Slow Broadband
Internet Connection
There are many system configurations
which can cause slow connections and browsing.
A few would include memory stored in the Cable/DSL modem that would
cause information exchange to the system to be slowed, such as incorrect proxy
settings, a full browser cache, and cookies.
To determine your actual speed, you
can use http://www.discoversandiego.com/speed/
to perform a Road Runner Bandwith Test or http://us.mcafee.com/root/speedometer.asp
for the McAfee Internet Connection Speedometer. Check with your ISP to see if they have their own test site.
For troubleshooting purposes, please
disable any firewall software or hardware, router, switch, or other home
networking devices, and make sure only one computer is connected directly to
your Cable/DSL modem by either USB or Ethernet.
Memory in the Cable/DSL Modem
You may wish to refresh the memory
that is stored in the cable modem. You
can do this by performing a power cycle of the modem and the computer with the
following procedure:
1)
Click Start, and select Shut Down.
2)
Click Shut Down, and select OK.
3)
Turn off the modem, either by the power switch or by unplugging the
modem from the wall.
4)
Wait 2 full minutes; this will allow enough time for the modem and the
computer to reset the memory.
5)
After waiting the allotted time, turn the modem and the computer back
on.
Once the lights on the modem settle
back to normal, the power cycle is complete.
The modem's memory and the computer's memory have been reset, and the
network card should have a new IP address.
Proxy Settings
A major key in the speed at which
you connect to Web sites, or download a file, are the proxy settings. Verify proxy settings are correct with the
following procedure:
1)
Open Internet Explorer.
2)
Go to Tools and Internet Options.
3)
Click on the Connections Tab.
4)
Press the LAN Settings button.
5)
Ensure that all options on this screen are unchecked.
6)
Press OK, and then OK again.
Browser Cache and Cookies
Browser cache plays a significant role
in the speed ratio on the Internet. If
the cache is full, there will be a decrease in the speed ratio.
1)
Open Internet Explorer.
2)
Go to Tools and Internet Options.
3)
Press the Delete Files button.
4)
Press the Settings button.
5)
Press the View Files button.
6)
Click on Edit and Select All to select all the files.
7)
Press the Delete key on your keyboard to remove the files.
8)
Press the Yes button if you are prompted to confirm the action.
9)
Close the Temporary Internet Files folder.
10) Press OK, and OK again in
Internet Explorer.
Restore Defaults
We recommend that you restore the
default settings in Internet Explorer using the following procedure:
1)
Open Internet Explorer.
2)
Go to Tools and Internet Options.
3)
Click on the Security Tab.
4)
Select the Internet Zone, and press the Default button.
5)
Select the Local intranet Zone, and press the Default button.
6)
Select the Trusted sites Zone, and press the Default button.
7)
Select the Restricted sites Zone, and press the Default button.
8)
Click on the Advanced tab.
9)
Press the Restore Defaults button.
10)
Press OK.
If you continue to experience a slow
internet connection, check the results for the following traceroute tests:
1)
traceroute to www.yahoo.com
2)
traceroute to www.google.com
3)
traceroute to any other sites that you are having particular problems
with.
To do a traceroute, perform the
following procedure:
1)
Click on Start, then Run.
2)
Type in "cmd" and click OK.
3)
At the prompt, type in "tracert" then a space, then the
address you are trying to reach (i.e. tracert www.yahoo.com). Press Enter. Please note that the website address you enter must not include
the transfer protocol (i.e. http://) or any information after the domain name.
4)
To copy the information that results, select the text with your mouse
and press the Enter key on the keyboard to copy the information into the
clipboard. You can then paste this
information into an email for analysis by your ISP.
Its been documented that settings in
some Antivirus products can also cause slow internet connections, as well as
viruses, trojans, adware and spyware that may be running on your computer.