Slow Network Access

Slow Network Access Not Always Due to Scheduled Tasks Check If you have very slow access to your network computers through "My Network Places" and have already deleted the Registry entry calling for a check of Scheduled Tasks on the other network computers (documented elsewhere on this site) AND you have multiple network adaptors (i.e. a cable or DSL connection through one NIC and an internal network using a second NIC) check the following:

· Right-click on "My Network Places", go to Properties.

· Right-click on the NIC that your cable/DSL connects to, and choose Properties.

· Select Internet Protocol(TCP/IP), click on Properties.

· Click on "Advanced", go to "WINS" tab, chose Disable NetBios over TCP/IP.

· When you are back at your Network Connections page, right-click on the Broadband selection.

· Choose "Properties", click on the Networking tab.

· Again, choose TCP/IP, Properties, Advanced, WINS, and select "disable NetBios over TCP/IP".

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Block incomming connections

Limit your exposure to the outside world by blocking incomming connections.

Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections

Right click on "Local Area Network" And go to "Properties",

In the scroll box, Click on "Internet Protocol (IP/TCP)" and then click on the "Properties".

In the new window, Click on the "Advanced.." button,

In the other new window go to the "Options" tab, Click on "TCP/IP Filtering" and hit "Properties".

Check off "Enable TCP/IP filtering (All adapters)" .

In the Above "TCP Ports" Click on the Radio button "Permit Only" and then add in the ports that you want people to be able to access... If you're running a web server add in 80, If you're running an FTP server add in 21... And so on...

Then hit "OK" And close all the other windows.

Reboot when it asks you too.

This way you can close the ports that you do not need to be open to the outside world. An alternative to this tweak could be running a firewall or enabling windows built in firewall. Please note that in order for other computers to connect to you, for example sending a file over AOL Instant Messenger or using Windows Messenger to send a file, make sure that the required port is not blocked on your system. Otherwise, nothing will go through.

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Internet Connection Sharing

To enable Internet Connection Sharing on a network connection:

· Open Network Connections.

· Click the dial-up, local area network, PPPoE, or VPN connection you want to share.

· Then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.

· On the Advanced tab, select the Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection check box.

· If you want this connection to dial automatically when another computer on your home or small office network attempts to access external resources, select the Establish a dial-up connection whenever a computer on my network attempts to access the Internet check box.

· If you want other network users to enable or disable the shared Internet connection, select the Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection check box. Under Internet Connection Sharing, in Home networking connection, select any adapter that connects the computer sharing its Internet connection to the other computers on your network.

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Increase BROADBAND bandwidth

Do you have broadband connection and you want to increase broadband's bandwidth then try this...

This is for broad band connections, though it might work for dial up.

· Make sure your logged on as actually "Administrator".

· Start->Run->type gpedit.msc

· Expand the "Local Computer Policy" branch.

· Expand the "Administrative Templates" branch.

· Expand the "Network Branch".

· Highlight the "QoS Packet Scheduler" in left window.

· In right window double-click the "Limit Reservable Bandwidth" setting.

· On setting tab check the "Enabled" item.

· Where it says "Bandwidth limit %" change it to read 0.

Effect is immediate on some systems, some need to re-boot. This is more of a "counter what XP does" thing. In other words, programs can request up to 20% of the bandwidth be reserved for them, even with QoS disabled.

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Increase Your Cable Modem or DSL Speed in XP

This tweak is for broad band cable connections on stand alone machines with WinXP professional version - might work on Home version also. It may also work with networked machines as well This tweak assumes that you have let WinXP create a connection on install for your cable modem/NIC combination and that your connection has tcp/ip - QoS - file and print sharing and client for Microsoft networks , only, installed. It also assumes that WinXP will detect your NIC and has in-box drivers for it. If it doesn't do not try this.

· In the "My Network Places" properties (right-click on the desktop icon and choose properties ), highlight the connection then at the menu bar choose "Advanced" then "Advanced Settings". Uncheck the two boxes in the lower half for the bindings for File and Printer sharing and Client for MS networks. Click OK.

· From the Windows XP CD in the support directory from the support cab, extract the file netcap.exe and place it in a directory on your hard drive or even in the root of your C:\ drive.

· Next, open up a command prompt window and change directories to where you put

netcap.exe. then type "netcap/?".

It will list some commands that are available for netcap and a netmon driver will be installed. At the bottom you will see your adapters. You should see two of them if using a 3Com card. One will be for LAN and the other will be for WAN something or other. · Next type "netcap/Remove". This will remove the netmon driver.

· Open up Control Panel->System->Dev Man and look at your network adapters. You should now see two of them and one will have a yellow ! on it. Right-click on the one without the yellow ! and choose uninstall. YES! You are uninstalling your network adapter, continue with the uninstall. Do not restart yet.

· Check your connection properties to make sure that no connection exists. If you get a wizard just cancel out of it.

Now re-start the machine.

· After re-start go to your connection properties again and you should have a new connection called "Local area connection 2". Highlight the connection, then at the menu

bar choose "Advanced" then "Advanced Settings". Uncheck the two boxes in the lower half

for the bindings for File and Printer sharing and Client for MS networks. Click OK.

· Choose connection properties and uncheck the "QOS" box.

· Re-start the machine.

After restart enjoy the increased responsiveness of IE, faster page loading, and a connection speed boost.

Why it works, it seems that windows XP, in its zeal to make sure every base is covered installs two separate versions of the NIC card. One you do not normally see in any properties. Remember the "netcap/?" command above showing two different adapters? The LAN one is the one you see. The invisible one loads everything down and its like your running two separate cards together, sharing a connection among two cards, this method breaks this "bond" and allows the NIC to run un-hindered.

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