Hi
There is a question for you that were posted as a beginning of an answering
process on the 22nd.
In any case, when you have single computer connected to an Internet service
and you do not have the ISP's professional tools (I do not have it either)
it is hard to evaluate whether problems stem from the ISP or your system.
At first, I would give you a side suggestion.
My personal solution to such a situation is first to get a Cable/DSL Router.
Beside the fact that it provides more secure and stable/faster Internet
connection (even for one computer) it makes it much easier to determine
where troubles comes from (Routers can be found on sale for less then $25).
DSL-PPPOE
http://www.ezlan.net/PPPOE.html
In any case, since you cannot determine where the problem comes from your
computer, you might need a second computer that is known to be Good. You
have to configure the second computer to match your Internet account, and
try it on your Modem. If it is Not performing well then speak to your ISP
again (having the proof that it is not your computer's fault).
If you have a Router, it is much easier to use a second computer because you
can connect it to the Router and might not need to re-configure anything.
This might help too,
http://www.ezlan.net/Internet_Speed.html
As well as this.
In General, you can debug the Network Settings of a computer by following
these steps.
Step One. Check the Network parameters in the Computer's Device Manager.
Make sure that the Network Card drivers are installed correctly; i.e. there
is No IRQ conflict, and No Ghost installation.
http://www.ezlan.net/faq#ghost
Step Two. Verify Basic network setting in the OS:
http://www.ezlan.net/Installing#verify If the above two Steps indicates that
every thing looks good but functionally it does not work.
Step Three. Check (and repair if necessary) the Socket Layers, Winsock, and
or refresh the TCP/IP Stack.
http://www.ezlan.net/clean#refreshnet
Jack (MVP-Networking).
