I download a torrent, let's call it file_1, and, then, the corresponding file, which we'll call file_2. I place file_2 in a safe place say, optical medium. And regarding file_1? This will be a file no larger than 10K in most cases and will not steal much room if I save it along with file_2.

But, on the other hand, how much longer will file_2 stay on the internet? If only for a little while, then keeping file_1 permanently, will be useless. Suppose a year from now I discover there has been a transmission error downloading file_2. I'll be happy because I kept file_1. But, again, file_2 may be no longer there on the internet.

To summarize: for how long do I keep a torrent? Or is it it is convenient to keep it for as long as I'm interested in file_2? Any suggestion will be welcome.

There is no guarantee that a torrent file will be good a week from now, let alone a year. The rate at which trackers are created/closed and how quickly the file losses popularity are factors that are out of your control. There is really no reason to keep the torrent any longer than it takes to download the file itself.

If you are worried about finding a problem with the download in a year's time, my best suggestion would simply be to not wait a year before verifying the download.

Thanks. Your post has stated things in a very clear fashion. I was moving a bunch of big files from the hard to an optical medium, and wondered what to do with the torrents. I now know. Regards.

Until my seeding ratio is 1.

Oh, of course. I had forgotten that. Thanks.

What do you mean?

A ratio of 1 means you have uploaded as much of the file as you have downloaded. The higher the ratio, the more your machine has participated in the torrent. Common courtesy is to go until you have equalized, but the more you upload, the better.

I have very few torrent downloads and the upload speed typically very low, even with no limit set, so I don't have a reason to take them off.

May be I'm meddling into the thread but I do not understand why, once the download is completed, the upload speed is still so low. Could anybody explain?

I think it's ISP throttling, i.e. it's done intentionally. Dunno why, though...

I suggest it is a good idea to keep the torrent with the downloaded file.

The torrent can be used again if you later decide to seed the file some more. By doing so you prevent the torrent from dying when leechers are still waiting.

The torrent can also be used to verify the original file. If you later want to verify that your file is complete and not corrupt the torrent file contains hash codes to check it. I use CFV (command line file verifier) for this purpose, but you can also drop the torrent and original file into your torrent client and use the "check data" function to verify it.

The torrent file can also be kept as a record of where and how you obtained the file. If you are fastidious about organizing your archives, as I am, this can sometimes matter.

@MrCode: Yes. I've read something of the sort, too, I remember. Thanks.

@Telengard: Your post contains information that is precious to me, the last suggestion not being that of the least value. I want to express my gratitude to you in the best possible way. All the best.

Huh? Why?

You are welcome of course. I don't know exactly how you can show your gratitude though since the thanks buttons aren't in this thread (wonder why?). Anyway, just knowing that I was able to help is good enough.

Yes, I do. All the more so when I see I lack the option to mark the thread as solved. I.e., there are not only one but two anomalies in this thread. About the 'thanks' buttons, it is my custom to always click on every and each of them but, perhaps, this was an exception to rule. Regards.