[Tech] Extremly slow internet using Windows Vista

[Dragon]

First of all: Don't blame me ^^ I know that Vista is crap but Im using my gf's computer right now.

So to get going with the problem:

The computer (a Vista capable one) is connected via WLAN to a (internet is a DSL 6k connection) router ( a ZIO X11 IEE802.11g 54 Mbps Speed Wireless G Broadband Router) but only gets a 6-12 kbit/sec connection speed, which pretty much sucks ass. It takes about 30 secs to load google. But after some time I noticed that it sometimes "jumps" up to a connection speed of around 400 kbit/sec or more depending on the sites speed limits. Sadly this only lasts for a maximum of 10 secs before it all goes back to the "normal" slow speed. (I tested that by downloading some larger files of at least 100 mb)

As you will probably understand I started looking up things on the internet, because I was not really statisfied with that connection speed.
I found out that I wasn't the only one with those problems and the findings told me to deactivate the auto updates, the internet protocols not needed (meaning all except 3 of them) and to deactivate the phishing filter in order to fasten it up. While this seems to have solved many Vista users problems the internet here is still incredibly slow.

So I'm asking you, have you got any idea what I can do to improve the connection speed?

 

[thatbloke]

It may be wireless interference.

Could be crap Vista drivers for the card.

Are other computers slow using the same Wireless connection?

There isn't someone next-door stealing the connection or anything? Enable MAC filtering on your router and allow only your gf's wireless card to connect to the router.

Try turning off all passwords/encryption if you haven't done so already.

Switch the wireless channel to a different channel (in the UK we have 13 different Wireless channels that a wireless router can be set to - not sure how many you can set in Germany).

Connect to the router via Ethernet cable. Is this slow also?

That's a nice big list of things to try, there may be others but let us know how you get on

 

[Dragon]

It may be wireless interference.

Could be crap Vista drivers for the card.

Are other computers slow using the same Wireless connection?

There isn't someone next-door stealing the connection or anything? Enable MAC filtering on your router and allow only your gf's wireless card to connect to the router.

Try turning off all passwords/encryption if you haven't done so already.

Switch the wireless channel to a different channel (in the UK we have 13 different Wireless channels that a wireless router can be set to - not sure how many you can set in Germany).

Connect to the router via Ethernet cable. Is this slow also?

That's a nice big list of things to try, there may be others but let us know how you get on

Sorry forgot to mention some more things I tried. WLAN works perfectly on the other computers in the household (meaning on 3 more) and I am not allowed to fumble on the passwords and encryptions
Also I updated the WLAN cards drivers a few days ago.
But tell me, how does that MAC filtering and that channel switching work?
And I think there can't be any interferences as the computer is standing in the exact same spot as her old computer was standing which had no problems but was running XP.

EDIT: What I just found out is that I don't have any router access on this computer. I can't open the router interface in the browser nor can I ping the router.

 

[Ronin Storm]

But tell me, how does that MAC filtering and that channel switching work?

In simple terms, every network card has an address hardcoded into the circuitry on the card itself. This is called the MAC address. On any particular network, every MAC address is (and must be) unique. The whole business with IP addresses is all very nice but, within a network, the actual communication between pieces of hardware is negotiated using MAC addresses.

By filtering what MAC addresses can connect to your WLAN, you effectively restrict your WLAN to those physical network cards only. It's pretty neat. It's not bulletproof but it is fairly robust. It's possible to reprogram the MAC address for a network card (on some hardware) so, in theory, someone could compromise that level of security.

Note that this is only security as regards access to the router and has no bearing on the security of the information you transmit.

 

[Wol]

EDIT: What I just found out is that I don't have any router access on this computer. I can't open the router interface in the browser nor can I ping the router.

Who's router is it the? Its kinda a helpful thing to have access to if you want to make the router worthwhile, and be able to at least get rid of the possible problem at that point on the link. Is there noone you can get to do something for you on it, or to check something through?

Also, you mention that it takes ages for google to load, so HTTP connections? Have you tried 1) different network protocols, so the speed you get on different ports 2) if its only web youve tried, try using a different browser. 3) try netstatting (run > cmd > netstat -a -b) / wiresharking the network connections. Netstat should connect the sockets quickly. Might be able to see if its getting stuck anywhere on the connection. Wireshark might also be able to show where the main delay lies.

Just throwing some ideas out there! If the main difference is that its having problems on vista, but not XP, then I'd point the finger at the software end.

However, I'll second thatblokes comment about connecting using a cable. That will rule out whether its a hardware problem or not.

HTH

p.s.
MAC address filtering is handy to add another level of security on. I have it on my router, so only computers I've registered with the router can connect by the way if you don't know (I have no idea what level of network knowledge ya have!), MAC addresses are those things which are in the format of 12:34:56:78:9A:BC. Pretty much every packet you send, will have a header showing your IP address and MAC address. An ARP cache (address resolution protocol) usually stores the link between IP addresses and their associated MAC addresses, rather than them having to be queried on the network all the time.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>arp -a

Interface: 192.168.1.15 --- 0x70003
  Internet Address      Physical Address      Type
  192.168.1.1           00-14-7c-xx-xx-d6     dynamic
  192.168.1.18          00-1a-4d-xx-xx-2b     dynamic

(stuck the xx's in cos I don't trust you lot )