what can I do to speed up internet?

[User Name missing]

I just recently installed a new HD in my HP Pav. ZE2315(?) laptop and fresh install of XP home with whatever the latest IE is. But for some reason, the internet seems slow, regardless of how close/far I am to the wireless G router. Watching streaming vid is awful and I was trying to play an online game, but it was taking so long to load, I gave up. Jump on my desktop, which is so full of crap, it desparatly needs a larger hard drive/fresh install and is still on IE6, and everything works great. Before the original HD crashed, it worked fine.

Is IE8(?) the problem? Does it need tweaked or something? Thinking bout installing FF just to see if it runs any faster. Also using AVG free, ZA free and adaware.

Also, is there any way to boost the ranger of my wireless router WITHOUT buying anything extra? If I take my laptop into the kitchen, forget bout using the net. Connection speed varies anywhere from 11mbps(mbps?) to the typical 54, but randomly drops off/picks up.

 

[aaron_ariens]

I don't know too much about computers, but I just downloaded google chrome. It's nice. =]

 

[mjonesjr]

Your browser is part of your problem. Get yourself either Firefox or Google Chrome.

Another problem is that all wireless connections are slower than hard wired connections, not matter which router you have.

 

[94twodoor]

Delete browser settings and cookies. Also, check to see you are getting full bandwidth from your ISP. If you are not getting at least 90% speed, call the service provider. You may have someone piggybacking your line and stealing bandwidth. This can happen with trojans also, scan the computer for trojan viruses.

 

[94twodoor]

Can also check www.finallyfast.com for a free scan.

 

[schlutzer]

Okay first off, turn off windows firewall, and all of the constant running antivirus programs because guess what. none of those are going to stop a virus. No not even Norton. All they will do is tell you the virus is there, and that the program can't do squat about it. Ad-Aware is a good program, the only one worth a damn out of the three.

Spybot search and destroy is another good one, just make sure you turn off the teatimer and the other add on or else it will monitor your every move. just like those two other junk programs you listed. Do not even bother spending the money on norton. I have yet to come accross something the ad-aware and/or spybot couldn't get rid of that norton could.

Oh and the biggest pain with those programs is they usually run on start-up, without you knowing, and even when you tell them not too. sucking up precious memory as they scan everything you do.

Second, download firefox, after downloading go to google and search "speed up firefox", only do the second thing if your on broadband though (dsl, cable, fibre optic)

Third there are antennas you can buy to boost your range but it's very simple to modify your current one for about 5 cents to double your range.

I have also seen antennas you can just plug into your laptop to boost its receiving range.

Also you said something about your desktop needing a larger HDD(hard disk drive) as if you were using that as a reason for that computer to be slower. Unless your hard drive is about 99% full, and you have too little memory that it is swapping memory for hdd space ( which is a total other issue in itself) your hdd having harmless music, programs, pictures. etc etc will not slow down your computer and definitely not your internet.

go to start --> run then type "msconfig" then go to startup. Turn them all off and reboot. just watch the difference. Oh dont turn off the one that will be for the pointer pad of the laptop. And most programs you run like MSN will add themselves back in to the startup next time you open that program unless you go into that programs settings aswell.

wow longest post ever

 

[Jspafford]

I dispise IE*. I always have to open and close it 3 times before it loads anything.

I used Firefox, but found Google Chrome and it is the shit.

I used a wireless connection on my desktop for months and could download at the same speeds as the wired connection.

 

[User Name missing]

I've never had a problem with AVG or ZA. In fact I've had better luck using those 2 than anything else. And AVG will catch an imcoming virus. I don't use Norton or any other purchased security crapware. Windows firewall is off. I stop using Spybot after it kept deleting key files for certain programs/websites. But not saying its a bad program either. And both HD's are nearly 99% full.

 

[schlutzer]

They will catch a minor virus. But no running anti virus program is going to stop a real virus, meaning one you actually have to worry about.

BTW you can tell Spybot to ignore a certain program, I had it not liking some of the Adobe programs I had.

But your internet will be very noticeably faster if you just download firefox and then search " how to speed up firefox" in google and follow the intructions.

 

[User Name missing]

I tried that with spybot, but it still kept deleting the files. So I got rid of it.

 

[schlutzer]

Spybot doesnt delete a file unless you tell it to. If a file you want comes up in a scan, you simply tell spybot its a good file and to ignore it from now on. Pretty simple, but anyway not a big deal.

Do the other things I listed and your computer will be noticeably faster

 

[Southern_Trendkill]

Okay first off, turn off windows firewall, and all of the constant running antivirus programs because guess what. none of those are going to stop a virus. No not even Norton. All they will do is tell you the virus is there, and that the program can't do squat about it. Ad-Aware is a good program, the only one worth a damn out of the three.

This is probably the worst advice I've ever heard. You absolutely need to run antivirus, and why the hell would you turn off windows firewall? It doesn't slow anything down. All it does is make sure that only the programs that you want can use your internet connection. OP has a respectable security software suite set-up right now, and there is no reason to remove it. Besides, if you turn off all of those programs, it will free up RAM, not bandwidth. Your computer will faster, not your internet.

Spybot search and destroy is another good one, just make sure you turn off the teatimer and the other add on or else it will monitor your every move. just like those two other junk programs you listed. Do not even bother spending the money on norton. I have yet to come accross something the ad-aware and/or spybot couldn't get rid of that norton could.

You want it monitoring your every move. That's how it catches spyware. Disabling it only makes it not do it's job until you tell it too, and if you know there's a reason to call it up, it's probably too late.

Oh and the biggest pain with those programs is they usually run on start-up, without you knowing, and even when you tell them not too. sucking up precious memory as they scan everything you do.

Second, download firefox, after downloading go to google and search "speed up firefox", only do the second thing if your on broadband though (dsl, cable, fibre optic)

DO NOT disable your antivirus from running on startup.

Also you said something about your desktop needing a larger HDD(hard disk drive) as if you were using that as a reason for that computer to be slower. Unless your hard drive is about 99% full, and you have too little memory that it is swapping memory for hdd space ( which is a total other issue in itself) your hdd having harmless music, programs, pictures. etc etc will not slow down your computer and definitely not your internet.

That will always make the whole computer slower. The more of your hard drive you fill, the slower it gets. There is no 99% tipping point. The only thing it won't slow down much is the internet.

Don't mess with msconfig if you don't know what you're doing. There are many system utility programs out there that will help you change delicate settings without messing anything up. Try Ashampoo WinOptimizer. It's awesome.

Check out www.techsupportalert.com and you can find a bunch of reviews for free software. You are on a good start with AVG, but I would upgrade, AVG fell behind about a year ago, and never really got it's game back. Try Avira or Microsoft Security Essentials.

 

[User Name missing]

is the a flash player for google chrome? I noticed chrome isnt an option on adobe FP site. Also this forumn doesnt work in chrome.

 

[pocket-rocket]

I prefer ESET NOD32 for antivirus. It's $60 a year, but they do offer a free month (at which point you can uninstall and reinstall, but I plan on purchasing it when I can- it's an awesome AV program). I used to use ZoneAlarm, but after whoever bought them out, it plain sucks now, so I stick with the Windows firewall along with the hardware firewall in my router. I bought some of the big 7dBi antennas for my router on ebay and I went from hardly having a trace of a signal to being able to use my internet in the garage despite one of the walls in the way being brick. I also got a Proxim card with an external antenna plug and picked up an external antenna on ebay as well.

 

[Sunk]

I've found that while Chrome isn't listed as an option on many sites, it still works. I've had zero problems so far with it.