Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

WINDOWS XP SLOWWWWWWWWWW INTERNET DOWNLOADS ARE "KILLING" ME!!! (UPLOADS STILL FAST)
Shameless Vanity | 3/07/09 | Self

Posted on 03/07/2009 1:33:14 PM PST by Chi-townChief

About two weeks ago, it seems after a windows update, my internet download speed slowed to a crawl. Speakeasy speed tests show me only in the 100-150 kbs download speed range although upload speeds are generally 2000-3000 kbs - high-speed cable connection.

When I'm not on the web, just doing spreadsheet work or disk burning, for example, I'm fine but web browsing is like purgatory.

I've tried everything I can think of including going back and forth between IE 6 and IE 7, reformating and reloading my hard drive, deleting and repeating windows updates, but nothing seems to work.

My final effort right now is going from Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail to see what happens. After that I may toss this computer out the window.

Any help would be greatly appreciated !!!!! - I know I should be on the other forum but this one seems to get the most views.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: getamac; hotmail; windows; xp
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: Chi-townChief

If your service provider is a cable company, they can and do put bandwith [speed, actually] filters on the line; and then try to sell you upgraded service.


41 posted on 03/07/2009 2:06:48 PM PST by George Smiley (They're not drinking the Kool-Aid any more. They're eating it straight out of the packet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Candor7

That’s what it seems like - how would I find that particular patch though??


42 posted on 03/07/2009 2:11:12 PM PST by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief

Those internet speeds sound pretty good to me. Are you using an older computer?

If your computer is several years old you might be having problems with flash advertisements hogging your CPU. You can check the CPU useage with Windows Task Manager. If that is the problem, you can use a Firefox add-on called Flashblock.


43 posted on 03/07/2009 2:16:35 PM PST by retrogo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hang'emAll

I’ll have to try it - I used Optimizer XP but that didn’t do much.


44 posted on 03/07/2009 2:17:03 PM PST by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief
I was using spyboy, zonealarm, and AVG and all seemed to work well until this happened. My cable provider gives McAfee free of charge so I’m trying that now. I try the anti-malware and see what happens.

[Hadn't read that far down in the posts when I posted my previous comment.]

I dumped Zonealarm a long time ago, due to conflicts and glut. I went with Comodo firewall. Trouble is, the most recent Comodo firewall is part of a suite. I use an older version, and it makes my connection invisible, per Gibson Research Leak Tests.

AVG. I dumped it a few weeks ago. Glut and conflicts with other programs. I went with Avast Home. It uses fewer resources and runs smoother.

McAfee AV. I used it several years ago. It, too become glut. I tried their firewall and dropped it. For months afterward, I would get pop-ups asking me to try it again -- even after I uninstalled it and their AV program. I tried editing the registry and systems searches to get rid of any McAfee entries. Still the pop-ups continued. I finally did a reformat. That got rid of the ba*tard. I will never have anything McAfee on my computer again -- and my cable gives it away free to us subscribers.

My current is: Avast Home AV and Comodo Firewall ver 2.1.0.1
45 posted on 03/07/2009 2:18:09 PM PST by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: retrogo

About 3 years old - I did have a crash on New Year’s Day due to a power failure and it acted weird for a week or two after but seemed to fix itself and was fine until now. The funny thing is that my old computer did the same thing after a Windows 98 update and it neevr would run 98 again. XP would work fine though.


46 posted on 03/07/2009 2:21:12 PM PST by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief

You can write to Norton Symantec and tell them your problem. Norton 360 appeared to fix my problem, so it only lasted a couple of days, and a Norton update took care of it.<p.

You also may have a faulty registry.Egistry Fix software can fix that, which is in the Norton 360 software package.

Drop their tech dept a line and maybe thay will help.


47 posted on 03/07/2009 2:24:00 PM PST by Candor7 (I love Lucy : http://www.fiftiesweb.com/lucy.htm ( Those were better days))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief
Sounds like you have comcast.(FYI I live in a western burb of Chicago) I'd bet the problem is on the outside.

I had the same problem.

Comcast kept telling me it's on my end.
They must have a 5 ft high stack of complaints from me by now.

however, a sharp Comcast inside tech identified the problem as being in the outside wires.

He made an appointment for a comcast outside tech and lo and behold, they found 2 things wrong.

1. a squirrel had partially chewed through the wire.
2. a connection\coupling was encased. The encasement had filled with water. ( Makes Sense that the service was spotty, when you consider the continuous freeze & thaw)

They replaced the chewed wiring, sealed the encasement and my speed is now screaming.

You have to keep hammering ‘em to get a decent outside guy out there. preferably a comcast guy not a sub contractor

Good luck

48 posted on 03/07/2009 2:24:35 PM PST by stylin19a (Obama - the ethical exception asterisk administration)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stylin19a

Yeah - I’m in the 95th and Cicero area and I have Comcast - I’ll have to try them again and see what happens.


49 posted on 03/07/2009 2:42:27 PM PST by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief

Macbots in 3...2...1...


50 posted on 03/07/2009 2:51:36 PM PST by JRios1968 (The real first rule of Fight Club: Do not invite Chuck Norris...EVER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief

Another thought:

I was having problems a year ago. Four different crews came out and checked stuff.

Finally, one guy said it might be my cable modem. [I had purchased it from the cable co 5 years earlier, when I first got cable internet.]

He said the problem was that the modem was too old to handle the increased speeds the cable internet had periodically upgraded. [When I first got it, the high speed was about 1 MB. Last year, it was 7 MB and it is up to 9 MB now.]

I bought a new cable modem. It did help. Of course, they had problems in their lines, too, that they finally got resolved.


51 posted on 03/07/2009 3:01:11 PM PST by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief
Tell the cable company you'd like them to drop by with a laptop that can demonstrate at your cable drop that you're getting your rated D/L speed at the test site of your choice - also suggest they bring a new in box cable modem just in case - you're out the time but it would've been faster than reformatting an re-installing all your software ...

I trust cnet: http://reviews.cnet.com/internet-speed-test/

or take your pick here: http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest?more=1

52 posted on 03/07/2009 3:07:22 PM PST by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Billthedrill
And occasionally they'll tweak the download bandwidth themselves if they think you're running a server or something. It'd be easy enough to eliminate the possibility by asking.

This has happened to me a few times. For some reason, a setting was inadvertently changed to less than half the download speed it was supposed to be set at.

53 posted on 03/07/2009 3:35:40 PM PST by bubbacluck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey
It is sick, sick fast.

Huh? I thought "sick" was a negative term. If you refer to something as being "sick fast", are you implying that it's good, or are you implying that it's bad?

54 posted on 03/07/2009 4:03:12 PM PST by Isabel C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Isabel C.
I thought "sick" was a negative term.

Nope, sick means good now. Actually it means very, very good.

55 posted on 03/07/2009 4:31:42 PM PST by Semper911 (When you want to rob Peter to pay Paul, you'll always have the support of Paul.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief

Are you logged in?


56 posted on 03/07/2009 4:38:20 PM PST by mad_as_he$$ (You want me to buy heavy metal? Metallica?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Isabel C.
"I thought "sick" was a negative term"

Assuming you arent' being sarcastic, I will explain. "Sick", when used in the parlance of many home computer builders is a postive reference to the technical achievement and performance of their home built computers, also known as rigs. You might also see or hear such adjectives as wicked, nasty, thumping, jacked or my personal favorite, PHAT.

This can be confusing. As an example, one might describe their new computer build with the phrase, "This new gear is completely insane." Translated: "My new computer stretches the scope of my understanding of what cutting edge performance in new computer technology is possible". - It can be very puzlling and I appreciate the somewhat bewildered response to my orignial post. My apologees.

57 posted on 03/07/2009 4:51:58 PM PST by Big_Monkey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Chi-townChief
...reformating and reloading my hard drive

That would have fixed it if done properly.

What did you "reload" onto your hard drive after formatting it? An image? A clone copy or just your personal data?

If it was one of the former two, you've brought over whatever virus (virii?) or spywarez that were the problem in the first place.

"Nasty little Spywaeses. Always trying to get to The Precious."


58 posted on 03/07/2009 5:11:06 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bloody Sam Roberts

I still have my original disk that I reloaded. Then my Docs and Settings.


59 posted on 03/07/2009 5:37:43 PM PST by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Bloody Sam Roberts

I still have my original disk that I reloaded. Then my Docs and Settings.


60 posted on 03/07/2009 5:37:43 PM PST by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson