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 deleted (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

In reply to a post by wotnofr1:

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

What settings did TCPOptimizer say it would change, and from what to what? Are you sure it successfully changed them? All adapters?

I've also ruled out the browser, as I've downloaded Google chrome, and it's still slow browsing with that. Also, I've tried updating the network card drivers but all to no avail. Any other bright ideas out there gratefully received.

I've no idea what it changed, but run again, it says it doesn't want to change anything, so I guess it must have done what it thought was required.

Sounds like a problem with the network config in the operating system (Windows).

You could try...

Download a Linux Live CD image (e.g. ubuntu, debian, knoppix, etc) and burn to CD
Boot from the CD - don't install to hard disk - use the "try me first" option
Perform the same network tests as you did before

cheers, a

Edited by deleted (Sun 03-Jun-12 20:31:39)

Thanks. Can you explain, in laymans terms, what that will do, and by the tests, do you mean the TCP optimiser? Sorry, but this is getting way beyond my computing knowledge!

In reply to a post by wotnofr1:

Thanks. Can you explain, in laymans terms, what that will do, and by the tests, do you mean the TCP optimiser? Sorry, but this is getting way beyond my computing knowledge!

In reply to a post by wotnofr1:

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.

A lot depends on what those measurements actually represent and how they were obtained.

Are you using the ThinkBroadband speedtester to obtain those figures?

cheers, a

Edited by deleted (Sun 03-Jun-12 20:45:13)

I've used a number of different sites, and now you have mentioned the thinkbroadband one, I've tested using that too. They all tell me I'm getting anywhere between about 1.7 and 4.

In reply to a post by wotnofr1:

I've used a number of different sites, and now you have mentioned the thinkbroadband one, I've tested using that too. They all tell me I'm getting anywhere between about 1.7 and 4.

1.7Mbps to 4 Mbps (megabits per second) is the data throughput of the b0rked PC?

What is the throughput of the wireless-connected laptop which has speeds you consider "fine"?

What speeds does the laptop achieve when connected by ethernet cable?

Maybe for consistency, use just one speedtest service.

cheers, a

Edited by deleted (Sun 03-Jun-12 22:33:29)

Please can you run the BT speed test and copy/paste the contents of the up and down results text boxes. (Don't just tell us what they say). Like this:-

Download speedachieved during the test was - 36.22 Mbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 12 Mbps-38.72 Mbps .
Additional Information:
IP Profile for your line is - 38.72 Mbps

Upload speed achieved during the test was - 1.59Mbps
Additional Information:
Upstream Rate IP profile on your line is - 2 Mbps

Sure, here you go:

Download speedachieved during the test was - 1.11 Mbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speedsis 12 Mbps-18.62 Mbps .
Additional Information:
IP Profile for your line is - 18.62 Mbps

Upload speed achieved during the test was - 1.7Mbps
Additional Information:
Upstream Rate IP profile on your line is - 2 Mbps

The laptop plugged in via the ethernet cable wont test on the BT site for some reason, it says I have to be logged ion to test and tries to redirect me to the log-in page, but never gets there. Thinkbroadband tester gives me 17.45 download, 1.63 upload. Wirelessly it gives me 1.84 download and 1.63 upload. I thought that download was really slow show also did a test at www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk and it saya I'm getting 16.39 download speed??


Thanks for all your help

Maybe find a competent networking professional in your neighbourhood who can visit your household and solve these network problems.
cheers, a