Network file transfers slow

[Tfx]

After a new installation of Windows XP, I try to copy
files across my home network and the transfers take a very
long time. A 250mb file takes 3 to 4 minutes. I've
replaced every piece of PC hardware as well as network
hardware. I've installed Win98SE on the former XP machine
and the transfer of the same file takes less than 30
seconds. Two 98 PCs have no problem, but install XP on
any PC and the file transfers take forever. Commands are
given on the XP machine from either Windows Exploer or a
command prompt, both exhibit the same performance.

I've changed mobos, nics, HDs, cabling, and routers.
Anything with XP installed won't transfer files very
well. Sometimes I get transfers that say they will take
66 minutes on the same 250mb file. I've changed the 3com
3xp nic from auto to 100mb full duplex, no luck. I've
edited the registry to reduce the the TcpDelAckTicks and
deleted the InternetMTU, no luck. I've flashed bioses,
installed new mobo drivers and nic drivers, no luck. I've
installed SP1a and all critical updates, no luck.
Internal firewalls are inactive on XP and I'm not running
any anti-virus or firewalls anywhere else. I replaced the
router with another router (running DHCP), no luck. I've
specified internal IPs (peer to peer) and use a hub, no
luck. I'm running XP as a client(peer to peer), as far as
I know. I can browes any drive and access and download
the internet w/o any problems and with the same speeds as
the other PCs, but when it comes to file transfers,
massive slowness. Any ideas, pleeeeeease?

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

Both the host computer and your computer must have the network cards
configured to operate at 100 mb. The transfer will only be as fast as the
slowest connection will allow. Are you using cat5 Ethernet cables?

 

[Tfx]

Thanks for the response. Cables are Cat5. I've set both
computers to either "autoselect" for the media type
or "100mb/Full duplex" and get the same results. PC #1
(Win98SE) can connect to PC#2 (Win98SE) and runs at
100mb. File transfer of the 250mb test file takes 20-30
seconds. PC#3 (WinXP Pro) running a 100mb according to
the properties of the TCP/IP protocall and the file takes
2-4 minutes with either PC#1or2. Replaced the 10/100
Netgear router and Cat 5 cables with an Intel 100mb only
hub and new Cat 5 cables, set the IP to 192.168.5 and 6
and 7 on each machine (subnet mask 255.255.255.0) and I
get the same results, Win98 can transfer at 100mb, but XP
Pro cannot. Replaced the HD of the XP Pro PC with Win98SE
and I can tranfer at 100mb.

I previously had PC#3 on a ECS k7s5a Pro mobo with built
in nic and experienced the same problem. I replaced it
with a Abit NF7-S with an add-on 3com 3xp 990Tx nic with
the same results.

Anymore suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Michael Mardesich]

I had a similar problem using a 3com integrated
NIC on a new Albatron KX600 mobo. Occasionally I'd get
a fast transfer but usually it was dog slow. Replaced all the
external network hardware and still no joy. Finally
thought to disable onboard NIC and plug in an
old Netgear FA311 NIC and everything worked fine.
Ymmv of course, but it solved all my network problems.
(Apart from this issue, the kx600 setup and worked
flawlessly.)

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply Michael. I pulled the 3com and put in an old Netgear 310tx and my transfer time sky rocketed to 10-19 minutes. Then I pulled the Netgear out and enabled the built in LAN chip on the Abit NF7-S and installed the driver from the mobo CD and my tranfer time on the 250mb file broke the gravtational pull of the Earth and showed 131 minutes to transfer completion.

I've "played" with different cards and the 3com gave me the best transfer times. I Googled my problem and found two other people with the exact problem. One guy never got it resolved, the other installed a program called PC Booster and it optimized his registry. I tried it (demo) and it took my 3Com transfer time from 2 minutes to 3-4 minutes.

I'm getting the impression that it's not a hardware problem, but a software problem as the old rule of thumb goes... Only 10% of all problems are hardware, the other 90% are software. Wonder if the latter includes "user" errors. Anyway, all this hardware works great with Win98SE, so it could still be a driver issue or a Windows XP Pro issue/setting. I may have to install Win2000.

----- Michael Mardesich wrote: -----

I had a similar problem using a 3com integrated
NIC on a new Albatron KX600 mobo. Occasionally I'd get
a fast transfer but usually it was dog slow. Replaced all the
external network hardware and still no joy. Finally
thought to disable onboard NIC and plug in an
old Netgear FA311 NIC and everything worked fine.
Ymmv of course, but it solved all my network problems.
(Apart from this issue, the kx600 setup and worked
flawlessly.)

 

[Guest]

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

----- Tfx wrote: -----

Thanks for the reply Michael. I pulled the 3com and put in an old Netgear 310tx and my transfer time sky rocketed to 10-19 minutes. Then I pulled the Netgear out and enabled the built in LAN chip on the Abit NF7-S and installed the driver from the mobo CD and my tranfer time on the 250mb file broke the gravtational pull of the Earth and showed 131 minutes to transfer completion.

I've "played" with different cards and the 3com gave me the best transfer times. I Googled my problem and found two other people with the exact problem. One guy never got it resolved, the other installed a program called PC Booster and it optimized his registry. I tried it (demo) and it took my 3Com transfer time from 2 minutes to 3-4 minutes.

I'm getting the impression that it's not a hardware problem, but a software problem as the old rule of thumb goes... Only 10% of all problems are hardware, the other 90% are software. Wonder if the latter includes "user" errors. Anyway, all this hardware works great with Win98SE, so it could still be a driver issue or a Windows XP Pro issue/setting. I may have to install Win2000.

----- Michael Mardesich wrote: -----

I had a similar problem using a 3com integrated
NIC on a new Albatron KX600 mobo. Occasionally I'd get
a fast transfer but usually it was dog slow. Replaced all the
external network hardware and still no joy. Finally
thought to disable onboard NIC and plug in an
old Netgear FA311 NIC and everything worked fine.
Ymmv of course, but it solved all my network problems.
(Apart from this issue, the kx600 setup and worked
flawlessly.)

 

[Guest]

No

but I'm very interrested, because i've got the same problem, Win me, no problem XP DEAD slow !
It seems only witth transfers bigger then 200 - 300 m