Slow network download between comps

[SteveJo123]

Hello, this is my first post here and I have recently had a very odd problem I can't figure out. I download files with my 2000 system and I will move them to my XP box from time to time. Recently I have been having a problem with my download time, in between systems, running very slow. ( 300mb files used to take 2 min now take 60 minutes).

I have checked the processes to make sure certain programs like swdoctor, or defrag or virus scans are not running because I know they can slow down my system. Also , if I had this problem in the past, a simple reboot on both systems fixes this issue, now it happens all the time and I can't figure out why.

I use a linksys router and no changes have been made to the router either so I am at my witts end. Is there a setting I can change, a program I can download or something I can do to fix this issue with my network. Btw, my systems are apart of the same workgroup also, using dhcp from my linksys box. Thank you for any help you can provide.

Steve

[baker421]

Have you added any network hardware to the network like a hub, switch, a computer with a nic, a network enabled printer - anything?

Say you have a 10/100 network? And all nodes are 100 capable? Then you install just one older 10 device, and all slows down to 10.

Any chance?

BTW, I could never move a 300mb file in 2 minutes. What is the speed of your lan anyway?

JB

[picohat]

Check the network card driver properties, and see what speed are supported (in advanced tab of card properties), you then can select 100Mbps if supported and try again.

If the driver status is not good, troubleshoot it or reinstall the driver.

Hope helps...

[johnwill]

Originally Posted by baker421

BTW, I could never move a 300mb file in 2 minutes. What is the speed of your lan anyway?

I just copies 480mb of files from a system on my network to this machine in 70 seconds, that's only 6.9mbyte/sec, hardly a speed record. If you're having trouble copying a single 300mb file in two minutes, we need to work on both of these networks.

[baker421]

Originally Posted by johnwill

I just copies 480mb of files from a system on my network to this machine in 70 seconds, that's only 6.9mbyte/sec, hardly a speed record. If you're having trouble copying a single 300mb file in two minutes, we need to work on both of these networks.

You're right, my math co-processor in my noggin did a hiccup on that one. No problem. :)

JB

[SteveJo123]

Hey thanks for the reply. I am not very savy with networks/ routers but currently using a Linksys BEFSX41 with updated firmware. The firewall is enabled on the router with standard dhcp for 50 addresses(no ftp server or anything fancy). Systems are connected on a road runnner network and I get a download speed of about 50-150 kb per sec from the internet.

Checking the card settings on both systems the speed is set to "auto"( 2000 Box) on one and "100 Full Duplex"( XP ) on the other. I think that setting is something I read which would speed up internet gaming if auto was too slow. I did notice that I had the XP firewall set on one system and when I turned it off while transferring the speed was back to normal, 3 gig transfer in about 8 minutes. I usually port forward on the router for gaming and bit torrent on other system, but have only had the problem recently. I have not installed any new NIC card on any of the 3 systems I run on this network. Normal apps that load on both systems are SW doctor/ AVG/ OODefrag and XP firewall on the XP box. There is no Zone alarm on the router or any additional software, just linksys firewall and xp firewall coupled with swdoctor (full version) and avg virus software.

Besides this problem I have 2 additional questions:

How Secure is my network like this?

I have thought about making a vmware ftp server recently also if you have any good website suggestions to read about doing that with a router config?

Thanks guys for any help on this stuff, I really appreciate this and your great service here.

Steve

[baker421]

Originally Posted by SteveJo123

Besides this problem I have 2 additional questions:

How Secure is my network like this?

I'll start an argument that will last for a week here, but my answer is "very secure." I believe that for the average user with limited knowledge, a router is the best firewall out there, by far. It hides all of your internal boxes from the internet. It looks like, and is, a computer to the internet, and no one can tell what's behind it.

The most unsecure appliance on your network is You. We allow the malware in by visiting places we shouldn't, clicking on things we shouldn't, downloading things we shouldn't or things we know nothing about, etc. etc. No software or hardware firewall can keep you secure from that.

Originally Posted by SteveJo123

I have thought about making a vmware ftp server recently also if you have any good website suggestions to read about doing that with a router config?

Steve

Google that unless someone here has a favorite site. There are tons of good tutorials out there. Then if you get stuck, post back.

JB

[johnwill]

All I've ever used for years for a firewall is my broadband router. Unless you invite the malware in, it's quite secure. I do run current AV and spyware scanning on my systems, but I truly don't feel the need for a firewall on every machine.