noob bittorrent/avi questions

[BabaG]

i've just started testing bittorrent and downloaded a tv torrent to
see how things work. it got stuck about half way through, around
13 of 26 episodes. the directory shows 13 .avi files in what appear
to be complete form (350mb each). when i try to play any of them,
however, i get an error about a 'missing video stream' or some such.
this was on a linux system. i tried transferring one to a wxp system
and it doesn't play there either. i tried gspot to see the codec but it
doesn't seem to find one. just says n.a. i think. both systems have
most of the appropriate codecs like xvid, divx, etc.

sorry if this is the wrong place to ask about this kind of thing but
seems like the most knowledgeable folks here.

am i doing something wrong?
does the torrent need to finish before the files become readable?
is there some process the avi files need to go through after
download to make them readable?

again, sorry if this is a bad place to ask. a redirection would be
appreciated if it's inappropriate here.

thanks.

[Teegedeck]

Where did you get TV content via Bittorrent legally?

http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm

[BabaG]

don't know if i did. i did it as a test and am trying to learn the processes.
seems like a test is a useful thing for me to do, especially since these
files don't seem to work. i need to find out if the process is of any use
or how to make it useful. i seem to be able to get through at least a
part of the download part but not in a productive way. now i'm looking
for info to help me understand whether i have a config problem leading
to useless files, corrupt files, or if i've simply omitted a part of the
bittorrent methodology. i just grabbed something that seemed readily
accessible to try and get through this once. i have a lot of my own avi's
i could make available to people (i make videos) but i need to find out
what mysteries are involved in this kind of xfer process.

thanks for the link to the rules. hopefully if my test is really illegal it's
more along the lines of driving 38 in a 35 zone than knocking over a
bank, the more so since what i grabbed is broadcast daily and could
be easily taped by anyone. rules are rules, though.

[markrb]

If the content is questionable as to it's legality. It's not talked about here.
See the Rules. This is a particularly enforced one here.

[BabaG]

looking elsewhere. thanks. no offense intended.