Intolerably slow download times

[killermink]

Since upgrading to Win XP, my download speeds are ridiculous. I am only using a slow dial-up anyway, but downloading only uses about a quarter of the total connected at.

In fact, it seems the only way to use 100% of my connection speed is to download a file, browse the web and listen to radio at the same time. This leads me to believe that windows is perhaps holding back bandwidth for applications. i.e. it only allows to download at 25% so it is possible to browse and listen to radio.

Is this a possibility? If so, how do I fix it? I would rather that everything tried to grab all the bandwidth and then I could choose which to leave open and which to close.

If this is not the problem, then does anyone know what is?

Many thanks

killermink.

p.s. I realise that download speeds and connection speed and whatever are effected by many factors, and so I have tried downloading from different sites and using a different ISP and at different times, but there is little change in performance (or lack of it).

[POBrien]

what is the speed of your modem? what is the average download transfer speed experienced?

[killermink]

Hi,

My modem speed is 56k (though I connect at around 50k), but my download speed doesn't go much higher than "1.6 kb/sec". I don't know how they compare to each other, but before XP I was getting download speeds of about "4.8 kb/sec". TaskManager shows network utilisation of between 25 and 30% when only downloading a file. This can go up to 90 to 100% in the same session if I open a browser and Media Player. Oh, and I dont use a download manager, just let IE6 do it.

killermink

[POBrien]

I'm wondering if the upgrade didn't provide the correct drivers for the modem. How about re-installing the original modem drivers via My Network Places/View Network Connections. Double click the connection for the modem then Properties. Click the Configure button at the top (next to the modem description). Then the Driver tab and finally Update Driver.
You have two options available.
Install Automatically or Select from a list.

XP obviously updated the drivers with it's own during the upgrade process. How about reverting back to the original drivers that came with ME. Choose select from a list and browse to the .inf file for the modem drivers.

If no improvement, you can always go back to the Update Driver wizard and select the first option (install Automatically).

and just as important, go to the modem makers web site to see if they have updated their drivers files to include XP. If so, then follow the Select from the list option via the wizard.

[killermink]

Hi

I have tried changing the drivers but they appear to be the same and didn't make any difference anyway :(

Someone has suggested it might be something to do with QoS Packet Scheduler? I'm not entirely sure what this is and so am wary of changing any settings. Any ideas?

thanks
killermink

[POBrien]

well.. that's not good. Here's a link to info on QOS.

http://www.windows2000faq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=15009

Since it's not needed unless all nodes have it installed as well, you can do without it. Uninstall it.

[killermink]

OK,

Uninstalled QoS and it has made a slight improvement! :)

Now I get download speeds at around 3.1 kb/s, and task manager shows this as around 50% network utilisation.

So, obviously better, but still not using my full bandwidth. I can't think or see of any other reason why downloading is limited. I know it can be faster cos I can see it in task manager when doing more than one thing!

Thanks,

killermink

[POBrien]

That's very good news...


Here's 2 more tips (From Simon) This should complete the speed up (sorry for not posting these before). Classic brain lock syndrome.

This is for the MTU. for analog modem set it to 576

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/280/

This is for the TCP Window Size. set it as shown.. 8760

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/268/

reboot.