| Author | Message | ||
     Firemanjim |
I have a 2 year old computer that was just a so-so model new.It has a 40gig HD and 256mb.It was getting packed with my sons music and wifes homework etc.I am stuck with dial-up( and got real tired of getting the "why don't you just get DSL?" suggestion as it's not available where I am, no cable either.Jerks all acted like the whole world except me was on one of these.) and was hoping a newer/better/faster computer would connect faster,etc.Got a Gateway 3.0hrz,100gig,512mb,superduper video editting computer.First one I got home after doing all the hook-up rewire etc would not even turn on--????There goes a couple of hours down the drain.Took that back,got another,get it home and go through all of that again.This one turns on so I spend a bunch of time loading all my extra software and data from old computer.Go through all the BS to get hooked to internet and this new super computer is slower to connect?? and it runs like molasses was poured into it for any internet stuff.WTF???Same phone line,same access number.I switched back and forth a couple of times to see if it was MSN problem but my old POS computer connects faster and runs internet faster than the new one???I spent quite a bit of time talking to idiots at Gateway and Best Buy and these folks were no help at all--"you can always install a different modem"--"will that void my warranty?"--"aaah,I suppose so".They all kept wanting to blame my phone line,or my access number, or the server,and I kept explaining I was switching one computer to the other on the same phone line with the same access number,within seconds of each and it made no difference to the performance of either computer,the new one sucked and the old one was always faster.Then they convinced me to try Net-Zero as it must be that MSN was the problem.After going through all the sign-up BS I wanted to see if it was any faster on my old computer than my MSN.So I logged off and tryed to reconnect to time it.Disaster from the start,kept getting 2 error messages,only one I remeber was the sign-in name or password is incorrect.I re-typed them exactly the way I signed in the first time(that worked fine) with no success.Again on the phone with folks with heavy non-american accents with no success--again.What a frikkin disaster.Then I went to the Net-Zero website as suggested to reset my password and could barely get it to navigate from page to page.All I wanted was a little faster computer and managed to waste a day and a half for NADA!!!!I could have been putting the repaired oil tank back on my S-2. Insights and suggestions welcomed. Just put bigger HD and more memory into my old rig?? | ||
| Oldog |
FMJ: Some thoughts here, please note I am not an I.T. type but My exp & .02$ I used netzero for a while, was good untill they released the G3 version, then into the vacuum. with all dial ups some numbers are better than others, used NZ in Wilmington NC OK went out tried it in Miami Fl terrible! So location ( user traffic) has some bearing on speed, hence the server comments. ( if available try some of the other access numbers ) The "hardware" guesses are BS, plain and simple, most modems are capable of faster transfers than the lines that they are connected to allow. based on you comment that the new machine is slower than the old one - I would be looking at settings between the two machines fire wall, web browser, pop up blockers, and Anti virus ALSO the more fluff & glitz that that loads the slower. With NZ hih speed you could reduce picture quality to get some speed. Faster processor, bigger memory etc have little to do with transfer rates, also what is running in the back ground can have a startling effect on operational performance, My machine used to scream, as I have loaded more player utilities for the various video formats and the like the machine has slowed down. My suggestion is to compare the settings and look closely at whats running. On the drive upgrade a new drive is cheaper than a computer, Other than drive or memory I have had mixed results "hot rodding" 3 different computers, my take never again. run what I bought. I have had good results with refurbished compaq and dell units my desk top is a compaq presario that was returned and sold as "open box" and my laptop is a refurbished dell both work reasonably well, but I have no family that use them, one of the biggest problems I had with one of my computers was my step daughter would not follow the rules about down loads. We won't go into her genious friends attempting to "fix" it a few times. I hope that your wife has backed up her home work and research off of the machine. MSN is a good service, so I am skeptical of its your service, I am on Time warners' "road runner" as I live Right in wilmington, its pricy at 45$ month But I save a lot of time comming here or doing research If you can get DSL or cable in your area with your wife in school it's justifyable There are a lot of knoweledgable "users" out there True techs not too sure, I have access to one if the issues continue drop me a line with the specifics, I will inquire.... | ||
| Firemanjim |
The computer was a lot faster running normal stuff than my old one so don't think it was the programs running in background, though if I had kept it I would have shut off all the fluff.I tried several of the access numbers with no better--actually worse--performance.The one I was using I had already figured out gave fastest speed on my old computer. | ||
| Lovematt |
Don't know if this is still an issue but sometimes the Port speed used by the Modem might be too low...like 1200 Baud instead of the max. If you right click on My Computer, select Computer Management, then open Device Manager and expand the modems...right click on the modem and select Properties. There should be a Port Speed setting in there...make sure it is pretty high...mine is set to 115200. You might try the diagnostics too in the same area. Another thing you might try is going to the same web page by typing in the same URL...I am wondering if the system is always loading the page every time instead of caching it so that if you go back to a page it loads what is on the hard drive and then downloads the differences only if it needs to. Otherwise I don't know...I will keep thinking about it though. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Did you have any "accelerator" stuff stuffed on the old machine? It might have been using something with MSN to get degraded / cached images instead of the original high quality images. There are also a few competing modem technologies, not completely compatible. X2 and V.90 I think, but it does not really matter. They will work with each other, but one will slow down when the other won't. The ISP's typically offered both types of lines, so the "sweet" dial up line with your old machine may not be the "sweet" dial up line with your new machine. And as said above, your bottleneck is your modem, you won't get anything but fractions of a percent better browsing performance regardless. It could be something with the new machine setup as well. Download firefox (www.mozilla.org) and run that, and see how it compares (that takes internet explorer out of the loop). There are also firewalls and anti spyware that could be messing performance up (and that you may or may not want to disable). The modem in the new machine could, frankly, be a total piece of crap as well. They are usually "winmodems" that rely on the CPU of the computer to do most of the work (instead of dedicated hardware on the modem card). The older modem could be a real modem. You should *not* void the warranty by adding a modem, though you might end up with some sort of major installation headache (or it might pop right in). Of course, the aftermakret modem you might buy might also be a winmodem, and just as crappy. It has been a long time since I got one, so I don't know the current crop of good from bad. | ||
| M2me |
You could try adding an external modem and see if that helps. I don't think that would void your warranty since you aren't opening the box. Plus, "most" external modems are not "winmodems". Another possibility, if you visit a lot of the same sites, is that those sites are cached on your old machine but not on the new one. Pages would then seem to load very slowly on the new machine compared to the old one. The new machine will eventually catch up once it's cached the static images, etc. Without seeing the computer it's really hard to tell. It could be a lot of things. Modem settings, modem type, proxy settings, etc. You might want to completely uninstall NetZero though. Sounds like that is causing problems by itself. Did the computer come with a restore CD? If so, you could try wiping it and starting from ground zero. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Jim, When you are connected and on line, put your cursor over the Dial Up Networking icon (two little monitors connected to each other?) in the tray (lower right). A popup should tell you the speed you are connected at. If it will do that, note the connected speeds on the old and new computers. That should help tell you if the difference is in the modems or in the computers. I guessing both computers have 56k modems, do you know? Tell us here what you get, we may be able to help you troubleshoot that some. For info, a "poor" or slow dial up connection would be down around 24 kbps or and a good one up in the 50's. DSL should run 384 kbps or more. I am old copper lines that are so bad that they cannot be upgraded to DSL, ISDN, or any other kind of faster service. I usually connected at 24.6 kbps or so on those and it was ghastly slow. I am now on cable and get 3,650 kbps which is about 150 times as fast. That costs me about $2 a day and, needless to say, I'm very happy with that. I guessing that you probably doubled your processor speed from the old to new machines and you also increased the memory from 256mb to 512mb. That should have increased the apparent or "seat of the pants" speed. The newer processors need/will use more memory, your 512mb is about the minimum you would want to have. If you sort this out and were going to spend any more money on the new machine, I would increase the memory to 1Gb or even 2Gb. Jack | ||
| Firemanjim |
I checked port speed and it was set to highest.Will check and see if it is a "winmodem" on either.Seems if I remember,both are V.92.I wipe my temp internet stuff on a regular basis to keep from getting bogged down.It seemed like such a simple task,and seems silly that the new comp has such trouble. | ||
| Oldog |
FMJ: the other items above are also true Especialy M2me' take about cached pages. NZ is a pita to get rid of so if you have not made a lot of X-fers I would think about a restore I would consider a written list here (nothing fancy) and see how things go, helps prevent re doing things, don't ask  | ||
| Firemanjim |
Old machine ran at 32.2,new one at 24 or 26.Both are 56k modems. | ||
| Josh_ |
>Old machine ran at 32.2,new one at 24 or 26.Both are 56k modems Old machine has a superior modem. If 32.2 is the best you see your phone lines aren't that great either. Pickup a USB plug-and-play modem at BestBuy (or where ever has a good return policy) to test. If have extra $$ and want more speed, get 2 phone lines and modems and find a local ISP that allows multiple connections. 64.4 baby!  No wireless providers in your area either? My parents get 512k out in the middle of nowhere via terestrial wireless for $35/mo. | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
im sorry i dont have the time to read this tread but here is good info I have a close firend that owns a computer store and i work with computers the last 10 years. First of all dont use aol or some internet software , set up your conection so when you click internet explorer you are on the internet. Slow down? It maybe very well your superduper gateway has a slower modem check that out better be the best latest 56 k money can buy. All winmodems are software based you dont want these and is typically what you get buying a gateway or dell. Just uninstall it get a good modem or if your old one is top of the line hardware based use it!!!!!!!!! A most important thing to note there at two kinds of 56k modems , ones that are software baseed and ones that are hardware based. You want the hardware based one. Its typical that Gatway and dell install software based modem in there computers. Installing a different modem isnt hard all come with instructions. PLUS any new install of a modem and then if you need help with it your isp "internet provider" should be happy to help set up the settings. CALL them or a local computer store. LOCAL COMPUTER STORE. These are the peop,e that help people like you out of the gateway and dell hell you having. Hopefully you have good folks around that can do this if necessary. Gateway and bestbuy are the bottom of the barrel!!!!!!!! When it comes to help so read and head man. GL | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
there is also modems that can intake data and send data basicall twice as fast. It is a more expensive item and i dont recall the proper name and protocal for it. It is a setup that a business would use while on dial up . Google for that. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Jim said, "..Old machine ran at 32.2,new one at 24 or 26..." The difference between 24 and 32 would be noticeable, I'd put the old modem (maybe a hardware modem, not a winmodem?) in the new box. If it works, I'd leave it there and pull the new modem out. Look in the device manager for the name of your old modem and see if you have or can download drivers before you move it over to the new box. You may need to provide a driver to complete the PnP process. Jack | ||
| Brad_buell |
Definitely a modem issue. Back in the day when I had dial-up, my Dell factory modem sucked. The Dell service tech told me that I needed a hardware based modem. Apparently Dell ships, or use to ship, all computers with software based modems. I quickly purchased a hardware based modem and life was wonderful. -Brad | ||
| Arkane |
Josh got it i think,look for a good quality usb modem hook her up and disable the old one probably in the bios ,wont void warrenty as you are not even crackin the box luck jim bob | ||
| Niceharleystuff |
Test your upload / download speed here. http://www.broadbandreports.com/stest | ||
| Pa_xb9sx |
In my opinion... One word - Gateway. I have never heard anyone say a good thing about them, and my experiences with their products have not been great either. | ||
| Old_mil |
One possible explanation: Your old computer may have had a hardware modem while the new computer has a winmodem. A winmodem is basically a modem where some of the work that a circuit board would do is shuttle off for the computer to do. Such modem boards only work with windows (real "hardware" modems are software indepedent and work with almost any OS). Winmodems are cheaper to manuafacture so manufacturers like them, but they suck •••, are slow, give poorer max kbps speeds, and drop connections much more frequently than hardware modems. If I were you, I'd pull the modem board from your old computer, deinstall the modem board from your new computer, and put your old modem board in your new machine and install the drivers for it. I suspect your problem will clear right up. | ||
| Brad_buell |
I agree with Old_mil. Switch modems. I'll bet that your problem is solved. | ||
| Jackbequick |
What Oldmil and Brad said! Also, first look in the device manager for the name of your old modem (write it down) and see if you have (on a disk, CD-ROM or your hard drive) or can download drivers so you can move it over to the new box. You may or may not need to provide a driver to complete the PnP process. But if the system does not have a driver for it you will have to provide one to get it working. Not hard to do, and not a step you can skip. Jack | ||
| Firemanjim |
Took the Gateway back,uninstalled Net-Zero.Had to uninstall ond reload MSN as apparently they don't play well together.Just gonna hop-up the old comp. | ||
| Phillyblast |
FMJ, Send it to CO and have Aaron put it on the dyno or run it to Vallejo and see Terry after you get done hopping it up - no sense spending the money on go fast goodies if you're not going to get it tuned  (Message edited by phillyblast on October 10, 2005) | ||
| Jackbequick |
Put 1 Gb of memory in the old guy, you might be surprised at the difference. Do they still have that rondelay of computer shows that goes around the bay area? Those used to be a good place to shop for computer stuff. But you had to be able to tell the good stuff from the junk, cheap is not always good. These guys (out of Santa Clara) used to be at every show and and were reliable and competitive. Jack |
