Print
Flash that router firmware! Browse to your router manufacturer’s website and do a quick download/update search. You should find new firmware in no time. Have an ISP-owned router that runs your LAN? Believe us: It’s worth the dreaded phone call to have them update it—many ISP firmware bundles can instantly solve major download/upload speed issues.
Next, if you use a VoIP router in conjunction with your LAN and you want data packets at peak efficiency, plug in the VoIP router inside your internal LAN, not outside it. Sometimes, running your network through VoIP equipment prior to your personal or ISP router will auto-enable high priority for voice packets. It’s good for phone calls, bad for data throughput and fragging.
If you’re having slowdowns while sorting through network folders or shares, here’s a DWORD that might help: type regedit into Run for XP or Vista’s search bar, and find your way through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters. Next, right-click anywhere in the window and select New > DWORD Value. Now name the item SizReqBuf and right-click the entry and select Modify. Select the Decimal option and change the numeric value to 16384. After this, close out of the registry and reboot.
Network cards, like any other peripheral, require drivers. This is a good place to start when trying to repair a dead LAN. Next, if you’ve made any recent changes to your personal router and you’re now faced with a nonresponsive or shaky connection, reset the hardware to factory defaults. Do so by depressing the small (often well-hidden) reset button on the back or bottom of your router with a ballpoint pen for about 30 seconds. After that, release it—your router will now be configured like the day you bought it, sans user-implemented errors. This is actually a smart first troubleshooting step for any networking errors or otherwise wonky behavior.
If you’re still having trouble accessing network shares or shortcuts, see if your computer can resolve other computers’ names on the network. Many routers will contain a breakdown of all attached devices’ info (including the computer name and current IP address), but if your router lacks this functionality, you’ll have to retrieve the data manually off every other rig. It’s easy though— just right-click the My Computer icon on Vista or XP, go to Properties, click the Computer Name tab, and observe the “Full computer name” field. Once you’ve retrieved the necessary data, open up a cmd inside XP’s Run or Vista’s search bar. Try to ping each powered-on computer’s name. If you receive an error stating “unknown host” or “could not find local host,” go back to your run /search field and type control netconnections. Right-click your active LAN icon and hit Properties. From here, double-click Internet Protocol TCP/IP and then click the Advanced tab. Under the WINS tab, ensure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled. You should now be able to access your sibling network devices.
Some folks wonder if there’s really a difference between CAT5 and CAT5e cable. The answer is a resounding yes. The most important distinction is that basic Cat5 squeezes by on Ethernet and Fast Ethernet but doesn’t support Gigabit. CAT5e, however, is rated for 350 megahertz, making Gigabit support a breeze, while at the same time enjoying full backward compatibility with Fast Ethernet; CAT5e also guards better against electrical interference, making it more robust for tight installations. If in doubt, replace your current wiring with CAT5e. This could save you some headaches in the long run.
Comments are closed on this article
PhoneyVirus
September 04, 2009 at 8:18pm
Under standing your network can save you alot of time and it's fun the things you can do with your network is crazzy.
rayatwork05
January 06, 2009 at 5:36am
malware bytes and avast are both superior spyware/virus removal apps and have never failed me on last 100 systems i fixed. cant say the same for kaspersky, norton, avira, or mcafee.
aye this article was pretty weak for boosting connection speeds. would rather suggest best router and nic to get max gains over default/oem hardware.
alot of the time an anti virus itself will slow your internet connection dearly.
pcfxer
January 05, 2009 at 4:46pm
I never quite understood why people accept installing software to rid of poor software in the first place. It just seems downright silly.
My Solution:
a) Use your head, if you are unsure don't click and exit.
b) Don't use IE and Outlook/Outlook Express. Thunderbird, Chrome or Firefox are safer browsers and e-mail clients that are actually faster than IE and MS e-mail programs.
c) But spyware? Why weren't you using your head and reading the checkbox options that you agreed to when installing the application? Sigh. Here goes the big job.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc
- Select the Processes Tab
- View -> Select Columns
- Check the PID (Process Identifier) box
- Start Menu -> Run
- Type cmd and press enter
- Type netstat -o and press enter (This shows EVERY application using the TCP/IP stack in Windows, something that MaximumPC's method doesn't.)
- Compare the PIDs from the netstat output with the PIDs in your Processes Tab in Windows Task Manager.
d) Enjoy your virus free system...of course there are other methods, but those are pretty much outlined in the article and many more on Google. Summary: Check Services that are running, check msconfig bootup applications, check netstat output.
MeTo
January 05, 2009 at 3:16pm
ad-aware and spy bot I have used both and they both let things
go through they think are safe. They both keep a list and let in whover they want.
They only block the real badies when in fact they should do as they claim and block them.
Then we would'nt have to deal with them in the first place.
ferariman
March 06, 2011 at 7:49pm
now i undersand superantispyware's "catch all the spyware, not just the easy ones!"
Pentium 0
January 05, 2009 at 2:37pm
Does anyone know what the problem might be with a modem losing dsl connection every 30 sec durring a torrent download?
Queenof1
January 05, 2009 at 1:09pm
Not all ISPs will push out the firmware at a customer's request. Modem firmware is pushed out at whatever interval the IT department deems necessary. It doesn't matter if it's your modem or a rented modem. Routers are something else; you should be able to update your purchased router's firmware with no internvention from the ISP.
EvilHomerGD
January 05, 2009 at 12:23pm
Don't forget about APIPA addresses... The 169.254.0.1-169.254.255.254 range is used when no DHCP server can be reached.
Marcus_Soperus
January 05, 2009 at 11:39am
A follow-up article should cover WPA/WPA2/WEP key problems, problems with "easy" wireless setup, what to do if you are getting a marginal wireless signal between your router and clients, and when to upgrade from G to N.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's amazing how illogical a business built on binary logic can be.
TheMurph
January 05, 2009 at 10:58am
Who the heck is... "Chris Comiskey?" Is that some fancy psuedonym or something? Some anagram of "Gordon Mah Ung? A new intern?
Just kidding, Havoc. Great job on the article!
MeTo
January 05, 2009 at 10:42am
What we need is something that block's Ad-ware and malware. what we have now let's it be put on the machine then you have to remove it your self with ad-aware or spybot s&d. I want something that will not allow any crap ware on my machine. IMHO.
CrimsonKnight13
January 05, 2009 at 1:34pm
He listed them in the article already...
- Spybot Search and Destroy
Free, http://tinyurl.com/5or9tg- Ad-Aware SE Free Edition
Free, http://tinyurl.com/6lzwnkBoth of these can block a large majority if you enable the system watcher & browser innoculation options.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Libera te ex infernis!
MeTo
January 05, 2009 at 3:24pm
If they worked you would find nothing. Every time I ran a scan I would find something and have to delete it. then scan with the other one and it would find something and I would have to delete it. Just run Ccleaner and it removes all adware,malware takes 10 seconds instead 30 min. scans.
baGoGoodies111
January 05, 2009 at 11:33am
The only problem about making anti malware/adware/spyware programs that they are only able to fight off the malware that are known. They can't block new malware that they don't know (unless it follows a behavioral pattern that is similar to other known malware) because how are you supposed to fight off something if you don't know what it is?
nekollx
January 05, 2009 at 12:55pm
well Vista answers that question.
Your about to open a program
Do you want to open this program?
Do you Really want to open this program?
Are you Absolutly sure?
Last chance to back out of opening the Program....
Uuser Accounts controls are the kind of anti male ware that catches stuff before it run because it assumes EVERYTHING, even windows itself, is a virus.
nekollx
January 05, 2009 at 11:22am
moar Malware scaners do that in the routine scan. The problem is Maleware makers create new ones that bypass the dcanners thus the need for definition updates and post mortems
The 0ne
January 22, 2009 at 10:42pm
I can only write this before the page loads on an iPhone. No offense maleware guy, it's all for fun.
