Windows XP is throttling my Internet downloads to 2Mbps!

[Martin]

Hi everyone!

Here's a problem that appears to have stumped the best!!!

Have recently upgraded from 2Mbps ADSL plan to 7.6Mbps data plan and noticed
the following fault:

My internet download speed on my desktop computer (cable connection to
D-Link
router) is 2Mbps, but 4.4Mbps when replaced by laptop.

If I boot the desktop computer using Ubuntu Linux I get 4.4Mbps!! So NO
HARDWARE ISSUE on the desktop computer! (Also transferred file between
computers 25MB in 9s, so card working okay - have downloaded latest drivers
for card anyway)

Have disabled Windows Firewall, Virus protection, Windows Defender - in fact
I've even started Windows in SAFE MODE! But ALWAYS I get 2Mbps when I use
Windows.

Installed Firefox on the Windows system - still 2Mbps.
Used an old internal ADSL modem that I have left over from the old days, and
still (a little more than) 2Mbps

Do you have ANY advice as to where I can look to stop windows slowing my
download speed!?


Regards,

Martin

 

[Ricky]

Go here and run the tweak test to see if anything needs to be changed..
http://www.dslreports.com/tools

 

[Martin]

Go here and run the tweak test to see if anything needs to be changed..
http://www.dslreports.com/tools

Thanks Ricky, but no change

Regards,

Martin

 

[smlunatick]

Thanks Ricky, but no change

Regards,

Martin

You might want to turn off the QoS packet option(s) in the Local Area
Network Connection for your Desktop PC. QoS (Quality of Service???)
filtering is turned on by default in XP but most low end router do not
offer this "feature."

 

[Martin]

You might want to turn off the QoS packet option(s) in the Local Area

Network Connection for your Desktop PC. QoS (Quality of Service???)
filtering is turned on by default in XP but most low end router do not
offer this "feature."

Yes, did that quite early in the process with no change. Microsoft had an
article on QoS causing similar problems on dialup.

Regards,

Martin

 

[Martin]

PROBLEM SOLVED - Zonealarm. Disabled, but not uninstalled.

 

[Zilbandy]

PROBLEM SOLVED - Zonealarm. Disabled, but not uninstalled.

Are you using the free, firewall only version? Also, for my own
curiosity, what version of ZA are you using? I'm having no issues with
download speed and ZA 6.5.737.001 free.

 

[Martin]

Are you using the free, firewall only version? Also, for my own

curiosity, what version of ZA are you using? I'm having no issues with
download speed and ZA 6.5.737.001 free.

Haven't been using Zonealarm since 2005 when I found it was keeping my
Internet Connection open by sending negligable-sized packets of data
somewhere every minute or so. Had very old version installed as a result.
Was relying on Windows Firewall, although I am a little worried with that
setup as I understand it doesn't monitor OUTGOING traffic?

Will maybe return to ZoneAlarm.

Regards,

Martin

 

[Enkidu]

Haven't been using Zonealarm since 2005 when I found it was keeping
my Internet Connection open by sending negligable-sized packets of
data somewhere every minute or so. Had very old version installed as
a result. Was relying on Windows Firewall, although I am a little
worried with that setup as I understand it doesn't monitor OUTGOING
traffic?

Will maybe return to ZoneAlarm.

Outgoing traffic is only a problem *if* you get infected with something.
Sure it lets you know if you are infected, but the best plan is to try
not to get infected in the first place. Most firewalls (even corporate
ones) are fairly relaxed about outgoing traffic, and outgoing filters
are usually used to restrict access to things like P2P and messenger
services, not to detect and protect the Internet from the PC. That'd be
a big like putting locks on your doors to prevent your cat from
attacking the tigers out there!

I've seen too many problems with ZoneAlarm to trust it fully. I used to
use Sygate (Personal Firewall) until it got absorbed by Symantec. Not
that I've had a lot of problems with Norton products, either.

Cheers,

Cliff

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Are you using the free, firewall only version? Also, for my own
curiosity, what version of ZA are you using? I'm having no issues with
download speed and ZA 6.5.737.001 free.

Yeah--I'm running the full suite and I get full performance from my
internet connection.