This article describes how to speed up your Internet connection without
use of web accelerators, and is geared towards Windows and Internet
Explorer.
FOLLOWING ARE THE STEPS TO FOLLOW:
FOLLOWING ARE THE STEPS TO FOLLOW:
1. Check to see if faster internet connections are in your area. Fiber optic and cable internet tend to be faster than DSL and Dial-Up.
2.Do some basic maintenance on your PC. Run Disk Defrag,
a scan disk, a virus scan, a malware scan, and clear your recycle bin.
An unusually slow Internet connection experience is often the only sign
that your computer is infected with viruses or other malware. Delete old
files and temporary files. Never allow the free space on your C: drive
to be less than 10% of the total size or twice the installed RAM (which
ever is larger). A well maintained PC will operate much better than a PC
that has never had any maintenance. Google or your local computer
repair store should be able to help you with this if you don't know how
or you can use any good system cleaner and PC optimizer tool for free
such as [ Registry Cleaner and Wise Disk Cleaner] or purchase something.
3.Reset Your Home Network.
Sometimes restarting (or unplugging and replugging the electric power
on) your home network or your router -- if you have one -- will
drastically increase the speed of your connection.
4.Check your home network equipment in general. If you
have multiple computers sharing a connection, make sure all the
computers are physically connected to a router or switch, and not just
to a hub. Hubs are "dumb", low-level equipment, while routers are
capable of prioritizing and directing traffic effectively.
5.Optimize your cache or temporary Internet files.
These files improve your Internet connection performance by not
downloading the same file over and over. When a web site puts their logo
graphic on every page your computer only downloads a new one when it
changes.
Caution: If you delete the temporary files (graphics and such), they
must be downloaded again when you go to that site. If you disable the
cache (loaded software, data), then it must be downloaded every time you
view the page that uses it. This can be fixed by opening Internet
Explorer, clicking on "Tools" at the top and choosing "Internet
Options". On the General tab, click the "Settings" button next to
Temporary Internet Files. Set a check mark for newer versions to handle
downloading new versions "Automatically". Set the amount of disk space
to use to 2% of your total harddisk size or 512 MB, which ever is
smaller. On Firefox, click "Tools" then "Options," and go to the privacy
tab. Then click on the Cache tab within this to set it to automatic.
6.If you are using a Wireless router, make sure it doesn't conflict with a cordless phone or wireless camera.
Wireless routers come in three varieties; 802.11 b, g, and n (2.4Ghz)
or 802.11 a (5.8Ghz) If you are using a 2.4Ghz Cordless phone and 2.4Ghz
Wireless router then your Internet connection speed will slow while you
use the cordless phone. The same is true of wireless security cameras.
Check on your phone and camera, if it's 900Mhz then it's fine. If it
says 2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz then it could be the cause of your slow connection
speed while they're in use.
7.Call your Internet service provider (ISP). Sometimes
you just have bad service. They can usually tell if your connection is
substandard without having a technician come to your home. Just be nice
and ask.
8.Upgrade your computer. If your computer is slow, it
doesn't matter how fast your Internet connection is, the whole thing
will just seem slow. You can only access the Internet as fast as your PC
will allow you to.
9.Upgrade your router/firewall equipment. Specifically,
look into any speed specifications (many older routers are not capable
of transmitting to/from the internet faster than 10 Mbps, even though
the local ports transmit in 100 Mbps). Also, older routers may be
underpowered, so that even though the theoretical speed is 10 Mbps, the
processor on the router is too weak to reach maximum speed.
10.Upgrade your router firmware. Check the
manufacturer's web site for firmware downloads for your router. Compare
this with your version, and upgrade if necessary. Most routers have web
interfaces for managing this, check for any labels on your router
specifying default address, username and password.
11.Replace your old cable modem. Any solid-state
electronics will degrade over time due to accumulated heat damage. Your
broadband modem will have a harder and harder time 'concentrating' on
maintaining a good connection as it gets older (signal to noise ratios
will go down, and the number of resend requests for the same packet will
go up). An after-market cable modem as opposed to a cable-company modem
will frequently offer a better connection.
12.Often your connection speed is slow because other programs are using it.
To test if other programs, such as anti-virus and other updates, are
accessing the Internet without your knowing, Click Start, Click Run.
Type "cmd" (without quotes). Type "netstat -b 5 > activity.txt".
After a minute or so, hold down Ctrl and press C. This has created a
file with a list of all programs using your Internet connection. Type
activity.txt to open the file and view the program list.
13.Try pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete simultaneously and open up the Task Manager.
Go to the process menu and close those processes that may be stealing
your valuable bandwidth. (NOTE: Closing processes with unknown filenames
may cause known programs to not function properly). There is a column
with the User Name, and if that is "System", you'd better leave
it alone until you stop using the program that needs it. But if the User
is your own login name, then it is not crucial to the operating system,
but may be needed by other programs, however you may experiment. Often
the system will not allow closing of -- or will reopen -- needed system
programs.
14.After you have tried some of this try your connection again and see if it's running any faster.
If it is better you may need to close those extras each time you
restart your system until you set the startup list to not open them
anymore.
15.Check to see somebody else is using the internet on your home network.
If somebody is downloading a lot of media from the internet, such as
watching video or downloading large files, the host computer is using a
lot of bandwidth and the other computers are using the remaining
bandwidth.
16.If you are using satelite internet, your internet
connection might be altered because of wind (vibrations) and electrical
activity in/among clouds, heavy snow, or rain and lightning, static, or
other electrical interference.
LET'S BANG UP YOUR SPEED.. FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENT US.
