Possible reasons for slower connection?

Discussion in 'Software' started by brahman, Mar 23, 2011.

  1. brahman

    brahman Specialist

    So I am running on my new PC, and everything seems to be faster, reboots 2-3x faster, anti-virus and anti-spyware do full scans in half the times, everything pops up all nice and easy.

    but my connection is slower. The possible reasons I have been running in my head are moving from vista32 to Windows7-64, the addition of windows 7 firewall, maybe my drivers, or the new adobe acrobat, Java, or something, I don't know. Are any of these legit things to worry about? And if so what can I do to speed up the speed. It is only streaming videos that I am wanting to move faster.
     
  2. sexyandy81

    sexyandy81 MajorGeek

    Hello There,

    Are you running a wireless or wired connection? Wireless is slower then wired

    If you are using a router you need to reboot the router and it will clear all data and that will make run faster. If you are wireless on a router you might want to check the wireless channel if more people are connected to the same channel that also cloggs up the internet speed use a channel that noone or hardly anyone uses.

    Hope This Helps

    Andy
     
  3. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    Is Windows 7 at SP1?

    What speed of service do you pay for?
    if you test your speed at http://www.speedtest.net/ what is your reported speed (do three runs during the day *morning, midday and evening* and take the average)

    The Windows Firewall doesnt tend to slow things down much, however a 3rd party one installed may, so disable your security applications to test your internet connection out, also name what security applications you have installed.

    Drivers are a biggy and make sure you have all the drivers installed in Windows 7 versions and if possible the 64bit versions, so make sure you have Chipset installed and latest network driver.

    Addons like Java, Flash, Acrobat could slow the browser down, thus its ability to pull up pages quickly, so run your browser (do name your browser and version) in its safe/no addons mode (IEs is found in Accessories > System Tools, Firefox is in its Start > Program menu folder)


    Does your Router have the latest firmware (again make and model)? as at times some are not fully compatible with Win7 and a quick trick to turn off autotuning can help, see below info

    From an elevated CMD prompt (type CMD into the Start Search box then right click Run as Administrator CMD when it shows) then type or paste the below line and hit enter.

    netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

    reboot and try the internet again.
     
  4. Caliban

    Caliban I don't need no steenkin' title!

    Greetings, brahman.

    Just to add to the other suggestions: you might try booting to Safe Mode with Networking, see if there is a noticeable difference. If so, then some 3rd-party software might be causing the slowdown.
     
  5. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    If there is and the great suggestion from Caliban highlights this then use msconfig and its startup tab and disable all startups and reboot, then see if the internet is quick, if it is then reset all startups back to default, but if not enable one at a time and reboot until you notice what one is seeming to cause the slowness.


    Jumping to 64bit OS adds at times a complexity that is not outwardly noticed by all, in that in the main you are using a 32bit emulation so to speak to make those apps run, so if any of your favoured apps, especially security have dedicated 64bit versions install those.
     
  6. brahman

    brahman Specialist

    FireFox 4 fixed the issue.

    I will have to check out the suggestions over the weekend. Right off the bat I have to say that it is not the difference between the wireless and wired, because both laptops are wireless and always have been. And it is not my internet provider because both laptops are using the same internet connection.

    From sexyandy81
    I am curious as to how you use a different channel? I assume all 4 laptops in the house are using the same channel. How do I tell?
     
  7. Caliban

    Caliban I don't need no steenkin' title!

    Glad you're getting things sorted - thanks for the feedback. :major
     
  8. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    If Fx 4.0 has cured this then great, but I would still look for an underlying cause and if not updated to IE9 (and it was IE8 being used) then also try installing IE9.

    If you could answer some the the direct questions and try the options out that would be good, even if they dont help, it rules one more thing out.

    Also as you mention 4 laptops all using WiFi, dont have them on and using wifi to test this new PC out, it will rule one of them (or even turn off Xbox360 PS3 also) out as the cause of your apparent slower speed.


    You'll need to enter your routers control panel and check the Channel user for Wifi broadcasting and yes indeed all the laptops will be using the same channel as thats set on the router and not the PC.


    Common one IIRC defaultly set is 11, but also 1 and 6 are used as well, so choose a compeletly different number to those as many users will not change this figure from default, I use Ch8 on mine, dunno if it adds much as in speed but should at last cut out interfearence from others.
     
  9. sexyandy81

    sexyandy81 MajorGeek

    Thanks DavidGP,

    You enter your router's ip address in your browser and it should take you to the router's control panel webpage. enter the default login details or if changed enter the new details. Once on the router's details page you should see wireless connection in that tab you should see something on the lines of wireless channel with numbers 0 up to like 15. pick a channel that is not used by other router's and you should be fine.

    depending on ISP's. Virgin Media wireless connection loses around 20% speed compared to wired connection. The factors for losing internet speed on wireless connections are.

    Weather, Router's connecting on same channel, Distance from Router and if your laptop or dongle is near any other electrical equipment.

    Hope this explains it in more detail.

    Andy
     

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