ProxyBuster: FAQs
Submitting Requests and the Request Queue
- How do I submit a request?
- To submit a request, you must first log on, then go to your
account page. On this page is a history of your previous requests and
a link to submit a new request. Just click that link!
- What URL should I paste in the request page?
- The URL to the file you want to retrieve. Most of the time, you can right-click the link in the source
Web page or e-mail and choose create shortcut to get the URL. However, some sites use more
complex schemes. If your Internet provider gives you an error page when you try to download the file,
the URL in the error page may be the URL to the blocked file. Unfortunately, there's not always an
easy way to get this information.
- Why can't I browse Web pages, like Google?
- The ProxyBuster request engine is for downloading files over the Internet; it is not
intended for providing anonymous, unfiltered Web browsing. To browse Web sites
using ProxyBuster, you must use ProxyBuster:Browser.
This allows you to browse Web pages anonymously and without restriction of
your firewall, Internet proxy, or ISP/network. Note that this service is
currently in beta, so functionality and reliability is limited.
- The status for requests reads pending, queued,
retrieving, available, expired, and failed. What do these mean?
- The process of a request, and how its status changes throughout the process, is as follows:
- A new request submitted is labeled as pending.
- A pending request is queried to find out if the file is actually available. If it is available,
the content length and content type are noted and the request is labeled as queued. The
file has not yet been downloaded. If this step fails, the request is labeled as failed.
- A queued request is labeled as retrieving when the file is actually in the process of being
retrieved by ProxyBuster. If this step fails, the request is labeled as failed
- Once the retrieval is completed, the request is labeled as available, and you can now download
the file.
- After a period of time, the file retrieved by a request is deleted from the system to conserve disk
space. Onec the file is deleted, it is no longer available for download. The request is labeled
expired.
- How does ProxyBuster pick which request is retrieved next?
- Each new request gets put in a queue. ProxyBuster selects the request at the top of the queue and
processes that first. When that request is processed, it moves on to the next request. If you submit
a request, and there are four requests ahead of you in the queue, you must wait for those requests to
complete before ProxyBuster gets to your request. The queue is not necessarily first-come, first-serve.
A number of factors determine where your request goes in the queue.
- The time you submit your request. Older requests get priority over newer requests.
- Your donation level. Any request you submit immediately gets put ahead of any requests submitted
by users who have donated less money than you - even if those requests are older than yours.
- Your account status. Administrators (there are very few!) get priority over everyone else.
- When I download an available file, it tries to save the file with the filename
download.aspx. Why is this?
- This is done for a number of reasons, but the primary reason is that many firewalls and proxy servers
block content based on the file name. For example, some providers may block all retrieved files that
end in
.zip. The .aspx extension is unlikely to be blocked out by any
service. You are free to rename the file after you download it, or to save it under a different filename
at the time of download. The name does not affect the content of the file - a ZIP file downloaded as
download.aspx is still a ZIP file; you just need to rename it so your operating
system knows what kind of file it is.
- What is the difference between the various Download as... options?
- Most users should use the first option, which works in the majority of circumstances.
If your network blocks this file, try the Download as text/plain option; this option tries to trick
your network into thinking the file you are retrieving is a harmless text file.
If that fails as well, try the Download with base64 encoding option. This option is useful if your
network blocks binary files. Encoding transforms your binary file into a text file, which is usually
downloadable without a problem. However, to use the file after you download it, you must decode the
file. Many base64 (uuencode) utilities exist. We offer a decoder which you can download at
http://www.proxybuster.net/uudecode.zip
(our version works on computers running Microsoft Windows and the Microsoft .Net Framework).
An alternate free command-line utility can be retrieved at
http://www.fourmilab.ch/webtools/base64
(thanks, Ural, for that link!).
- How long is it before an available request is expired?
- When a request is retrieved, the file becomes available for you to download for two hours.
After two hours, the file is deleted from the server. Disk space is not unlimited, so we must
periodically purge files.
Donations
- Why should I donate?
- Donating gives you priority in the queue, as outlined above in this FAQ. The more you donate, the faster
your requests will be processed. Higher donations give you a higher priority in the queue.
- What is my donation level? How do I know how many users have
priority over me?
- On your account page, you can see your total donations (in dollars), and
your donation level. The donation level shows how high you are compared to other users. Lower is
better; a donation level of 1 indicates the highest donor. In addition, you will also be able to see how
many other people are at your same donation level. Donating just $1.00 more can put you ahead of these
people!
- OK, I'm convinced, donating sounds like it's benecifical to me. How do I
send donations?
- We accept donations via PayPal.
Go to the donate page to initiate a donation.
- I don't like sending money via the Internet. Can't I send a check?
- Sorry, but I don't accept checks. Paying via the Internet is very safe and secure when done through a
reputed service such as PayPal or
Amazon. You should feel safe sending money through either service.
- Who am I sending money to? How do I know I can trust you?
- You are sending money to ComputerSims, LLC, a Web services
company (among other things) operated by Brian DeMarzo. Mr. DeMarzo has
been operating Web sites since 1999, and launched ComputerSims in 2004 to consolidate these various Web sites.
Our reputation is well-established; just poke around some of our more popular sites, such as
CSFBL or EQ2Craft.
We're not going anywhere, nor are these sites. Your donation, which is probably better termed
as an optional service payment, will go towards funding this and other Web sites operated via
ComputerSims, LLC.
- Does donating guarantee me any level of service?
- No, it is an at-will donation. You are not donating for any guarantee of service. However, it is our goal
to provide a level of service, and we will do anything in my power to maintain the upkeep and availability
of this Web site. However, factors beyond our control (such as ISP problems or acts of nature) are subject
to causing disruptions in service. At the least, we can guarantee that you will receive information
related to any service disruptions, and you will have our attention if you notify us of a problem you
are experiencing.
User Accounts and Privacy
- How do I know the information I provide upon registering and my usage of this site is private?
- We have a privacy policy available for you to review online. We will not
distribute or disclose any information without a court order to do so.
Everything Else
- I have another question. Who can I contact?
- Contact info@computersims.com.
