Global Internet speed settings. Low Internet speed via WiFi: what to do? How to increase internet speed

The most important thing for people who are somehow connected to the Internet is its speed. Every PC user sooner or later thinks about how to increase it so that everything works faster. This is especially true for those people who use low-speed networks. This article will discuss all the options for increasing Internet speed on a computer running Windows 7.

Speed ​​Options

You must immediately find out all the speed capabilities of your network, since it will not be possible to increase them if your provider is not designed for this. The established maximum speed limit is the limit that you will never be able to jump over. All additional programs and tools that promise you to increase this limit are simply a waste of time. Such changes can only be made if you switch to a different tariff or change operator. Despite this, it is your system that can in some way influence the speed of the Internet. Incorrect initial settings can impair your network's ability to perform as promised by your chosen provider.

Next, we will describe how to fix this problem and make sure that your computer uses the extremely high Internet speed provided by your tariff. The described options are designed both to correct problems in the operating system itself and to help certain utilities.

Method 1: TCP Optimizer

Today, you can find a huge number of different utilities that help increase Internet speed. This happens by organizing the network connection settings. The following will describe how to use one of these programs, TCP Optimizer.

Method 2: NameBench program

This utility differs from its competitors in that it does not organize your PC settings, but finds DNS servers, thanks to which the network speed increases. The program replaces them with those that it considers more suitable.

1. Open the installation file and press the button "Extract".




2. When unpacking is complete, in the column "Query Data Source" The verification browser that was selected by the application will appear. If you are not satisfied with it, you can mark any other one from the list. Next press the key "Start Benchmark".




3. Now a search for DNS servers will be performed, which can last about an hour.




4. As soon as the process is completed, a browser will open, in which, in the section "Recommended configuration" Several servers that are desirable for use will appear.




5. Minimize the browser window and click on "Start" to enter the "Control Panel".




6. In field "Network and Internet" select line "View task network status".




7. When a new tab has opened, find, on the right side, the section "Connect or disconnect" and below click on your network name.




8. Next click "Properties" and from the proposed list select the item "TCP/IPv4". After that click "Properties".



9. In the column "Are common" put a full stop on the point "Use the following DNS server addresses". Write down all the information that is in the activated fields. If you fail to complete this operation because of your operator, you can return everything to its original state. In the first field "Preferred DNS Server" enter the information that is indicated in the browser under the section "Primary Server", and in the second field "Alternate DNS server" write the address indicated under the section "Secondary Server". Confirm your actions with the key "OK".

Now you can enjoy faster internet speed. But if attempts to access the network are unsuccessful, you need to return the original settings that were installed earlier.

Method 3: Changing Package Scheduler Settings

To try this option you need to do the following:

1. Press a combination of buttons "Win+R" and in the context menu type gpedit.msc to open the Local Group Policy Editor and press the key "OK" for confirmation.




2. In the left part of the window that opens, expand the line "Computer Configuration" and select the folder called "Administrative Templates".




3. On the right, find the block called "Net" and open it.




4. Select the next folder called "QoS Packet Scheduler".




5. Now click on the section "Limit reserved bandwidth".




6. On the left side of the tab, place a dot on the item "Turn on". Enter the value below in the left column «0» . To confirm your actions, click the button "Apply" and after that "OK".




7. Now open the tab "State", as was done above, and press the key "Properties".



8. In the window that appears, check that next to the line "QoS Packet Scheduler" there was a tick. If it is not there, install it, then close the tab by clicking "OK".

Now your Internet speed will increase noticeably.

Method 4: network card

After configuring the network card settings, you can significantly increase the speed of the Internet.

Please note that in the case of laptops, after disabling these functions, several unpleasant consequences may occur. Because the battery will drain faster, you will have less time to use your laptop without a charger. Accordingly, you will have to choose between long-term wireless operation of the laptop or speeding up the Internet.

Method 5: Setting up the power supply

It is also possible to eliminate low Internet connection speed by making changes to the power plan.

This is necessary because energy saving mode places a limit on the transfer of electricity to your network card. After completing the above steps, the performance of your ISP will increase. Unfortunately, due to such manipulations, the laptop battery discharges much faster. If you need high Internet speed only for work or to perform other processes that you do not regularly perform, then you can set the high performance mode immediately before work, or when you can use the charger.

Method 6: Setting up the COM port

Another option popular among users is to expand the COM port. To complete this task, do the following:

After performing the described manipulations, the Internet speed will increase. Often this option is suitable for those users whose COM port is designed for a lower speed than the provider.

Basic suggestions for speeding up the Internet

Network speed can be affected by various factors. For example, if you choose a wired connection rather than a Wi-Fi connection, the network will work faster. This happens because wired Internet works without significant losses, unlike a wireless network.

If you still choose to work with Wi-Fi, then try to place it very close to your device. This will reduce losses during network signal transmission to a minimum. If you prefer a 3G modem, then try to use it while sitting near a window or balcony, so that there are fewer obstacles to the signal in the form of furniture and walls. Another option is to make a homemade antenna. It's very simple, you just need to find some copper wire and wrap it around the modem, then the connection speed will increase a little more.

Don’t forget to set a password on your router, because if everyone uses the network, the Internet speed will decrease significantly.
You should also regularly scan your laptop for malicious files. There are a huge number of different antivirus programs for this. This is necessary to prevent virus files from transmitting your personal information over the Internet. By these actions they spend extra megabytes on their work. Another necessity is to disable all running add-ons in the browser to avoid slowing down the World Wide Web.

There is another way to increase Internet speed, but you should not use it because you will have to disable your antivirus program and software to repel hacker attacks. Antiviruses let data pass through them, which reduces network performance. But there is also a downside to the situation: if you disable the defender, then viruses can enter your system, which leads to an even greater slowdown in data transfer.

This article describes quite a few options that will help you cope with low network speeds without changing your tariff or provider. Naturally, the acceleration will not be maximum. But for greater effectiveness, you can use several of the proposed options at once.

Almost every user wants the speed of his computer’s connection to the World Wide Web to be as high as possible. This issue is especially relevant for low-speed data networks, where, as they say, every KB/s counts. Let's find out how to increase this indicator on a PC running Windows 7.

It should be noted right away that it is simply impossible to increase the Internet speed parameters beyond those that the network bandwidth can provide. That is, the maximum data transfer speed announced by the provider is the limit above which you cannot jump. So don’t believe various “miracle recipes” that are supposedly capable of speeding up the transfer of information significantly. This is only possible when changing providers or switching to another tariff plan. But, at the same time, the system itself can act as a certain limiter. That is, its settings can reduce bandwidth even below the level set by the Internet operator.

In this article, we will explain how to configure a Windows 7 computer so that it is able to maintain a connection to the World Wide Web at the highest possible speed. This can be done either by changing certain parameters within the operating system itself, or by using some third-party programs.

Method 1: TCP Optimizer

There are a number of programs that are designed to optimize the settings for connecting your computer to the World Wide Web, which, in turn, leads to an increase in Internet speed. There are quite a few such applications, but we will describe the actions in one of them, which is called TCP Optimizer.

Method 2: NameBench

There is another application to speed up the speed of receiving data from the network - NameBench. But, unlike the previous program, it does not optimize the computer settings, but searches for DNS servers through which communication will be as fast as possible. By replacing existing DNS servers in the connection properties with those recommended by the program, it is possible to increase the speed of loading sites.

1. After downloading NameBench, run the installation file. It is not necessary to have administrative rights. Click "Extract". After this, the application will be unpacked.



2. In field "Query Data Source" the program itself selects the browser that is most suitable in its opinion, which is installed on this computer, for testing. But if you wish, by clicking on this field, you can select any other web browser from the list. To start searching for DNS servers, click "Start Benchmark".



3. The search procedure is in progress. It may take a significant amount of time (up to 1 hour).



4. After the test is completed, the browser that is installed on your computer by default will open. On his page, the NameBench program is in the block "Recommended configuration" will display the addresses of three recommended DNS servers.



5. Without closing the browser, perform the following manipulations. Click "Start", sign in "Control Panel".



6. In the block "Network and Internet" click on the position "View network status and tasks".



7. In the window that appears "Network Control Center" in the parameter group "Connect or disconnect" click on the name of the current network, which is listed after the parameter "Connection".



8. In the window that appears, click "Properties".



9. After launching the window in the component block, select the position "TCP/IPv4". Click "Properties".



10. In the window that appears in the section "Are common" Scroll to the bottom of the options. Set the radio button to position "Use the following DNS server addresses". The two bottom fields will become active. If they already have some values, be sure to rewrite them, since some operators only work with certain DNS servers. Therefore, if, due to further changes, the connection to the World Wide Web is lost, you will have to return the old addresses. In field "Preferred DNS Server" "Primary Server" browser. In field "Alternate DNS server" enter the address that is displayed in the area "Secondary Server" browser. Click "OK".

After this, the Internet speed should increase slightly. If you cannot access the network at all, return the previous DNS server settings.

Method 3: Set up a packet scheduler

The value of the parameter being studied can be increased by changing the packet scheduler setting.

1. Call the remedy "Run", applying Win+R. Enter:

   Click "OK".



2. A window opens "Local Group Policy Editor". In the left area of ​​the shell of this tool, expand the block "Computer Configuration" and click on the folder name "Administrative Templates".



3. Then move to the right side of the interface and click on the folder there "Net".



4. Now enter the directory "QoS Packet Scheduler".



5. Finally, after going to the specified folder, click on the item "Limit reserved bandwidth".



6. A window opens with the same name as the item we previously clicked on. In the upper left part of it, set the radio button to the position "Turn on". In field "Bandwidth Limit" be sure to set the value «0» , otherwise you risk not increasing the speed of receiving and transmitting data over the network, but, on the contrary, reducing it. Then click "Apply" And "OK".



7. Now you need to check whether the packet scheduler is enabled in the properties of the network you are using. To do this you need to open a window "State" current network. How this is done was discussed in Method 2. Click on the button "Properties".



8. The properties window for the current connection opens. Make sure that opposite the item "QoS Packet Scheduler" the checkbox was checked. If it is standing, then everything is in order and you can just close the window. If there is no checkbox, check it, and then click "OK".

After this, you will most likely receive some increase in your existing Internet speed.

Method 4: Setting up a network card

You can also increase the speed of your network connection by adjusting the power supply of your PC's network card.

1. Navigate using the menu "Start" V "Control Panel" just like we did above. Go to the section "System and safety".



2. Next in the settings group "System" go to item "Device Manager".



3. Window opens "Device Manager". On the left side of the window, click on the item "Network adapters".



4. A list of network adapters installed on the computer opens. This list may contain one element or several. In the latter case, you will have to perform the following operations with each adapter in turn. So, click on the name of the network card.



5. The properties window opens. Move to the tab "Power Management".



6. After the corresponding tab is open, check the checkbox next to the item "Allow the computer to turn off this device". If the mark is present, it should be removed. Also, if available, uncheck the box "Allow this device to wake the computer from sleep mode", if, of course, you have this item active at all. Click "OK".



7. As mentioned above, perform this operation with all elements that are located in the group "Network adapters" V "Device Manager".

If you are using a desktop computer, there will be no negative consequences after applying these steps. The function of waking up a computer from sleep mode using a network card is used very rarely if you need, for example, to communicate remotely with a switched off computer. Of course, when you deactivate the ability to disable the network card when it is not in use, power consumption increases slightly, but in reality this increase will be minimal and will have almost no effect on the level of power consumption.

Important: For laptops, disabling this function can be quite significant, since the rate of battery discharge will increase, which means the period of operation of the device without recharging will decrease. Here you will need to decide what is more important to you: a small increase in Internet speed or a longer operating time of the laptop without recharging.

Method 5: Change the power plan

You can also achieve a certain increase in the speed of data exchange with the World Wide Web by changing the current power plan.

The fact is that in economy mode or in balanced operation mode, the supply of electricity to the network card, as well as to other system components, is limited. By performing the above actions, we thereby remove these restrictions and increase the performance of the adapter. But, again, it is worth noting that for laptops, these actions are fraught with an increase in the rate of battery discharge. Alternatively, to minimize these negative effects when using a laptop, you can switch to a higher performance mode only when directly using the Internet or when the device is connected to an electrical outlet.

Method 6: COM Port Extension

You can also increase the connection speed on Windows 7 by expanding the COM port.

Thus, the port capacity will be increased, which means the Internet speed will also increase. This method is especially useful when using high-speed networks, when the provider provides a higher connection speed than what the computer’s COM port is configured for.

You can also give some general tips that will improve your Internet speed. So, if you have the choice between a wired connection and Wi-Fi, then choose the first one, since a wired connection operates with less loss than a wireless one.

If it is not possible to use a wired connection, then try to place the Wi-Fi router as close to the computer as possible. If you are using a laptop that is not connected to the mains, then, on the contrary, you can position it closer to the router. Thus, you will minimize losses during signal transmission and increase Internet speed. When using 3G modems, place the computer as close to the window as possible. This will allow the signal to pass as freely as possible. You can also wrap the 3G modem with copper wire, giving it the shape of an antenna. This will also provide a certain increase in data transfer speed.

When using Wi-Fi, be sure to set a password for the connection. Without a password, anyone can connect to your point, thereby “taking” part of the speed for themselves.

Be sure to periodically, using not the standard antivirus, but specialized utilities, for example. The fact is that many malicious programs use the computer to transfer data to its “master” and other manipulations through the network, thereby reducing the connection speed. For the same reason, it is recommended to disable all unused toolbars and plugins in browsers, since they also transmit and receive information that is often useless to the user through the network channel.

Another option to increase your target is to disable your antivirus and firewall. But we do not recommend using this method. Of course, antiviruses somewhat reduce the speed of receiving data by passing it through themselves. But by disabling the protection tools, you risk picking up viruses, which in turn will lead to the opposite of the desired effect - the Internet speed will decrease even more than with the antivirus program turned on.

As you can see, there is a fairly wide range of options to increase Internet speed without changing your tariff plan and provider. True, you shouldn’t delude yourself. All these options can only provide a relatively small increase in the value of this indicator. At the same time, if you use them in combination, and not limit yourself to using any one method, you can achieve significant results.

I want to tell you today, how to speed up the Internet by tens or even hundreds of percent - each of you will have your own acceleration.

No, the network speed that you receive from your provider will remain the same, it simply physically cannot be increased without an agreement with the Internet provider. But the speed of loading sites and data is very easy to speed up.

Confused? Let me explain and show you everything. Nothing complicated - I assure you. We will speed up using a free and portable program from Google Corporation - yeah, now you believe that this is not a scam?

How can you speed up the Internet without switching to a faster (and more expensive) tariff? To begin with, imagine that you live in Moscow and two parcels were sent to you from Krasnoyarsk and Tula. These parcels are delivered by vehicles with the same speed - 100 Mb/sec Km/hour. Which parcel will be delivered to you faster?

Have you already begun to guess how we will speed up the Internet? No? Then let's move on...

Why is the Internet also called a network? Because this is the network! A network of data centers in which servers are installed...

There are already a lot of them all over the globe. Some are closer to you, others are further away. Some are faster (they have more powerful equipment, etc.), others are slower. By the way, Google has the most of these centers and servers, because they produce them themselves and do not buy them.

So, when you enter a request or website address and press “Enter,” your browser sends this request to the network server that is specified on your computer in the network connection settings. But whether your request is sent to the fastest or closest server, Cheburashka knows this.

We will not rely on the dubious knowledge of Cheburashka (default network settings), but we will find this magical and fastest server near you ourselves.

A free program will help us with this, in the creation of which the “good corporation” Google took an active part - NameBench. By the way, it works on any operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux).

The program size is only 5 MB. Let's get started. Click on the installation file and get this window...

...in which we click on “Extract” and after a few seconds of waiting we get the main program window...

There is no need to change anything in the settings! Just click on “Start Benchmark” and wait (about 10 minutes). On the button where I have “None”, your country should actually be written, but apparently I’m writing to you from another dimension. It's OK.

On the bottom button - Your default browser...did you wait? Sometimes it seems that the program has frozen - this is not so. Be sure to wait for a window with large green percentages to appear in your browser...

The NameBench program gave me such a monstrous verdict - my current server in the network settings is 452.9% slower than the one it found!

This matter needs to be corrected urgently. I go to the control panel...

...and by RIGHT-clicking on my connection shortcut I go to “Properties”...

...I go to “Properties” again, only now (TCP/IPv4)…

...I put a dot on “Use the following addresses...” and write down the server addresses from the first two lines of the calculation result of the NameBench program. My second address is the address of my router on the local network. That's right - if something happens to the fastest server, the network will work with the original settings. This is the safety net.

Click "Ok". At this stage you can calm down, but...

You may not immediately notice the acceleration of loading sites, since the operating system has a cache of DNS servers. It is designed to speed up site loading and is remembered for a while. It is advisable to clean it. For example, using CCleaner...

Check this box, analyze and clean it, and then BE SURE to uncheck it.

You can also reset this DNS cache using the command ipconfig /flushdns …

Do you use more than just your phone to access the Internet? Do you want to know how to maximize increase internet speed? How to use all the features, speed up the operation of the router and what does this affect? If you are asking these questions, then this article is for you. Here are the best recommendations, by applying which you can see an increase in the speed of your Internet connection.

There are a large number of ways to increase the speed of your connection to the World Wide Web. Any user can explore the entire arsenal of Internet settings on a computer. If all steps are successfully completed, these settings will allow you to get fast, high-quality Internet and excellent performance of your phone and router.

How to increase internet speed

Let's consider all the methods in order.

• You should disable Windows bandwidth throttling. To do this, you need to search for the gpedit.msc command, then run as administrator. The Local Group Policy Editor appears. In the “Computer Configuration” item, expand the “Administrative Templates” sub-item, then click on the “Network” section. This section contains the “QoS Packet Scheduler”. The scheduler needs to limit the reserved bandwidth. Right-click on the corresponding command and change. In the window that appears, enable the limit and set its level to zero percent. Thus, restrictions are lifted, which the OS can set for the Internet bandwidth channel, including if it is distributed through a router. Warning: The gpedit.msc command itself may not be on your computer. Therefore, if it is not in the search results, then the operation should be skipped.
• The following setup requires access to the network card. In the Control Panel you need to find the “System” tab. From there, go to “Device Manager”, where you need to find the network card in the “Network adapters” item. For example, NVIDIA or Intel. In the card properties, go to the “Power Management” section, allow turning off the device to save energy. This way, the network card will not go into sleep mode.

There is one more point in adjusting the speed, available for OS up to and including Windows 8, which allows you to increase the connection bandwidth. In the “Ports” item, click on the properties of the serial port, and in the parameters set 128000 bits/second. This will complete the COM port setup.

• Power plan. Without leaving the Control Panel, you need to find “Power Options” and set it to high performance. This is done because with low productivity the network card and Wi-Fi card will not work at full capacity, and thus, you can lose in the quality and speed of your Internet connection.

Maximum Internet speed

When using Wi-Fi, you should be aware of high data transmission delays. Due to this, the Internet speed is always lower than with a wired connection. Therefore, if you need maximum speed for downloading files from the Internet, it is recommended to connect them to a cable network card. Why is this worth doing?

1. Pings will improve, meaning the latency will be much lower than over a wireless network.
2. Internet speed will increase by reducing losses over a wired connection.
3. If it is not possible to connect a “wire”, then the router should be placed as close to the computer as possible.

"Grandfather's Methods"

If you are the owner of a 3G modem, then there are some tips for you:

The last tips work if the connection speed is very low or the coverage is very outdated.

To get faster internet speeds, be sure to disable any programs that may be using your internet traffic. Examples of such programs: Skype, uTorrent.

Be sure to scan your computer for viruses special programs. In most cases, the Internet works very poorly due to the Internet channel being filled with various viruses that send personal data to the creator. You should disable unnecessary plugins and extensions in browsers.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the Opera browser. If the connection is slow, you should use the compression function of the received traffic. As for Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, these programs practically do not compress Internet traffic.

Follow these instructions and increase the Internet speed on your computer!

Are web pages taking longer to load than usual, and file download speeds are not as good as advertised by your provider? This may be due to many factors. Fortunately, there are many tricks that can help you improve the quality of your Internet connection. You will notice the difference within minutes.

Steps

Checking equipment, network status and connection speed

Test your connection speed. Before you go to the hardware and computer settings, check the speed of your connection and compare it with that stated by your provider. There are many sites on the Internet that can help you check your connection speed. Just search Google for "connection speed test" and select one of the first results in the list.

• Different tests will show different results. Even the same test can show several different values ​​when tested repeatedly. The test result depends on the location of the servers and the network load.
• Take several tests and find the average.
• To pass the test, you may need to download and install plugins.
• If the site asks you to select a server to test your connection speed, choose the one closest to your actual location. This way you will get the most accurate result.

1. Compare the test result with the data declared by the provider. Check with customer support to determine what your connection speed should be. Remember that the provider will indicate the maximum possible speed, but the actual speed will not always correspond to this figure.

   • If you haven't changed your data plan in a while, you may be able to get faster speeds for less. Companies typically don't let existing customers know about better deals, so check to see if they've added any new rates since you started using their services. Check out what all providers offer in your area.
   • Remember the difference between megabits and megabytes. There are 8 megabits (MB) in one megabyte (MB), so if you pay for 25 megabits per second (MB/sec), then your maximum speed will be slightly higher than 3 megabytes per second (MB/sec).

2. Reboot your router. Restarting your modem or router can resolve many connection problems. If your modem or router does not have a power button, simply unplug the power cord, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Read this guide to learn how to restart your home network.

   Check for conflicting signals. If you use a wireless router, check to see if it conflicts with your cordless phone or wireless camera. There are two main types of wireless routers: 802.11 b, g, and n (2.4 GHz) or 802.11 a (5.8 GHz). If your cordless phone and router operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency, the Internet connection speed will be slower when someone is using the phone. The same applies to wireless outdoor cameras. Check the signal frequency of your phone and camera. If it is 900 MHz then there is nothing to worry about. If they operate at a frequency of 2.4 or 5.8 GHz, then they are likely interfering with your wireless network.

   Check if you have reached your traffic limit. Many providers set limits on Internet traffic, but do not always notify their customers about this. Log in to your provider's website or contact customer support by phone and check if you have reached your monthly limit. Usually, after exceeding the limit, the provider limits the connection speed.

   Call your provider's customer service line. Sometimes only your provider can fix a connection problem. Usually, to establish the causes of problems, a technician does not need to come to your home. You may be prompted to restart your router again.

   Check all devices on your network. If other users on your network frequently download data from the Internet, such as watching videos online or downloading large files, this may take up a significant portion of the network bandwidth.

   

   Reduce the distance between the router and computer. If you are connected to the Internet using a Wi-Fi router, the reason for the slow connection speed may be a weak signal. Place your computer and router as close to each other as possible, or place the router on a cabinet to improve signal quality.

   • Clean any dust from your router or modem using a can of compressed air. This will protect it from overheating and increase the stability of its operation.
   • Provide good ventilation to all electronic components to prevent overheating.

3. If you use DSL technology, check your splitter. A splitter is a small box into which your landline phone cable is connected. On the opposite side there are two sockets - one for the phone, the other for the modem. If you are connected to the Internet via a landline telephone line, in order for the connection quality to be good, you must have a high-quality splitter installed.

   Check the weather forecast. If you use satellite Internet, your connection speed may fluctuate due to wind, snow, rain, lightning, static fields and other meteorological phenomena.

   Optimizing your computer and network

   1. Scan your computer with an antivirus at least once a week. Viruses can not only create the threat of leaking valuable information, but also seriously affect the speed of the Internet connection. Protecting your computer from virus threats plays an important role in ensuring a good quality Internet connection.

      • Your computer should always be protected by an antivirus program, especially if you use the Internet frequently. It can be installed for free. There is no need to install more than one antivirus program, otherwise they will conflict with each other.

   2. Remove unnecessary toolbars. If you have many toolbars installed in your browser, they can significantly slow down your connection. By getting rid of these panels, you will speed up your browser and protect yourself from leaks of your personal information.

      • Sometimes it can be difficult to remove some toolbars. To do this, you may need the anti-spyware programs listed in the previous step.

   3. Change your browser. If your old browser is overloaded with difficult-to-remove add-ons and is too slow, you may need to start using a different browser. Firefox, Chrome and Opera are faster than Internet Explorer.

   4. Clean up your hard drive. If you don't optimize your hard drive, it can slow down your computer, and this will affect everything you do, including surfing the Internet. Optimizing your hard drive will only take a few minutes, but it will significantly improve the quality of your web surfing.

      • Defragment your hard drive regularly. Recent versions of Windows do this automatically.
      • To clear your disk of temporary files that may be slowing down your browser, perform a disk cleanup.
      • Make sure that there is at least 15% free space on the system partition of your hard drive. If your disk is full, programs, including your Internet browser, will start and run more slowly.

   5. Check which programs are consuming traffic. Often the connection speed is reduced because the connection is being used by other programs. To find out if any programs are accessing the Internet without your knowledge, you need to use the Command Prompt. Press the keyboard shortcut ⊞ Win + R to open the Run dialog box. Type cmd and click ↵Enter. (For Windows 7 - open the Start menu>All Programs>Accessories, right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator" from the menu).

      • Enter the command netstat -b 5 > activity.txt and click ↵Enter. A list of programs that use the Internet connection will appear on the screen. After a minute or so, press Ctrl + C to complete the scan. The system will create a file with a list of all active Internet connections.
      • Enter activity.txt and click ↵Enter to open the file and view a list of programs.

   6. Close all unnecessary programs. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys simultaneously and launch Task Manager. Go to the processes tab and disable all programs that may consume traffic. (Note: Interrupting processes with unknown names may cause programs to crash.)

      • View the process data in the "User" column. If the process is running as System, stopping it may cause other programs to crash and you will have to restart your computer. If your username is listed, terminating the process will likely not affect other programs or processes. Sometimes the system prohibits ending an important system process or automatically restarts it.

   7. Change Wi-Fi channel. If many people in your home share the same channel, your Internet connection speed may be slower. To detect free channels, use the inSSIDer application for PC and the KisMAC or WiFi Scanner applications for Mac. By switching to a less busy channel, you will get rid of network interference and will likely be able to access the Internet faster.

      • If you find an unused channel, switch to it to improve your connection speed. If you don't know how to change the wireless channel on your router, refer to the user manual or help materials on the device manufacturer's website.