newsbin.com

I haven't used my copy of Newbin in a while due to a disk crash (which means I also lost my configuration and registration info) and just reinstalled 6.42. However, not only am I seeing ridiculously low transfer speeds (< 20Kbps) but my log is flooded with 'No Such Article' messages. Why is Newsbin trying to retrieve articles when I'm not even subscribed to any groups?

You probably had something left over in the download list. In the options select "Open Data Folder". Then exit Newsbin.

In that newly opened folder delete "Downloads.db3" and/or "DownloadsV2.db3" (might not be there). Then restart Newsbin.

This will wipe the download, wish and failed lists.

430 errors mean "post is not on the server".

Will deleting those files affect the legitimate download that I have going at a whopping 6.8 Kbps?

What server are you using?

You probably need to delete that set of files and find something else to download or find a better news server. If a file set gives nothing but 430's then it's been removed from your server or is too old. Some servers are more aggressive than others about removal. Giganews seems to be the most aggressive.

My server is Usenetserver. If I understand correctly, it's possible that these 1000s of 430 messages I'm seeing are not remnants of something else but what I'm actually trying to download?

It's the reason you have no download speed. Nothing it actually downloading. You added a set of files that Usenetserver claims not to have anymore so they fail to download.

So yes, you added a dead download. I'd try something newer.