Possible Issues and Resolutions for Slow Connection Speeds in Windows XP (310590)

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The following section describes possible causes for slow connections:

Poor Phone Line Quality

Static on the line, occasional severe disruption while you are using the phone line, or transmission of portions of someone else's phone conversation may point to this issue. To resolve this behavior, call your local telephone company to have them check the phone lines.

NOTE: Most telephone companies charge for services they perform inside a home, but not for work on connections outside the home. Ask the telephone company for information about service charges.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) Changes

You can investigate possible ISP changes by finding out whether your ISP is now part of another company or is reporting slow connections because of network issues. To resolve such issues, you may need to switch to a more reliable ISP.

Multiple Analog-to-Digital Converters Between Computer and ISP

Inability to connect through your phone line at any rate faster than 28.8 kilobits per second (Kbps) may suggest this cause. To resolve this issue, call the telephone company to find out about connection speeds in your area and how you can improve them.

Incorrect, Corrupted, or Multiple Modem Drivers

Frequent disconnections characterize this issue. To resolve this behavior, start your computer in Safe mode and check for multiple modem drivers in the modem, sound, video, and game controllers. Verify that the modem driver is correct. If it is not, remove the current modem driver and install the correct one.

Environmental Interference

Modem sounds that come through other devices, coinciding with a slowdown of the connection, may point to environmental interference. For example, modem sound may come through computer speakers, and interference may come from some other electronic item in the room. To resolve this behavior, separate the telephone lines from other wires. Also, try testing the computer's ability to connect in a different room, using a different telephone jack.

Background Programs

The computer may slow down while you are running programs in the background. To resolve this behavior, use the Msconfig utility to disable the programs in the Startup folder. Restart the computer, and then test the connection.

Normal ISP Operations

Slow speeds can occur during peak hours for Internet use. If the ISP is putting many connections into a small combined connection, normal customer demand can overload the capacity of the combined connection. To resolve this behavior, you may need to switch to a more reliable ISP.