Fast Laptop, slow desktop

I have recently upgraded to Plusnets fibre service and should be getting speeds up to about 30Mbps (according to plusnet). BT have fitted an openreach modem which in turn is connected to a netgear N150 router which is plugged into the PC via an ethernet cable. I also have a laptop wirelessly connected. The PC is running XP, and the laptop W7.

Speeds on the laptop are fine, although not what I was quoted as 'anticipated speed' (15+) either connected wirelessly or hard wired, and I'm satisfied with this. This leads me to believe there is nothing wrong with the modem or router. I have been through Plusnets own advise line and they have come to the same conclusion.

At the moment, I'm getting about 1.7-2.0Mbps on the P.C. If I bypass the router and connect direct to the modem, I get about 2.5-4.0 Mbps. I'm running AVG free virus/spyware, I have done a disk cleaup and de-fragmented. I've Googled the heck out of it, but can't resolve the problem, at least not in language I can understand.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem might be??

Thanks

Wotnofr1

You may benefit from optimising your TCP/IP configuration.

There's a free tool here:
http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php

Have a read of the documentation fist to get an idea of what it changes and why:
http://www.speedguide.net/tcpoptimizer.php

The FAQs might be useful too:
http://www.speedguide.net/faq_in.php?category=100

Edited by GeeTee (Sat 19-May-12 20:43:07)

Thanks. I tried optimising, but sadly it hasn't helped.

Can you describe the set up ? Master socket, extension wiring etc.etc.

How fast is copying a file between the two computers

Copying a file between the computers? I don't think I'm set up to allow this at the moment. I
How might I achieve that?

The BT modem is connected to the telephone socket on the wall where it comes in to the house. There is then an ethernet cable to the router, and another from the router to the PC. Like I say, the laptop runs fine wirelessly from the router, and also when connected directly to the router via an ethernet cable.

Any help very gratefully received.

What is the specification of the PC ?

The modem is connected by standard cable to the phone socket where it enters the house. There is then an ethernet cable from this to the router, and another from the router to the back of the PC

It's a Dell Inspiron running XP with 3 GB RAM and a 250 GB hard drive