit_multiquote.gif]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/calm/english/postbit_multiquote.gif)
When a post is selected for quoting, the above button looks like this:
![[Image: postbit_multiquote_on.gif]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/calm/english/postbit_multiquote_on.gif)
To enclose text from outside the forum in a quote format, just use the 'quote' tags.
f. How do I format my posts with fonts and color?
Read this tutorial for more information on BBcodes.
g. Can I delete my own posts or threads?
No. Doing so would disrupt the continuity of threads.
h. What is The Void and how do I join?
This forum requires group membership.
To join The Voiders group, first go to User ***** and then click Group Memberships in the sidebar menu.
Find The Voiders under 'Groups You Can Join' and click the Join Group link.
Warning: The Void is not for the thin-skinned. The moderation in this forum is minimal.
i. What if I see SPAM?
If I see something offensive on the site what should I do?
then you should use the report button that's on every post:
![[Image: postbit_report.gif]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/calm/english/postbit_report.gif)
j. How do I embed a video in one of my posts?
It's easy. Click the blue 'Insert Video' button as seen in this pic when you go to post a new reply:
![[Image: VG4F7j8.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/VG4F7j8.jpg)
Click the downward arrow button next to where it gives you the Video Type option until you see the type of video you want to post. This opens a small drop-down menu which includes youtube, vimeo, twitch etc. Next, post the URL of the video you want to embed. You may need to erase the existing 'https://' bit in the URL field if you're copy/pasting the full URL. Next, click the 'Insert' box and post reply (or even better, Preview Post, so that you can check the video shows up) and you're done.
a. Where should I post first?
Anywhere you like.
A good place to start is by introducing yourself and saying hello.
If you are looking for a specific torrent and would like help finding it then post in the Request forums. Please note the requests sections have some specific rules, which are posted at the top of each request section's sub forum page.
If you need help with something or would like to start a discussion, then post in one of these forums.
If you are an uploader and would like to advertise your uploads then start a thread in this forum. (One thread per uploader)
If you find a bug in TPB or SB, or need help with navigating then start a new thread here. Please search before starting new threads in the Site Issues forum, chances are that a thread already exists for the topic you wish to discuss.
If you are having trouble logging in to TPB or SB or need help changing your account details, or would like to discuss any matter relating to either your TPB account, your torrents, or your SB account then start a new thread here. Note that members can create 1 thread only in the Account Issues forum, it is private and only yourself and staff/crew can view your thread.
If you download fake or infected torrents then start a new thread here. The Report Torrents/Comments forum is for reporting fakes, malware, ***** *****, mis-categorized torrents and/or spam. Note that the only threads you can see here are ones you have created. Please only report fakes/malware etc that you see on the real TPB site (see bottom of any forum page for the official domain), and not some proxy/mirror site. Proxies have nothing to do with us.
If you don't want to stay on topic, or you just feel like letting loose then join in one of The Void threads. Or start one of your own.
b. Why is my post/thread in the Trashcan?
Moderators always give a reason when posts get moved to the Trashcan. Generally it falls into one of these circumstances:
Redundant threads
Before making a new thread use the forum Search and you might find that a thread already exists on that topic.
If you make a thread that is too similar to an existing thread then it will be trashed.
Frequently Asked Questions
If questions are asked often enough they are put into this document. Posting a thread asking a question that has already been answered here will result in your thread getting trashed.
Thread Hijacks
Posting on topic is important to maintain the viability of threads. If a thread's subject has nothing to do with you unique problem, posting about it in that thread is called 'Thread Hijacking'. It distracts the thread from its original subject and therefore the offending post will be moved to the Trashcan.
c. How do I post?
Making new threads and posting replies is easy.
When viewing threads just type into the Quick Reply box and click the Post Reply button, click the
button to use the full editor or click the button when viewing forums to start a thread of your own.d. How do I update a post or correct a mistake in a post?
This button appears on every one of your posts. Click it and select between Quick Edit (a plain text editor right there in the post) or Full Edit with format options.
Note, you can only update a post for 7 days after making the original post.
e. How do I quote another post?
How do I quote several posts?
There are actually several built in ways to quote posts and also a manual method. It depends on what your intent is:
To quote one post in the full editor - click this button on that post.
To quote multiple posts in the Quick Reply window, click this button on all the posts you would like to quote:
When a post is selected for quoting, the above button looks like this:
To enclose text from outside the forum in a quote format, just use the 'quote' tags.
f. How do I format my posts with fonts and color?
Read this tutorial for more information on BBcodes.
g. Can I delete my own posts or threads?
No. Doing so would disrupt the continuity of threads.
h. What is The Void and how do I join?
This forum requires group membership.
To join The Voiders group, first go to User ***** and then click Group Memberships in the sidebar menu.
Find The Voiders under 'Groups You Can Join' and click the Join Group link.
Warning: The Void is not for the thin-skinned. The moderation in this forum is minimal.
i. What if I see SPAM?
If I see something offensive on the site what should I do?
then you should use the report button that's on every post:
j. How do I embed a video in one of my posts?
It's easy. Click the blue 'Insert Video' button as seen in this pic when you go to post a new reply:
Click the downward arrow button next to where it gives you the Video Type option until you see the type of video you want to post. This opens a small drop-down menu which includes youtube, vimeo, twitch etc. Next, post the URL of the video you want to embed. You may need to erase the existing 'https://' bit in the URL field if you're copy/pasting the full URL. Next, click the 'Insert' box and post reply (or even better, Preview Post, so that you can check the video shows up) and you're done.
3.
User Accounts
User Accounts
a. Can my account be deleted?
SuprBay accounts cannot be deleted - doing so would disrupt the continuity of threads. If you no longer wish to use your account, then simply log out, and don't log back in.
b. I've not received my confirmation email, can you activate my account?
If you don't receive your activation email then try requesting another here.
If you're still having problems then you can try our IRC channel. Join #thepiratebay.org at EFNet in your IRC client, or click here. (The Chat link is on every page below the logo.)
c. Can my username be changed?
SuprBay usernames can not be changed. Please choose your name carefully.
d. Can my email address be changed?
You can change your email address on SuprBay by going to your User Control Panel and changing it there, or if you have any problems changing it yourself, post in Account Issues.
e. Why are there no other threads in the Account Issues forum but mine?
For protection of privacy you can only see the threads that you have made in this forum - you cannot see other members threads and they cannot see yours.
f. What is an avatar?
On Internet forums an avatar is generally recognized as a synonym for 'profile picture'. It's a small representation of you online.
g. How do I change my avatar?
You can pick an avatar and keep it forever or change it as the mood strikes you. To change your avatar go to User ***** and click Change Avatar.
h. What are Custom User Titles?
Custom User Titles appear under your username in every post, and are awarded at the discretion of forum staff. You can request one by asking nicely in this thread.
i. Can everyone see when I'm online?
Can I log in without anyone knowing that I'm online?
By default, when you log in to your account it is displayed on the bottom of every page by adding your name to the Who's Online List.
j. Can I have more than one forum account?
No. Users are allowed one forum account each, no more.
a. Can my account be deleted?
SuprBay accounts cannot be deleted - doing so would disrupt the continuity of threads. If you no longer wish to use your account, then simply log out, and don't log back in.
b. I've not received my confirmation email, can you activate my account?
If you don't receive your activation email then try requesting another here.
If you're still having problems then you can try our IRC channel. Join #thepiratebay.org at EFNet in your IRC client, or click here. (The Chat link is on every page below the logo.)
c. Can my username be changed?
SuprBay usernames can not be changed. Please choose your name carefully.
d. Can my email address be changed?
You can change your email address on SuprBay by going to your User Control Panel and changing it there, or if you have any problems changing it yourself, post in Account Issues.
e. Why are there no other threads in the Account Issues forum but mine?
For protection of privacy you can only see the threads that you have made in this forum - you cannot see other members threads and they cannot see yours.
f. What is an avatar?
On Internet forums an avatar is generally recognized as a synonym for 'profile picture'. It's a small representation of you online.
g. How do I change my avatar?
You can pick an avatar and keep it forever or change it as the mood strikes you. To change your avatar go to User ***** and click Change Avatar.
h. What are Custom User Titles?
Custom User Titles appear under your username in every post, and are awarded at the discretion of forum staff. You can request one by asking nicely in this thread.
i. Can everyone see when I'm online?
Can I log in without anyone knowing that I'm online?
By default, when you log in to your account it is displayed on the bottom of every page by adding your name to the Who's Online List.
j. Can I have more than one forum account?
No. Users are allowed one forum account each, no more.
4.
Getting Help
Getting Help
a. You may save yourself time by reviewing the Tutorials before you type up a post and wait for a reply. Searching the forum and using Google might also yield an answer.
b. If you need help with TPB itself, post on our dedicated Site Issues forum.
c. If you're feeling frustrated,calm down. We are volunteers, here to help you. We are not here for you to vent your anger on.
d. The easier your question is to read, the more people are likely to read it, and answer it. So avoid typing in CAPS, bold, colour, or 1337/txtspk. Don't avoid spelling, grammar or paragraphs.
e. Giving your thread a meaningful title will increase the chance of people who know the answer opening it.
f. The more info you provide, the sooner we will be able to help you. Saves you waiting for us to ask you, then waiting again for us to read your reply. If you're having trouble with a torrent, post a link to it. If you're receiving an error message, tell us what it says. If you're stuck somewhere, tell us what you've done so far. etc.
g. Finally, be patient. The one person who has the answer to your question may have gone to bed half an hour ago. Replies may take a while.
a. You may save yourself time by reviewing the Tutorials before you type up a post and wait for a reply. Searching the forum and using Google might also yield an answer.
b. If you need help with TPB itself, post on our dedicated Site Issues forum.
c. If you're feeling frustrated,calm down. We are volunteers, here to help you. We are not here for you to vent your anger on.
d. The easier your question is to read, the more people are likely to read it, and answer it. So avoid typing in CAPS, bold, colour, or 1337/txtspk. Don't avoid spelling, grammar or paragraphs.
e. Giving your thread a meaningful title will increase the chance of people who know the answer opening it.
f. The more info you provide, the sooner we will be able to help you. Saves you waiting for us to ask you, then waiting again for us to read your reply. If you're having trouble with a torrent, post a link to it. If you're receiving an error message, tell us what it says. If you're stuck somewhere, tell us what you've done so far. etc.
g. Finally, be patient. The one person who has the answer to your question may have gone to bed half an hour ago. Replies may take a while.
The Pirate Bay
1.
Welcome to The Pirate Bay
Welcome to The Pirate Bay
a. What is The Pirate Bay?
Known as "The galaxy's most resilient BitTorrent site", "The world's largest digital library" or more simply TPB, The Pirate Bay is a Swedish file-sharing website founded in 2003 that hosts magnet links and has fought for the right to do so from the beginning.
Ranked perpetually as one of the top 100 most visited websites, TPB continues to grow and welcomes new members daily. The Pirate Bay has over six million registered users and as of May 2014, hosts over six million torrents.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pirate_Bay
SuprBay is the official forum of The Pirate Bay.
b. Who is in charge?
Each TPB staff member has a badge to indicate their position.
![[Image: Sn6VhGr.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/Sn6VhGr.gif)
Administrators oversee TPB on the highest level. You will never see them, let alone speak to them.
![[Image: BFkwoaF.png]](https://i.imgur.com/BFkwoaF.png)
Super Moderators are the rare case when a moderator doesn't die *****.
![[Image: tpbsupermod.png]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/suprbay/tpbsupermod.png)
![[Image: VcjbpLT.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/VcjbpLT.gif)
Moderators receive reports from Helpers and assist Super Moderators in daily tasks including bans (or lifting bans) and handling user accounts.
![[Image: tpbmoderator.png]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/suprbay/tpbmoderator.png)
c. How can I donate to The Pirate Bay?
The Pirate Bay accepts donations via BitCoin: 1PoVHFFCkCwZ8RDnbG5UYgbwVKz2ZsFhD
a. What is The Pirate Bay?
Known as "The galaxy's most resilient BitTorrent site", "The world's largest digital library" or more simply TPB, The Pirate Bay is a Swedish file-sharing website founded in 2003 that hosts magnet links and has fought for the right to do so from the beginning.
Ranked perpetually as one of the top 100 most visited websites, TPB continues to grow and welcomes new members daily. The Pirate Bay has over six million registered users and as of May 2014, hosts over six million torrents.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pirate_Bay
SuprBay is the official forum of The Pirate Bay.
b. Who is in charge?
Each TPB staff member has a badge to indicate their position.
Administrators oversee TPB on the highest level. You will never see them, let alone speak to them. Super Moderators are the rare case when a moderator doesn't die *****. Moderators receive reports from Helpers and assist Super Moderators in daily tasks including bans (or lifting bans) and handling user accounts.c. How can I donate to The Pirate Bay?
The Pirate Bay accepts donations via BitCoin: 1PoVHFFCkCwZ8RDnbG5UYgbwVKz2ZsFhD
2.
Torrenting
Torrenting
a. What is torrenting?
Torrents are a way to share files. Take some time to read about torrents here:
Wikipedia: BitTorrent
b. What do terms like torrent, peer, seed, swarm, tracker, etc. mean?
Any terms you need to understand should be listed in this glossary:
Glossary of BitTorrent Terms.
c. What software do I need?
You need a "torrent client". There are many to choose from, here are some of the best:
uTorrent for Windows,
Transmission for Mac and
Vuze for Linux.
qBittorrent is another very good torrent client that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems.
d. What are magnet links?
When you download a torrent link, you actually get the torrent file from the site that you linked to. Magnet URIs allow you to obtain the torrent file from other users who are sharing the torrent in question.
For more information about downloading with magnet links, see here, here, here, and here.
e. How do I configure my torrent client for optimum performance?
Stop all your torrents and run this speed test. If you're using uTorrent, select Options, Speed Guide and set the Connection Type to match the upload result. If you're using Vuze, use this calculator to find what settings you will need to adjust.
f. What port should I use?
Anything between 50000 and 65000 will be fine.
g. Do I need to forward a port?
It's a router function so if you don't have a router forget about it. If you do have a router you don't need to forward a port, you can download without doing so, but you will be able to connect to more people if you do. That can make a big difference when you are downloading from smaller swarms so it really is in your best interests.
h. How do I forward a port?
First, follow this guide to configure your computer to use a static IP address. Don't get confused with the static or dynamic IP address you are allocated by your ISP - your router uses that one. Then, follow this guide, selecting your router then your torrent client, to forward a port.
i. How can I find out whether my ISP is throttling or blocking my torrents?
Run this test.
j. What can I do if my ISP is throttling or blocking my torrents?
Different ISPs employ different techniques but there are a number of things you can try. The most effective is likely to be switching to an alternative ISP or an alternative package from your current ISP.
k. What can I do if my school is blocking my torrents?
Have someone off-campus download and burn discs for you, or download at home in the holidays. Don't even think of trying to circumvent the block - violation of network usage policies can lead to loss of internet access, suspension, or even expulsion.
a. What is torrenting?
Torrents are a way to share files. Take some time to read about torrents here:
Wikipedia: BitTorrent
b. What do terms like torrent, peer, seed, swarm, tracker, etc. mean?
Any terms you need to understand should be listed in this glossary:
Glossary of BitTorrent Terms.
c. What software do I need?
You need a "torrent client". There are many to choose from, here are some of the best:
uTorrent for Windows,
Transmission for Mac and
Vuze for Linux.
qBittorrent is another very good torrent client that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems.
d. What are magnet links?
When you download a torrent link, you actually get the torrent file from the site that you linked to. Magnet URIs allow you to obtain the torrent file from other users who are sharing the torrent in question.
For more information about downloading with magnet links, see here, here, here, and here.
e. How do I configure my torrent client for optimum performance?
Stop all your torrents and run this speed test. If you're using uTorrent, select Options, Speed Guide and set the Connection Type to match the upload result. If you're using Vuze, use this calculator to find what settings you will need to adjust.
f. What port should I use?
Anything between 50000 and 65000 will be fine.
g. Do I need to forward a port?
It's a router function so if you don't have a router forget about it. If you do have a router you don't need to forward a port, you can download without doing so, but you will be able to connect to more people if you do. That can make a big difference when you are downloading from smaller swarms so it really is in your best interests.
h. How do I forward a port?
First, follow this guide to configure your computer to use a static IP address. Don't get confused with the static or dynamic IP address you are allocated by your ISP - your router uses that one. Then, follow this guide, selecting your router then your torrent client, to forward a port.
i. How can I find out whether my ISP is throttling or blocking my torrents?
Run this test.
j. What can I do if my ISP is throttling or blocking my torrents?
Different ISPs employ different techniques but there are a number of things you can try. The most effective is likely to be switching to an alternative ISP or an alternative package from your current ISP.
k. What can I do if my school is blocking my torrents?
Have someone off-campus download and burn discs for you, or download at home in the holidays. Don't even think of trying to circumvent the block - violation of network usage policies can lead to loss of internet access, suspension, or even expulsion.
3.
User Accounts
User Accounts
a. Can my account be deleted?
To have your Pirate Bay account deleted post a request in Account Issues.
b. I've not received my confirmation email, can you activate my account?
You cannot register on TPB yourself. If you want a TPB account to upload torrents, read the first post of this thread and follow the given instructions. Do NOT PM staff/crew asking for an account.
c. Can my username be changed?
To have your Pirate Bay username changed, post your current and desired names here.
d. Can my email address be changed?
If you'd like to change the email account associated with your TPB account you should post a new thread in the Account Issues forum.
Alternately you can contact us via EFNet channel #thepiratebay.org using an IRC client or by clicking the Chat link in SuprBay for webchat.
e. Can you reset my password?
If you want your password changing, post in Account Issues. You can either choose your own password, or Crew will pick one for you.
If you are still having problems, you can contact us via EFNet channel #thepiratebay.org using an IRC client or by clicking the Chat link in SuprBay for webchat.
f. What do the coloured skulls signify?
![[Image: trusted.png]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/suprbay/trusted.png)
"Trusted" uploaders have had some of their torrents checked by Moderators who, so far, have found none containing fakes or malware. Those with Trusted status have a pink skull next to their name. ![[Image: hC2084q.png]](https://i.imgur.com/hC2084q.png)
![[Image: vip.png]](https://pirates-forum.org/images/suprbay/vip.png)
"VIP" uploaders are trusted uploaders who have stood the test of time. Those with VIP status have a green skull next to their name. ![[Image: HvqDZI7.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/HvqDZI7.gif)
![[Image: UemkXn8.png]](https://i.imgur.com/UemkXn8.png)
Those with blue skulls are "TPB Helpers" - members of the site staff responsible for identifying fake and infected torrents for the Moderators to delete.
g. Can I have a pink skull?
Can I have a green skull?
Don't ask - applications are not accepted and will reduce your chances. Just carry on uploading quality torrents and one day your skull will come. For further information, read this thread.
h. Can I have a blue skull?
TPB, from time to time, recruits users as TPB Helpers. Helpers assist the Mods on a daily basis, and those who are good enough will eventually move up to a Mod position. Don't ask to become a Helper. If we think you've got what it takes to join the crew, you'll get a tap on the shoulder...
i. Where can I find a list of the torrents I've downloaded?
You can't. The Pirate Bay doesn't record that information.
j. Why do I get "Login failed"?
Where have all my torrents gone?
Am I banned?
Why was I banned?
Can you lift the ban?
You can find out what happened and/or plead your case by creating a thread in the Account Issues forum. When you create a thread in Account Issues, be sure to complete the verification boxes at the top of the page (where it says Pirate Bay Username, Pirate Bay Password, then hit 'Validate.') to determine you're the account holder. If that doesn't work, don't worry. Just state your TPB username and email in your Account Issues thread and one of the crew will take a look accordingly. Do not PM staff/crew with account issues queries.
k. Can you restore my torrents (now that you have lifted my ban)?
No. Copies are not kept so you will have to re-upload them. Before you can do that you will need to post their hash values so we can clear them from our lock table. If you're using uTorrent or Vuze, hashes can be right-clicked on and copied from the General tab. They look like:
470B3D9100362395C8B841B781AC3DDE4946F635
or A8B8BAD1E2B4A287771774C7F396D8E6BFB466D5.
a. Can my account be deleted?
To have your Pirate Bay account deleted post a request in Account Issues.
b. I've not received my confirmation email, can you activate my account?
You cannot register on TPB yourself. If you want a TPB account to upload torrents, read the first post of this thread and follow the given instructions. Do NOT PM staff/crew asking for an account.
c. Can my username be changed?
To have your Pirate Bay username changed, post your current and desired names here.
d. Can my email address be changed?
If you'd like to change the email account associated with your TPB account you should post a new thread in the Account Issues forum.
Alternately you can contact us via EFNet channel #thepiratebay.org using an IRC client or by clicking the Chat link in SuprBay for webchat.
e. Can you reset my password?
If you want your password changing, post in Account Issues. You can either choose your own password, or Crew will pick one for you.
If you are still having problems, you can contact us via EFNet channel #thepiratebay.org using an IRC client or by clicking the Chat link in SuprBay for webchat.
f. What do the coloured skulls signify?
"Trusted" uploaders have had some of their torrents checked by Moderators who, so far, have found none containing fakes or malware. Those with Trusted status have a pink skull next to their name. "VIP" uploaders are trusted uploaders who have stood the test of time. Those with VIP status have a green skull next to their name. Those with blue skulls are "TPB Helpers" - members of the site staff responsible for identifying fake and infected torrents for the Moderators to delete.g. Can I have a pink skull?
Can I have a green skull?
Don't ask - applications are not accepted and will reduce your chances. Just carry on uploading quality torrents and one day your skull will come. For further information, read this thread.
h. Can I have a blue skull?
TPB, from time to time, recruits users as TPB Helpers. Helpers assist the Mods on a daily basis, and those who are good enough will eventually move up to a Mod position. Don't ask to become a Helper. If we think you've got what it takes to join the crew, you'll get a tap on the shoulder...
i. Where can I find a list of the torrents I've downloaded?
You can't. The Pirate Bay doesn't record that information.
j. Why do I get "Login failed"?
Where have all my torrents gone?
Am I banned?
Why was I banned?
Can you lift the ban?
You can find out what happened and/or plead your case by creating a thread in the Account Issues forum. When you create a thread in Account Issues, be sure to complete the verification boxes at the top of the page (where it says Pirate Bay Username, Pirate Bay Password, then hit 'Validate.') to determine you're the account holder. If that doesn't work, don't worry. Just state your TPB username and email in your Account Issues thread and one of the crew will take a look accordingly. Do not PM staff/crew with account issues queries.
k. Can you restore my torrents (now that you have lifted my ban)?
No. Copies are not kept so you will have to re-upload them. Before you can do that you will need to post their hash values so we can clear them from our lock table. If you're using uTorrent or Vuze, hashes can be right-clicked on and copied from the General tab. They look like:
470B3D9100362395C8B841B781AC3DDE4946F635
or A8B8BAD1E2B4A287771774C7F396D8E6BFB466D5.
4.
Finding Torrents
Finding Torrents
a. What's wrong with Pirate Search?
The Pirate Bay's search engine is not very reliable. If you're having trouble finding a torrent try adding an asterisk to your search phrase. If you're getting a lot of seemingly irrelevant results try changing the "Default sort order" under Preferences to "Uploaded (Descending)".
You may find external sites do a better job indexing TPB than TPB does. Try searching on Torrentz and clicking the "thepiratebay.org" link in the results. Or search on Google, using the allintitle and site keywords eg. allintitle:watchmen fxg site:thepiratebay.org
b. Why hasn't <insert title here> been uploaded yet?
Because nobody has uploaded it here yet - torrents don't appear by magic. You could try searching on Torrentz, isoHunt (currently {10/2010} for users in the US this site is of limited use unless accessed via proxy), Torrent Reactor. You could also post a request, including as much detail as you can so people will know exactly what you want. Do a search before posting in case there is an existing thread for the same request, and read the guidelines on the request forum index page.
c. How can I avoid fakes and infected torrents?
Your judgement will improve with experience but here are some tips, and torrents from uploaders with icons next to their usernames eg. are safe bets. Please, if you are unlucky enough to download a bad torrent, report it so a moderator can delete it. Please only post links in the Report Torrents forum to the real TPB site (see bottom of any forum page for the official domain), and not some proxy/mirror site. Proxies have nothing to do with us.
d. Where can I find subtitles?
Addic7ed, podnapisi.NET, OpenSubtitles.org, and Subscene all provide subtitles for tv shows/movies in various languages.
a. What's wrong with Pirate Search?
The Pirate Bay's search engine is not very reliable. If you're having trouble finding a torrent try adding an asterisk to your search phrase. If you're getting a lot of seemingly irrelevant results try changing the "Default sort order" under Preferences to "Uploaded (Descending)".
You may find external sites do a better job indexing TPB than TPB does. Try searching on Torrentz and clicking the "thepiratebay.org" link in the results. Or search on Google, using the allintitle and site keywords eg. allintitle:watchmen fxg site:thepiratebay.org
b. Why hasn't <insert title here> been uploaded yet?
Because nobody has uploaded it here yet - torrents don't appear by magic. You could try searching on Torrentz, isoHunt (currently {10/2010} for users in the US this site is of limited use unless accessed via proxy), Torrent Reactor. You could also post a request, including as much detail as you can so people will know exactly what you want. Do a search before posting in case there is an existing thread for the same request, and read the guidelines on the request forum index page.
c. How can I avoid fakes and infected torrents?
Your judgement will improve with experience but here are some tips, and torrents from uploaders with icons next to their usernames eg.
are safe bets. Please, if you are unlucky enough to download a bad torrent, report it so a moderator can delete it. Please only post links in the Report Torrents forum to the real TPB site (see bottom of any forum page for the official domain), and not some proxy/mirror site. Proxies have nothing to do with us.d. Where can I find subtitles?
Addic7ed, podnapisi.NET, OpenSubtitles.org, and Subscene all provide subtitles for tv shows/movies in various languages.
5.
Downloading
Downloading
a. How can I complete downloading a torrent which is no longer being seeded?
To ensure you can connect to any seeds: make sure you have a port forwarded, that you have enabled DHT and Peer Exchange, and that you are not using PeerGuardian or any IP blocking software. To find any more seeds: right-click and copy the Hash from the General tab and paste it into Torrentz search to see whether it is being tracked by any other trackers. Finally, be patient - not everyone seeds 24/7 or at high speed, so just leave the torrent running.
b. Why am I getting "Error: Not enough free space on disk"?
This error occurs only on drives or partitions formatted to FAT32 because files greater than 4 GB cannot be created on FAT32 partitions. The only fix is to convert the drive or partition to NTFS, or use another drive or partition that is already using NTFS. To convert a drive to NTFS, read Microsoft's Knowledge Base article.
To ensure you can connect to any seeds: make sure you have a port forwarded, that you have enabled DHT and Peer Exchange, and that you are not using PeerGuardian or any IP blocking software. To find any more seeds: right-click and copy the Hash from the General tab and paste it into Torrentz search to see whether it is being tracked by any other trackers. Finally, be patient - not everyone seeds 24/7 or at high speed, so just leave the torrent running.
c. How likely am I to be caught?
That depends on where you live, what you download, how much you download, who you're worried about being caught by (your ISP / a copyright holder / the police), whether you would consider a threatening letter being "caught" or if you would only count a court summons, etc. Overall, the chances of you being punished for downloading are statistically very low. But, they do exist - only you can decide whether they're worth it. Note that the risks are much higher if you torrent from school or work.
d. How can I reduce the risk?
Blocklist tools, such as PeerGuardian, are ineffective. The only realistic way is to pay for access to a VPN. VPN's require the provision of moderate amounts of bandwidth so "free" VPN's are invariably short-lived and all VPN's suffer bandwidth constraints which result in slower than otherwise downloads.
For a review of many popular VPNs look here
g. What will happen to me if I am caught? /
I've received a threatening letter, what should I do?
Most such letters say something along the lines of "We have received notification of an alleged copyright infringement...Copyright infringement violates our terms of service and may result in termination of your account." Note that the complaint originates from a copyright holder, not your ISP; and that your ISP does not reveal your identity to the complainant. You should not reply to any such letter (as a reply may be forwarded, thereby revealing your identity). Your ISP will rarely take any action against you--they prefer to continue receiving your monthly payments.
If you're in the UK, Being Threatened? contains further information. If you're in the US, Chilling Effects does likewise.
a. How can I complete downloading a torrent which is no longer being seeded?
To ensure you can connect to any seeds: make sure you have a port forwarded, that you have enabled DHT and Peer Exchange, and that you are not using PeerGuardian or any IP blocking software. To find any more seeds: right-click and copy the Hash from the General tab and paste it into Torrentz search to see whether it is being tracked by any other trackers. Finally, be patient - not everyone seeds 24/7 or at high speed, so just leave the torrent running.
b. Why am I getting "Error: Not enough free space on disk"?
This error occurs only on drives or partitions formatted to FAT32 because files greater than 4 GB cannot be created on FAT32 partitions. The only fix is to convert the drive or partition to NTFS, or use another drive or partition that is already using NTFS. To convert a drive to NTFS, read Microsoft's Knowledge Base article.
To ensure you can connect to any seeds: make sure you have a port forwarded, that you have enabled DHT and Peer Exchange, and that you are not using PeerGuardian or any IP blocking software. To find any more seeds: right-click and copy the Hash from the General tab and paste it into Torrentz search to see whether it is being tracked by any other trackers. Finally, be patient - not everyone seeds 24/7 or at high speed, so just leave the torrent running.
c. How likely am I to be caught?
That depends on where you live, what you download, how much you download, who you're worried about being caught by (your ISP / a copyright holder / the police), whether you would consider a threatening letter being "caught" or if you would only count a court summons, etc. Overall, the chances of you being punished for downloading are statistically very low. But, they do exist - only you can decide whether they're worth it. Note that the risks are much higher if you torrent from school or work.
d. How can I reduce the risk?
Blocklist tools, such as PeerGuardian, are ineffective. The only realistic way is to pay for access to a VPN. VPN's require the provision of moderate amounts of bandwidth so "free" VPN's are invariably short-lived and all VPN's suffer bandwidth constraints which result in slower than otherwise downloads.
For a review of many popular VPNs look here
g. What will happen to me if I am caught? /
I've received a threatening letter, what should I do?
Most such letters say something along the lines of "We have received notification of an alleged copyright infringement...Copyright infringement violates our terms of service and may result in termination of your account." Note that the complaint originates from a copyright holder, not your ISP; and that your ISP does not reveal your identity to the complainant. You should not reply to any such letter (as a reply may be forwarded, thereby revealing your identity). Your ISP will rarely take any action against you--they prefer to continue receiving your monthly payments.
If you're in the UK, Being Threatened? contains further information. If you're in the US, Chilling Effects does likewise.
6.
Dealing with downloaded files
Dealing with downloaded files
a. How do I open an ISO file?
An ISO is a disc image which can either be burned to a physical disc using something like ImgBurn "Write image file to disc" or mounted as a virtual disc using something like DAEMON Tools Lite.
b. How do I open an NFO file?
An NFO is a text file containing information about the application / game / video contained within a torrent. They can be opened with a text editor (eg. Notepad) but will be easier to read if they are opened with a dedicated NFO viewer such as DAMN NFO Viewer for Windows, NFOViewer for Mac, or NFO Viewer for Linux.
c. How do I open a RAR file?
They are archives which can be extracted with WinRAR.
d. How do I open R00, R01, R02,... (or 001, 002,...) files?
They are a single archive which has been split, automatically, into multiple files; which will be joined, automatically, when you extract the first of them. They can be extracted with WinRAR.
e. Why can't I hear / see this video?
Your computer is missing a "codec" required to decode the audio and/or video part of the file you have downloaded. Installing the Combined Community Codec Pack if you're using Windows, or Perian if you're using a Mac will usually solve the problem.
If it does not, then open the file with MediaInfo for Windows or MediaInfo Mac to find out which codec(s) are required, and Google for them specifically.
f. How can I watch an AVI file on a standalone DVD player?
First, check whether the DVD player is "DivX Certified". If it is, you can burn as many AVI's as will fit onto a DVD using ImgBurn "Write files/folders to disc".
If it isn't, you really should consider purchasing one that is. Until you do you will have to convert the AVI files to DVD format before you burn them. DVD Flick is recommended for that and there is a tutorial. Note that DVD Flick can burn as well as convert but it's safer to use it to create an ISO image and then burn that separately using ImgBurn "Write image file to disc".
g. Why am I asked to insert an "original" disk whenever I run my virtual or burnt CD/DVD?
The game/app contains a copy-protection mechanism. Your download probably contained a "No CD/No DVD" crack which you will need to apply. If it does not, you might be able to find one at GameCopyWorld.
h. Does The Pirate Bay require me to authenticate my account when downloading or running files?
Never. You don't need to register an account with TPB in order to browse/download, so TPB will never ask you for your log in information when you download or install something. If you ever see a fake pirate bay pop up box asking for your username and password, ignore it, delete the file as it's fake and most likely riddled with trojans, and report the offending torrent in the Report Torrents section of the forum to crew. If you've downloaded malware, please reread Part 4: Finding Torrents > c. How can I avoid fakes and infected torrents?
a. How do I open an ISO file?
An ISO is a disc image which can either be burned to a physical disc using something like ImgBurn "Write image file to disc" or mounted as a virtual disc using something like DAEMON Tools Lite.
b. How do I open an NFO file?
An NFO is a text file containing information about the application / game / video contained within a torrent. They can be opened with a text editor (eg. Notepad) but will be easier to read if they are opened with a dedicated NFO viewer such as DAMN NFO Viewer for Windows, NFOViewer for Mac, or NFO Viewer for Linux.
c. How do I open a RAR file?
They are archives which can be extracted with WinRAR.
d. How do I open R00, R01, R02,... (or 001, 002,...) files?
They are a single archive which has been split, automatically, into multiple files; which will be joined, automatically, when you extract the first of them. They can be extracted with WinRAR.
e. Why can't I hear / see this video?
Your computer is missing a "codec" required to decode the audio and/or video part of the file you have downloaded. Installing the Combined Community Codec Pack if you're using Windows, or Perian if you're using a Mac will usually solve the problem.
If it does not, then open the file with MediaInfo for Windows or MediaInfo Mac to find out which codec(s) are required, and Google for them specifically.
f. How can I watch an AVI file on a standalone DVD player?
First, check whether the DVD player is "DivX Certified". If it is, you can burn as many AVI's as will fit onto a DVD using ImgBurn "Write files/folders to disc".
If it isn't, you really should consider purchasing one that is. Until you do you will have to convert the AVI files to DVD format before you burn them. DVD Flick is recommended for that and there is a tutorial. Note that DVD Flick can burn as well as convert but it's safer to use it to create an ISO image and then burn that separately using ImgBurn "Write image file to disc".
g. Why am I asked to insert an "original" disk whenever I run my virtual or burnt CD/DVD?
The game/app contains a copy-protection mechanism. Your download probably contained a "No CD/No DVD" crack which you will need to apply. If it does not, you might be able to find one at GameCopyWorld.
h. Does The Pirate Bay require me to authenticate my account when downloading or running files?
Never. You don't need to register an account with TPB in order to browse/download, so TPB will never ask you for your log in information when you download or install something. If you ever see a fake pirate bay pop up box asking for your username and password, ignore it, delete the file as it's fake and most likely riddled with trojans, and report the offending torrent in the Report Torrents section of the forum to crew. If you've downloaded malware, please reread Part 4: Finding Torrents > c. How can I avoid fakes and infected torrents?
7.
Uploading
Uploading
a. How do I create and upload a torrent?
Follow this tutorial if you're using uTorrent/BitTorrent or this one if you're using Azureus/Vuze.
b. Why does it say "Error (2) The torrent file seems to be broken"?
There is a 0-byte file within your torrent. Remove any such files and recreate your torrent.
c. Why can't I upload with Chrome?
As of version 21 Google Chrome silently blocks elements that are not secure when they appear on a secure page.
Add the suffix - allow-running-insecure-content to your Google Chrome shortcut to permanently allow the mixed content to show in your browser.
Click the shield that appears in the omnibox URL bar when you visit the page where the Captcha should appear to allow the Captcha to show on a per page basis.
![[Image: YljM7w7.png]](https://i.imgur.com/YljM7w7.png)
d. How can I update my torrent on the site?
To modify the torrent itself is not possible, but if you wish to edit the torrent description, title, or correct a mistake you've made, you may ask tpb staff to edit/delete it for you, in your Account Issues thread.
To upload the torrent again you need to post a request to have the hash cleared here.
To modify the files within the torrent is not possible - that would change the torrent hash breaking compatibility with the existing swarm.
To modify the trackers within the torrent is not supported by TPB.
e. How can I delete my torrent from the site?
Uploaders cannot delete their own torrents, but you can request that the torrent be deleted in your Account Issues thread. Make sure you provide a link to the torrent/s you want deleting by posting the url link in your thread, as well as the hash value if you want to reupload the torrent.
Once a torrent is deleted, it can not be re-uploaded until the hash is cleared. You can request a hash be cleared in your account issues thread.
f. I'm seeding my torrent, how come everyone is stuck at 99%?
Read this.
g. How do I "Re-Seed"?
Follow this tutorial if you're using uTorrent or this one if you're using Azureus/Vuze.
h. What are the rules?
The rules are simple and based on common sense. They include:
Upload your torrent to the correct category.
Don't ask for donations (only VIP uploaders can do that)
No spam, fakes, malware, ***** *****, obvbiously.
No URL's in torrent titles.
No dupes. If you make a mistake on your torrent title or description, post in your Account Issues thread.
No zipping/compressing your files if you're a new uploader.
a. How do I create and upload a torrent?
Follow this tutorial if you're using uTorrent/BitTorrent or this one if you're using Azureus/Vuze.
b. Why does it say "Error (2) The torrent file seems to be broken"?
There is a 0-byte file within your torrent. Remove any such files and recreate your torrent.
c. Why can't I upload with Chrome?
As of version 21 Google Chrome silently blocks elements that are not secure when they appear on a secure page.
Add the suffix - allow-running-insecure-content to your Google Chrome shortcut to permanently allow the mixed content to show in your browser.
Click the shield that appears in the omnibox URL bar when you visit the page where the Captcha should appear to allow the Captcha to show on a per page basis.
d. How can I update my torrent on the site?
To modify the torrent itself is not possible, but if you wish to edit the torrent description, title, or correct a mistake you've made, you may ask tpb staff to edit/delete it for you, in your Account Issues thread.
To upload the torrent again you need to post a request to have the hash cleared here.
To modify the files within the torrent is not possible - that would change the torrent hash breaking compatibility with the existing swarm.
To modify the trackers within the torrent is not supported by TPB.
e. How can I delete my torrent from the site?
Uploaders cannot delete their own torrents, but you can request that the torrent be deleted in your Account Issues thread. Make sure you provide a link to the torrent/s you want deleting by posting the url link in your thread, as well as the hash value if you want to reupload the torrent.
Once a torrent is deleted, it can not be re-uploaded until the hash is cleared. You can request a hash be cleared in your account issues thread.
f. I'm seeding my torrent, how come everyone is stuck at 99%?
Read this.
g. How do I "Re-Seed"?
Follow this tutorial if you're using uTorrent or this one if you're using Azureus/Vuze.
h. What are the rules?
The rules are simple and based on common sense. They include:
Upload your torrent to the correct category.
Don't ask for donations (only VIP uploaders can do that)
No spam, fakes, malware, ***** *****, obvbiously.
No URL's in torrent titles.
No dupes. If you make a mistake on your torrent title or description, post in your Account Issues thread.
No zipping/compressing your files if you're a new uploader.
8.
Image Host Rules, NSFW
Image Host Rules, NSFW
Please use a clean image host free from pop ups, pop unders, redirects, click-to-continue crap, and Full page (interstitial) ads.
Only link directly to a clean image host, no third party links (eg. Linking to Extratorrent or 1337x where the viewer then is forced to click bad links)
No URL shorteners to obfuscate bad links
Example of bad image host
![[Image: Romanian_Girl.jpg]](https://s18.postimg.org/wf5tpywx5/Romanian_Girl.jpg)
Example of Full page Interstitial Ad
![[Image: fieldof_1.jpg]](https://s27.postimg.org/bk445no0j/fieldof_1.jpg)
Anyone found using bad links will be banned from using thepiratebay.
Please use a clean image host free from pop ups, pop unders, redirects, click-to-continue crap, and Full page (interstitial) ads.
Only link directly to a clean image host, no third party links (eg. Linking to Extratorrent or 1337x where the viewer then is forced to click bad links)
No URL shorteners to obfuscate bad links
Example of bad image host
Example of Full page Interstitial Ad
Anyone found using bad links will be banned from using thepiratebay.
This thread is an updated version of the original FAQ by Wildcard, who updated and expanded Adapa's original FAQ.