Whenever I search for things in free stuff, I come across so many downloads that are "dead". There are no thumbnails, and the links to the downloads lead to a dead site. You could recover a whole lot of space if you went through and deleted those types of entries. Not to mention, it would be nice for us who have to wade through that stuff while looking for things.

Generally if you don't see a thumbnail then the item is not there.
RO only stores the links and notes. Also see the disclaimer about bandwidth on the Freebie home page.

Message edited on: 12/06/2005 23:29

Ahh. I didn't think of the bandwidth usage for individual sites. Thanks for pointing that out.

Richard is correct. We periodially go through free stuff and winnow dead links (after contacting the creator.) However with over 12000 to contact, by the time we reach the front of freestuff, it's time to begin over at the back of it o.O

Yes, freestuff is full of dead links. I've tried to report some of them (for example all the jandunne textures, Dunne Graphics is a dead and dissapeared site) but in difference of another sections of Rosity, I can't find a note like: "Dead links? Report it sending a IM to *** " Karen, haven't you a freebies mod?

I thought there was a script that checked Free Stuff for dead links periodically? Wasn't that in effect some times back? I remember having problems with some of my stuff once because the bandwidth had run out and I had to plead to not have it removed... hmm? Dead links ARE annoying, but it doesn't always mean that the stuff is gone for good. It COULD be a temporary glitch/problem. For instance the whole of Rosity was dead yesterday for almost an hour (at least for me) but.. well, I figured it would be back, so I didn 't erase my bookmark just yet... ;o)

I thought there was a script that checked Free Stuff for dead links periodically?<< Yeah, the script is called karen1573...

yup..helped her a bit about 3-4 months ago, I think. Yeah, I can attest that many Poser sites have a half-life comparable to that of the higher-numbered artificial elements..;) It's just a constant struggle to keep up.
I usually let 'under construction' sites have a little time, but to be honest, it's very rare that they ever come back.
In the interim, if you can get the old URL, go to a web site called 'The Wayback Machine', and it may be cached there..

Does the Wayback Machine cache zips? I thought they only did HTML and images.

I use the "Wayback Machine" a lot, but it doesn't cache downloads most of the time, and they are 18 months behind in their cacheing, so newer things aren't even listed there yet.

ah..well, er, good ta know..;) please disregard the previous post..alas..;)
now I seem to remember that there are some utilities out there that will check for dead links. Whether they use them is anyone's guess..

xenu (freeware) is a good link checker. But occsaionally a file will be down due to lack of or excessive bandwith. Sometimes you have to patient :)

Unfortunately I haven't found a link checker which will work with our freestuff. (Except me, LOL) This is mainly because the download links in freestuff aren't links, they're action buttons. This was coded this way to prevent mass spidering. Unfortunately it also prevents me running scripts. (Although with the site the way it is, that's probably a good thing. I'd be liable to bring down the servers if I tried running such a script :- ) If you get a problem with a download in freestuff, please contact the mod of the relevant area. EG for poser stuff, shoot me a line; for 2D stuff, bevchiron, cbender or dreamsosweet. We don't have an "overall" freestuff mod. Not for a couple of years.

Dead links are bothersome but they aren't as bad as some sites that offer a free download, providing you allow them to put a cookie on your computer. If you don't allow the cookie, you don't download.

Maybe I'm just stupid, but.. What's the harm in a cookie? It's not like cookies can DO anything. Sure, they can track your behaviour, but OTOH, they're dead easy to simply delete if you don't want them anymore... Hubby has switched all cookies off on his computer (or rather set it to ask) and personally I think it's a royal PITA to consider that all the time. I'd rather just delete mine from time to time... Rosity sets a cookie as well, providing you want to automatically login every time you visit... BTW I think the counter on my site sets a cookie as well, to track whether you're a new visitor or not. But that is, afaik, all it does. And you CAN access the site also without enabling it.