newsbin.com

After upgrading to 6.73B1 Build 4791, all files I downloaded since (from headers or when using search) are not marked as downloaded when I reopen Newsbin.

If you want to know what is the prior version of Newsbin I was using, I don't remember, but I always upgrade when a MOTD suggests to do so (and I use Newsbin everyday).

The marking data is located inside downloadmarker.db3. Might be worth moving this file out of the data folder and then starting Newsbin to see if it starts marking again.

I had already tried that, and there was no change.

However, I just discovered something that may help you narrowing it down.

It's only when I download files posted "sometime ago" that they are not marked as downloaded.
If I download "recently" posted files, then they are indeed marked as downloaded.

For example, if from the group alt.b.tv.big-brother I download a file posted yesterday, it will be marked as "queued for download" then marked as "downloaded" sometime during the download, and the downloaded status will remain even if I exit Newsbin and re-open it.

But if from the same group I download a file posted in 2010, it will say "queued for download". It remains like that even after the download has completed. Once I restart Newsbin, the status is back to "Idle/New" (as I do not use the "Old" status).

It's only when I download files posted "sometime ago" that they are not marked as downloaded.
If I download "recently" posted files, then they are indeed marked as downloaded.

That kinda makes sense. I think there has been a subtle change in how the subjects are stored in the database and perhaps old subjects when they're used to generate the key for the tracker don't match correctly the way new subjects do. If the group isn't very large you could try re-downloading the headers completely for the group and see if that solves it.

You're forgetting that I have the same problem when I use internet search.

I can't reproduce it with search.

I did a search, picked some of the oldest files, some almost 3000 days old then downloaded them. Then I restarted and searched again and they're tagged "Downloaded".

Does the download marker seem to grow as you download? It shouldn't grow much. Maybe 32 bytes per downloaded file. If you're doing compacted sets, it's probably only marking the first part.

To test what you said, I started with a fresh marker : 28 Kb in size.
I downloaded a split rare file of 441 MB total.
DownloadMarker.DB3 remained at 28 Kb in size.

Look at the full size in bytes. Rounding up to 28K +32 bytes will still show as 28K.

You might have to restart Newsbin to get the fill size too.

Tested again.
The marker is at 28672 bytes before I download a 441 MB split rare file.
After download, and after restarting Newsbin,
The marker is still exactly at 28672 bytes.

Should I try to revert to an older version of Newsbin to see if it fixes the problem ?

Are you seeing any other errors when you start Newsbin, like "Unable to write to Data Folder"? It sounds like either the DownloadMarker.db3 file is corrupt or there is some access problem with Newsbin writing to it.

Another test you can do is close Newsbin, rename downloadmarker.db3 or move it out of the folder, then start Newsbin and try a test again.

Also, make sure you are looking in the right place. Sometimes people end up with two data folder locations if they moved the data folder at some point. To make sure you are looking at the right one, open the data folder from within Newsbin by going under Options -> Settings and click the "Open Data Folder" button. Then close Newsbin before doing anything with the data files.

Are you seeing any other errors when you start Newsbin, like "Unable to write to Data Folder"? It sounds like either the DownloadMarker.db3 file is corrupt or there is some access problem with Newsbin writing to it.

No error messages.



Another test you can do is close Newsbin, rename downloadmarker.db3 or move it out of the folder, then start Newsbin and try a test again.

This I already done a few times.

I remind you that some files I download get marked as downloaded, and some don't. When they get marked as downloaded, the downloadmarker.db3 changes in size.

I tried reverting to 6.72 version, and that didn't fix the problem.

I guess this will remain a mystery for now. I'll let you know if at one time the problem get fixed after an upgrade.

It's very odd.

Unfortunately you are the only one reporting this problem so we have to suspect some local issue. I wonder if there is some intermittent software conflict? Another test might be to temporarily disable any Antivirus or Internet Security software, reboot your machine, then run your tests again.

I currently use K7 Total Security, which is not a very well known software. I suspended the protection from it (including the K7 firewall), and there was no change. Even when the firewall is active, it says that Newsbin Pro is not restricted.