| There are, unfortunately, many reasons that | | | | web-site of your Anti-Virus vendor, they may |
| could cause your Computer to be slow to | | | | have a 'patch' or a 'fix' for this issue. |
| connect to the Internet. But there are two main | | | | When you first connect to the internet, as well as |
| categories that they fall into: Very slow to | | | | throwing a security shield around your Computer, |
| connect, but once connected you can surf at a | | | | your Anti-Virus program will also call home, to |
| normal speed. Or, slow to connect AND slow | | | | check for new updates. It is worth being a little |
| surfing. | | | | patient for the first two or three minutes, whilst |
| Very recently I had a Computer in for repair, the | | | | your Anti-Virus performs this task. Look for the |
| customer complained that he had to wait 5 | | | | two mini computer screens on your Task Bar, |
| minutes or more to connect to the Internet. And | | | | near the clock. If they are both illuminated, this |
| even checking his e-mail in Outlook Express was a | | | | means activity between your computer and the |
| very slow process. However, when I plugged | | | | internet, and you can bet your life, your Anti-Virus |
| everything in and fired the machine up on my | | | | has elbowed everything else aside and is calling |
| workbench, it worked fine. It connected in | | | | home. Another 'clue' that this is happening is the |
| seconds and surfed around the web at a | | | | Red LED Hard disk light on your computer case |
| perfectly acceptable speed. | | | | will be going crazy! Keep an eye on those two |
| So from this, it is quite obvious he has a problem | | | | mini screens and wait for both to go out, and |
| at home with his phone line. I know this Guy has | | | | then watch the LED. It will probably show hard |
| his Computer upstairs, so I suspect the problem | | | | drive activity for a few moments more after the |
| lies in his upstairs extension line. It is a fact that | | | | two screens have gone out. This is just your |
| your PC will perform faster on the internet if the | | | | Anti-Virus loading those updates and once again, it |
| line from your main phone socket to your PC, is | | | | will use any or all resources until this is completed. |
| as short as possible. And if your home is a long | | | | Now you have control over your own Computer |
| way from the telephone exchange, this just | | | | again, you should find the Internet will now load |
| makes things even worse. | | | | quite normally. If this is happening to you, then the |
| OK, but for some folks, they position their | | | | only way to improve things is to give your PC |
| computer to suit themselves and it is not always | | | | more resources. Either more RAM a faster CPU |
| possible to site it close to the main phone socket. | | | | or both. For Windows XP the 'minimum' you |
| So what can they do to improve things? My | | | | should have is a 1 GHz CPU and 512Mb RAM. The |
| daughter has her PC upstairs on an extension. On | | | | accepted 'recommended' system requirements |
| her computer, she uses a Speed touch Broadband | | | | are a Pentium 4 1.7 GHz CPU and 1 GHz RAM. |
| Modem and on their web-site they list an | | | | Uninstalling programs you no longer use will also |
| 'Extended Reach' driver package. This is | | | | improve available resources. |
| specifically designed to improve internet | | | | Incidentally, there are times throughout the day |
| connection on extension lines. It basically boosts | | | | when the internet is particularly busy. Usually |
| the signal, and it certainly improved my daughters | | | | around 5 - 6pm when all businesses are sending |
| Computer. If your Modem came with an | | | | day-end reports to head office and such like. Add |
| installation disc, pop it back in and it should have | | | | to this the fact that kids have arrived home from |
| an option for 'Updating Drivers' or 'Check for new | | | | school and they are all scrambling to get onto the |
| software' or something similar. It is worth updating | | | | internet. |
| your drivers from time to time. | | | | However, if your Computer is slow to connect to |
| The only other option if your Computer is a long | | | | the internet and also painfully slow to load web |
| way from the main phone socket, is to go | | | | pages, then most probably, your computer is way |
| wireless. Choose the fastest Wireless combined | | | | low on resources or there is a fault on your |
| Router and Modem that you can afford. This | | | | external phone line. One recent customer I had, |
| plugs directly into your main phone socket and | | | | we where able to discover there was a fault at |
| you then plug a USB receiver into each of your | | | | his local exchange, which was causing his slow |
| computers, if you have more than one. | | | | connection. Most phone companies can easily do a |
| Slow to connect but ok when finally on-line, | | | | Line-Test on your phone line; it only takes a few |
| usually, but not always, means the problem lies in | | | | moments and is well worth giving it a try, before |
| your internal phone lines, or your computer is | | | | investing in upgrades. |
| lacking resources. More RAM and a faster CPU | | | | Lastly, if your internet connection has suddenly, |
| are essential today. Your Anti-Virus Suite uses a | | | | become much slower, then the problem is most |
| lot more system resources than it used to do as | | | | likely a recent addition to your PC. This could be |
| it now tries to protect every aspect of your | | | | new software or an update. ActiveX controls are |
| On-line experience. It is particularly active and | | | | notorious for causing problems. Have you installed |
| dominant when you first connect to the internet, | | | | an update to your Flash Player or other |
| and will claim most of your system resources for | | | | installation? If so, try removing it using Control |
| itself during the first two or three minutes. If you | | | | Panel - Add/Remove. You can always re-install it |
| have low resources, it can even claim 100% for | | | | later. Also, run a Full System scan with your |
| its own use. Its 'Job' is to protect your Computer | | | | Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programs, just in |
| and it will use whatever resources are available to | | | | case your Computer has become infected. |
| do this. Once again, it is worth checking the | | | | |