Internet connection speed...?

Question

My internet connection speed sometimes slows down just for a while... I've been running different sorts of anti virus programms, and anti-spyware as well. I also tried to use Zone Alarm, but i couldn't set the damned Firewall...

:-p

Didn't know how to do it. Damned thing blocked all my internet, so i took it out. However, it showed me all the IP Numbers that it blocked... and there were a lot of them... what exactly does that mean?

What should I do about it?

Answer 1

Speed Up Internet

Windows 2k/XP

1. First, open the Windows Registry using Regedit, and (after backing up) navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContr...

2. Note the following lines (all hex dwords):

Class = 008 ( biggrin.gif - indicates that TCP/IP is a name service provider, don't change

LocalPriority = 1f3 (499) - local names cache

HostsPriority = 1f4 (500) - the HOSTS file

DnsPriority = 7d0 (2000) - DNS

NetbtPriority = 7d1 (2001) - NetBT name-resolution, including WINS

3. What we're aiming to do is increase the priority of the last 4 settings, while keeping their order. The valid range is from -32768 to +32767 and lower numbers mean higher priority compared to other services. What we're aiming at is lower numbers without going to extremes, something like what's shown below should work well:

4. Change the "Priority" lines to:

LocalPriority = 005 (5) - local names cache

HostsPriority = 006 (6) - the HOSTS file

DnsPriority = 007 (7) - DNS

NetbtPriority = 008 ( biggrin.gif - NetBT name-resolution, including WINS

5. Reboot for changes to take effect

2. Windows 9x/ME

1. The tweak is essentialy the same as in Windows 2000/XP, just the location in the Registry is slightly different. For a more detailed description see the Windows 2000/XP section above

2. Open the Windows Registry using Regedit, and (after backing up) navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentContr...

3. You should see the following settings:

Class=hex:08,00,00,00

LocalPriority=hex:f3,01,00,00

HostsPriority=hex:f4,01,00,00

DnsPriority=hex:d0,07,00,00

NetbtPriority=hex:d1,07,00,00

4. The "priority" lines should be changed to:

LocalPriority=hex:05,00,00,00

HostsPriority=hex:06,00,00,00

DnsPriority=hex:07,00,00,00

NetbtPriority=hex:08,00,00,00

5. Reboot for changes to take effect

3. System.ini IRQ Tweak - Windows 9x/ME ONLY

1. Find your Network Card's IRQ

1. In order to add the entry to your System.ini file, you'd first have to find your NIC's IRQ

2. Right-click on My Computer icon on your Desktop, then left-click on Properties (a shortcut for that would be to press the 'Windows' + 'Pause' keys). Navigate to Device Manager and double-click on Computer. Under "View Resources" you will find a list of IRQs, each with description of the device that's using it. Note the IRQ number used by your Network Adapter

2. Adding the entry to System.ini

1. Once you've found the IRQ of your Network Card, you need to reserve some RAM for its use, by adding an entry to the System.ini file. You can edit the file in any text editor, however the easiest way is to use Windows' built in "System Configuration Editor"

2. Navigate to Start > Run and type sysedit . Find the [386enh] Section in the System.ini file and add Irq[n]=4096 under it, where [n] is the IRQ number of your NIC and 4096 is the amount of RAM you want to reserve in Kbytes. We recommend using 4096, however you can experiment with different values if you want. Save changes in the file, exit and reboot for changes to take effect.

Note: If you choose to try different values, keep in mind that reserving too much RAM for your NIC will decrease the amount of RAM available for applications, while reserving too little might not give the desired effect

3. Additional Thoughts

1. The only negative effect of the System.ini IRQ tweak is that it will reduce the amount of RAM available for running applications a bit, by reserving some specifically for your Network Card's use. The gain in performance usually outweighs the negative effect by far, considering any Computer with 32Mb of RAM or more

2. This tweak may or may not work for you. It is not a documented tweak by Windows

3. Keep in mind that if you add hardware to your system the IRQ of the Network Adapter might change, in which case you will need to modify the setting in System.ini

4. In systems with multiple NICs, you might want to add the setting for both IRQs. Also, you could reserve RAM for other IRQs if you wish, just use common sense and don't forget it reduces the amount of RAM available for running applications

5. If you are using an USB device, it does not have a specific IRQ, however you can try adding the entry using the IRQ of the USB Controller

6. For internal Cable Modems, you'd have to add the entry using the IRQ of your modem, rather than the IRQ of a Network Card

RESULTS WILL VARY

No matter how good your systems may be, they're only as effective as what you put into them.

Answer 2

If you are using two or more antiviurs, there is your problem.  You can only have one antivirus installed in your system.  Having more then one will cause serious conflict with your system.

You can use four or even five antispyware without conflict, as one will always find what is missed by the others.  You just need to have the resources, RAM & CPU.  You don´t show your system resources in your question.

I use Zone Alarm, there is nothing really to do other then to download and reboot and then just start opening up each icon on your web page that requires a connection to the internet for updates. IE7, WMP, Windows updates, etc. etc. and in the right hand bottom side of your monitor you will see Zone Alarm pop up each time orange color and ask you to allow or deny.   When you allow, always check of the box where it says to remember.  Same for deny which will show up in a red box..    Very easy.  

Best to control from the icon in your tray.  Double click on Zone Alarm icon and open Restore Zone Alarm Control Center, open and then open program controls and you will see the programs that you have allowed to enter your computer.    Zone Alarm block all rouge packets for you in the background.  And if you open your controls as stated above you will see how many rouge packets were blocked and those that were critical.

Perhaps you have spyware in your system.  

Download the free version of Superantispyware.  http://www.superantispyware.com  Update and run and in depth scan.  Will find viruses and spyware, no conflict to your own antiviurs as that is the nice part.  (I use myself).

Mind Doctor, France