I need some help with slow internet on pc please
Posted by: JamieWednesday on 03 May 2009
Guys, need some techie help please
I have Virgin 10 mbps cable service and speed on our wireless pc's is absolutely fine, averaging about 8.5 mpbs
However, using the study pc for the first time in ages, it is incredibly slow. It is connected to belkin router directly by ethernet cable from Linksys LNE100TX fast ethernet adaptor rather than wireless - my wife who uses this pc normally thought this was just normal speed and hadn't mentioned it as especially slow - it's speed varies between just under and just over 1mpbs depending on the test used.
I can't work out why...
I think I'm missing something big time with regard to how connection is set up on pc - Currently shows as LAN connected via the Linksys LNE100TX which was installed years ago with previous service - another connection is titled Broadband Connection via WAN Miniport (PPPOE) and is ticked as default connection but disconnected - if I click 'connect' it tries dialling up..! I am confused.
Help.
Posted on: 03 May 2009 by fixedwheel
Hi Jamie
Assuming this is a Windows PC, otherwise my help won't be any.
Sounds like that PC used to have a USB ADSL modem on it, which you no longer have
If there is an icon, labeled "SpeedTouch" with 4 squares, in the system tray (bottom right, next to clock) that is another giveaway
Let me know whether it is Win98, Millenium, XP (most likely) or Vista and I'll try and help.
Cheers
John
Posted on: 03 May 2009 by fatcat
quote:
Originally posted by JamieWednesday:
I think I'm missing something big time with regard to how connection is set up on pc - Currently shows as LAN connected via the Linksys LNE100TX which was installed years ago with previous service - another connection is titled Broadband Connection via WAN Miniport (PPPOE) and is ticked as default connection but disconnected - if I click 'connect' it tries dialling up..! I am confused.
The Lan and WAN miniport settings are correct. Hard to believe, but true.
You should also have an “Internet Gateway”, showing Connected, Internet connection.
Posted on: 04 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
Hi John, you're right it did originally come with different card (can't remember if it was usb but sounds right as the modem has a usb slot as well as ethernet and if memory serves I had to change the card in the PC to allow ethernet connection to modem)
Speedtouch icon isn't there though.
Either when we switched service or went wireless (I can't remember which), I had to install the new card for the ethernet connection to the router. I think.
OS is XP.
Fatcat, I don't have "Internet Gateway" showing
Cheers guys
Posted on: 04 May 2009 by garyi
Why are you using an adptor and not the ethernet installed on the computer?
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by Exiled Highlander
Is the Linksys adaptor set up for Full Duplex 100MB? It should autoswitch if it is set to full auto but it may have been accidentally changed to something else like half duplex 10MB which ceratinly wouldn't help!!
Are you using CAT 5 cable? (sorry I had to ask just in case!!) Have you tried another network cable just in case?
Of course, given it sounds like an old machine, it couyld just need more RAM....or you could be running out of disk space.....both of these will slow it down. Sorry if these are too obvious.
Just some thoughts.
Cheers
Jim
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
Comp didn't originally come with ethernet, had to put in a new card, when I switched to wireless I think
I tried using diff cable and plugged straight into modem, bypassing router, same result - plenty of spare RAM and disk space, everything else is fine speed wise...
I'm sure it must be either the card itself or the settings or how the PC thinks it is connecting to internet but I'm not sure how to get settings right on either at the mo'
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
Lan card is on auto - tried switching to 100 full duplex - no change
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by fixedwheel
Hi Jamie
I'm trying to figure out all the devices on your network!
The Virgin service comes in to the house, and what did Virgin supply?
The Belkin Router, is that doing the wireless duties? Give me the model no of the Belkin, and I can check connection options.
Right click on Internet Explorer, select Internet Properties, click the Connections tab. Make sure there is nothing in the DialUp & VPN box, then click LAN Settings, make sure all boxes are clear and press OK, and OK.
One of the biggest killers of performance on machines is when people, often accidentaly, end up with 2 or more programs trying to do AntiVirus/Firewall/AntiSpam etc. The programs just fight for 90% of the time. Not pretty!
An early XP machine may only have 256Mb of RAM, very tight by todays standards, even 512Mb is tight. And as Jim said, hard disk space under 20% free can impact performance, if that is an issue the HDD will stay nearly permantly on.
Cheers
John
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
Hi John, Virgin comes into the house to their (old ntl) broadband modem - this then feeds a belkin F5D7231-4 version 1000uk wireless router
However, the desktop pc is fed by wire from the router, into the Linksys LAN card
2nd desktop and lap top are fed wireless and their speed is fine
Tried knocking off all antivirus etc. - no diff - ordinarily windows own firewall and AVG free version - have 1GB of Ram - hard disk is about 60% free (I have two other free standing hard drives)
I use firefox but checked the settings via IE and they are as you say - I don't get it!
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by fatcat
Jamie
Try deleting all the connections. Then go into the control panel, system, hardware, device manager and uninstall the network card. Restart the computer. When you turn on the PC, it will find new hardware and the network connection will automatically be set up.
I have just tried it on one of my spare PC’s. It only set up the LAN connection and worked fine.
You could also log onto the internet, tools, internet options, advanced, restore advanced settings.
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by DaveBk
Exiled Highlander may have hit the nail on the head above, but this is getting into advanced networking territory...
Networks run really slow if the speed/duplex settings are wrong.
On my XP machine, I can see the settings if I navigate:
Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local Area Connection -> Properties. On this panel I can see a box titled 'Connect Using' - in my case this is a Realtek LAN card, but in your case a Linksys card. Next to this is a configure button... pressing this gives the detailed settings for the LAN card, on the Advanced tab, you can see a list of properties and their value. In my case Link Speed/Duplex mode is set to Auto - the best option in most cases. If for some reason this is locked to 10/Full or 10/Half or whatever, but the router is set to Auto it will keep trying to negotiate a rate, but never get it right.
This is complex, so beware, but this could be the issue. Good Luck!
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
Hi Dave, mine is set to auto as well - tried setting it to 100 just in case but no change
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
fatcat - I'll give your suggestion a try - after I've had a drink
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by DaveBk
It would be worth tying 10 - just in case the router has a really low speed setting. Did it have a setting for half/full duplex as well?
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by fatcat
quote:
Originally posted by JamieWednesday:
fatcat - I'll give your suggestion a try - after I've had a drink
Go for it
I also use virgin broadband. The modem is a Motorola. Every thirty days I reload windows XP onto a one of my PC’s. I connect the PC to the router, which is connected to the modem. No setting up, its plug and play.
Something has occurred to me. Originally the modem needed a driver. For some reason a modem driver is no longer needed. Is a modem shown in the device manager. If so, maybe you should delete it.
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by fixedwheel
Just making sure that the modem is in the green port, and the PC is plugged in to one of the blue sockets, numbered 1-4
Two more things come to mind, potential IP conflict, or strangely enough the router may have forgotten which port the pc is hanging off of.
Starting to run out of options at this point, but my attack would be:-
Power down all PCs
Turn off router at mains
Power on router, give it 60secs
Power on problem PC only
Check performance
If no better, change cable, but use same socket on router
At this point I usually start looking for large, heavy implements. Blunt or sharp makes no diff.
Are your wireless PCs using internal cards? Or does one of them use a USB device that you can borrow for a while?
Cheers
John
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
I'll try both suggestions later - my wife needs to do some work (!?!?) on 'her' PC now - I've hit the vino for now
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
quote:
Or does one of them use a USB device that you can borrow for a while?
Other desktop has wireless card which I installed, I might try that on problem pc (laptop is built in...)
Posted on: 08 May 2009 by pcstockton
finallyfast.com
Posted on: 08 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
Yes thanks, I've run the similar 'System Mechanic' through it which defo helped a lot but internet still slower than it should be, even put in a different LAN card - am in touch with Virgin now
Posted on: 09 May 2009 by DaveBk
Good luck - network problems are a pain. I just hope Virgin's tech support people are better than Pipex's...
Posted on: 09 May 2009 by JamieWednesday
SORTED!!!!!!
System Mechanic defo helped some but I went out today and followed another suggestion and bought a new ethernet cable - a cat '6' jobby from Staples for £13(!) - Miracle - done the job and how! We all know cables make a difference but after System Mech had done its work, speed was up to about 2.5 - 3 mbps for the last few days - swapped cable and average speed on different tests jumped up to 8 to 9 mpbs now (one said 10.5 on a 10 mpbs service...)
Thanks guys for all your help and suggestions
Can definitely, without reservation recommend the Staples cat 6 cable - Significant upgrade in performance and good value too (and I didn't have to fly it in from Israel either).
