What could be causing your slow internet connection?
For the past weeks, I had a very slow connection (again). Since I’m on a SmartBro connection, this case is not new. Instead of wasting my time calling their costumer service, and waiting for their worst after sales support. No, I made a few attempts to call them actually, but it seemed that I could not “catch” any representative because only a voice prompt answers my calls.
So, I tried to resort to other means that I thought could speed up my PC. I downloaded some internet booster software, which didn’t work. I also tried to run several browsers, thinking that Mozilla Firefox no more works for faster browsing on my PC. I even tried to install the latest version of Fasterfox, a Firefox extensions which tweaks some of the browser’s configuration for faster browsing. I cleaned up my hard disk, deleting all the unused files, including some of my mp3 collections. I’ve deleted almost 1000 mp3 files, which I regretted after. I patiently downloaded some of them when I was still on a dial-up connection. None of these things worked.
Until I decided to reformat my PC and clean up some unnecessary files. This was my last resort for fear that I may lose all my necessary documents. Good thing I was advised to divide my hard disk into 2 partition. All my documents were saved at the disk separate from the system files so every time I reformat my PC, these documents are left untouched.
According to the technician, there are several reasons that made my internet connection slower:
1. There were too many programs installed. Only 22% of my hard disk was left free. These programs slowed down Windows, which also affected my internet connection. He advised me to just install the programs I need and uninstall all unnecessary programs.
2. A lot of viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, and adware were found using McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8. Apparently, my previous virus scanner, which was a free software, had left these files undetected or uncleaned.
3. I have installed too many addons of Mozilla Firefox. Upon searching for it, almost all of my installed addons are included in the list of problematic extensions.
4. The installed WarCraft III has slowed the PC because of the low PC memory (this PC only has 256MB of RAM). I don’t have a video card also.
5. The connection itself was sluggish.
He advised me to install only one anti-virus cleaner and keep it up-to-date. He also recommended an upgrade of the RAM and hard disk. As much as possible keep my computer “clean”, that is, lesser number of program installations.
My internet connection is back to its original speed. The sluggish connection was not entirely a fault of the connection, but also of the PC.
honestly, I don’t really get it #’s 1 and 4. how can installed applications affect an internet connection? I just don’t see a direct relation.
if it would’ve been caused by a browser issue, i’d be sold. just make sure you clear your browsers cache every now-and-then, it’ll be fine; then you’re just left with the inevitable “sluggish connection” bit. ciao.
Honestly, I am also figuring out how these things are related to my internet connection, but since he’s more of an authority than I am, besides I am also considering myself a newbie to computer and stuff, I believed him. Anyway, thanks for your comments.
I don’t actually think connection slowdowns are caused primarily by installed applications on a user’s PC, but they really are the cause of overall performance slowdowns on it, especially the ones running on background from startup. Instead of uninstalling everything you don’t use at the moment (you may need those applications you will be uninstalling in the future), just make sure they don’t start themselves up when you boot up the PC (startup options can be configured in msconfig), so you could determine what is running or what isn’t.
Also, don’t forget about disk defragmenter, it is a very useful tool that reorganizes files in your hard drive so that the computer would easily find what it is looking for. Maybe you’d like to do this on the unreformatted partition for better performance.
Thanks for the advice. I’ll do that next time. I totally forgot about the Disk Defrag. Hehe.
1.) It won’t slow your internet if you have low memory… it would make you feel that it is slow kasi mabagal magopen yung programs mo.
2.) It won’t affect the internet also if you have a lot of programs installed but definitely will slow your pc down.
3.) Install as many avs as you want but it is unnecessary, be sure you have one AV software, atleast 2 -3 spyware, malware, adware removal software (Not all software has the same database so it is better to have different antispyware software installed). I have 3, ADware SE, Spybot Search and destroy and Spywareblaster. Of course, update your av and antispyware ones a week to daily. And scan your computer atleast ones a month.
4.) Install third party firewall or activate windows xp firewall. this will prevent hackers from getting in on your pc. especially a connection that is always on like smart bro-ken.
5.) Smart bro-ken has some slow connection days, so blame Smart for your slow connection
6.)I’m using AVG from grisoft and ok naman sya. Free or paid AV has no difference except for support and added features. Both kind of AVS can detect viruses well as long as you update them regularly.
7.) Formatting your computer won’t help unless tinamaan ka ng trojan virus.
8.)CFosspeed said help smart bro-ken to speed up. Unfortunately its not free.
9.) TCPoptimizer will tweek your internet
Hopefully, I gave some good tips
good advice
Actually i’m troubleshooting smartbro since yesterday for its sluggish connection and for me uninstalling programs has no relevance into slow connection. try using only one antivirus (I’m using ESET) a two or three AV,AM,AS can actually slowdown your internet browsing especially in laptop cause it will cause cpu crashes which leads to hung -ups and thus refomatting will be the only solution.Open up your task manager and see which programs are stealing that precious packets on the internet signal.use your firewall setting to deny connection to the programs that are running-programs which uses to connect on the internet even not in use.defrag pc at least twice a month, run AV once a week,clean trashes and temporary files and the PC will always run to the maximum performance without hitches and is always good to go.
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