HELP!!!How to make your internet work???

[SIX AND OUT]

well, I have had some trouble with my computer lately. My computer is acting slow, whether recently defragged or not. The internet though is the main problem. I am on iprimus broadband (256 plan) - Aussies will know iprimus. Now, this is a broadband internet, but it is way, way, way toooo slow. I dont know where to go on my computer to check what spped my internet is actually doing/going, so if anyone could tell me if there is a way of finding out, that would be great.

The main question is - What do you need to do to make your internet run the proper speed. I have got more than 60% free on my C:\ Hard drive, - yet there is something that pops up saying - "! Virtual Memory Minimum - too low - windows is....." - know that could be a problem.

This might not make sense, but hopefully someone could help me out if they know what I am talking about. I am sooo

Any help on what to do and where to go to fix that problem would be appreciated, cheers.

[Mr Casson]

Could be a RAM chip failing, or maybe you have too many things eating at it.

[nookie_lk]

try doing this

right click my computer - properties -advanced - advanced - performance options - and change the virtual memory to around 400 mb. (if u have more that 512) or around 190 if u have 256. and restart

Also do this

GOTO control panel - adminstrative tools - services and stop unwanted services.

this might help abit...

I think the problem u have is there are loads of 3 rd party sofwares running in ur machine. the best thing to do is using linux. but since thats not gonna happen....format the hard disks and make ur internet security high, as the last resort. next time do not use IE. download Firefox and use that for browsing. it stops 3 rd party SW getting installed.

[membersstand]

try doing this

right click my computer - properties -advanced - advanced - performance options - and change the virtual memory to around 400 mb. (if u have more that 512) or around 190 if u have 256. and restart

Also do this

GOTO control panel - adminstrative tools - services and stop unwanted services.

this might help abit...

I think the problem u have is there are loads of 3 rd party sofwares running in ur machine. the best thing to do is using linux. but since thats not gonna happen....format the hard disks and make ur internet security high, as the last resort. next time do not use IE. download Firefox and use that for browsing. it stops 3 rd party SW getting installed.

You sure ?! I thought VM should be set at around 1.5-3 times the actual RAM...

[nookie_lk]

yeah...gosh i'm sorry.....as u said make the virtual memory double or tripple to the value of ur memore....(lol)
Wish this guy was using Linux....its simpler to make such problems. Best thing i guess would be to format the disk and use firefox instead of IE.

[age_master]

you might have a virus too!

[SIX AND OUT]

Well, our Norton AntiVirus came on the computer as a three month trial. Now, that expired in August last year (this computer is less than a year old). One mate of my dad's who is/was a computer technician, or was very good at that stuff, told dad once before that you shouldn't need to renew the Norton AntiVirus, which I think is wrong.

I think, with the internet on the computer, the safest thing is to have that thing running, but my dad is quite annoying when it comes to technology, he is a bit on the against side of all this introduction of technology, lol - and hates the internet so much, i think he is in the .5 % of the world adult population who is against it, so therefore he will fight to not PAY MONEY for this program.

It cost $128 AUD, at DSE, and i have no job, and with me being in yr 12 this year, i think it is best to stick to the no job because of interference with school. So I cant save up for that, so it is up to my dad to say, OK, i guess we have to get it.

cheers guys - it most likely is atleast one virus which is making my computer inefficiant, and i will call my ISP later on this week to see the problem with the broadband internet, if any.

[Langeveldt]

Go to Start > Run >

Type msconfig

Go to startup, and disable all

Then restart

[SupaFreak2005]

First of all Norton is a piece of crap! Get Kaspersky its alot better..Its a bit of trouble to get norton fully uninstalled though...If you keep getting the error bout virtual memory it could be a crappy format... you'll probably have to reformat.The problems with the broadband you should cal your ISP on that. May not be your computer.

[Top_Cat]

If you're running out of virtual memory, that's strange. The way you can tell if your computer is paging heavily to your swap file is, when things get heavy, does your hard-drive go nuts? If so, I'd suspect 3rd-party processes to blame like trojans and spyware, etc. Even with the best spyware software, you'd be hard-pressed to knock them all out. Windows just eventually ALWAYS requires a re-install.

A dead RAM stick could be the problem too (as Mr Casson said).

Any *.nix OS's rarely. A mate of mine's computer had an uptime of 3 years.

SInce you have broadband, what firewall are you using or are you just using the router?

[SIX AND OUT]

well, cause my AntiVirus / Firewall (Norton) - had expired and been asked to renew, i dont have one properly working.

The reason why I haven't renewed this as of yet, is a) my dad and b) my ISP (iPrimus) told me to have the Firewall disabled when using it, so i figured, why do i need one if it should never be enabled.

The Virtual Memory has been fixed now, and the computer is working much more smoother, and so is the internet, but it is still not quick.

QUOTE: Langeveldt

Go to Start > Run >

Type msconfig

Go to startup, and disable all

Then restart

???????

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

First of all Norton is a piece of crap! Get Kaspersky its alot better.

For the sake of being argumentative, get AVG. It's a lot better.

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

QUOTE: Langeveldt

Go to Start > Run >

Type msconfig

Go to startup, and disable all

Then restart

???????

It basically ensures that you don't have a lot of unnecessary crap running in the background from boot. However, it's not wise to remove everything from startup, because some things actually do serve a purpose.

[Mr Casson]

For the sake of being argumentative, get AVG. It's a lot better.

So I've heard, but I've not had a great time with it.

[Slow Love™]

If your problem in terms of virus software is lack of funds, then you should look into AVG Free Edition or Avast 4 Home Edition (also free).

BTW, IMO, Nod32 is the best commercial anti-virus software out there, both in terms of performance and use of resources, and it goes for about $65.

In terms of checking for spyware, etc, Ad Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy are solid, free anti-spyware products.

Not sure why your ISP told you to disable your firewall, unless they meant disabling XP's native firewall because you already have an additional, third party firewall (or router).