Slow dial-up speeds in Win2K

[Ruckus]

Hey all, I'm looking for some help on a strange problem that I'm having with a computer, a Dell Optiplex. The computer is running Windows 2000 and has a dial-up connection, and it runs slower than it should be. It has a 56K modem, but most of the time it only connects at a speed around 40K. Occasionally, the connection completely drops out and I get DNS errors from Internet Explorer, but the connection stays active. A few minutes later the connection will come back. When it does work, it just crawls the web.

I have a second computer, a Compaq running Windows ME, and I don't have this problem. I connect at 56K all the time with the same ISP, same phone line, and the same exact TCP/IP and network configurations. Just to make sure it wasn't a driver or a hardware issue, I swapped the two modems, but I'm still getting the same behavior on both machines. Oddly enough, this the first time I've seen a computer with ME that actually outdoes a computer with a better version of Windows.

So, I think I've narrowed the problem down to the something with Windows 2000, but I don't know where to begin. I tried Microsoft's support database, which turned up nothing. Any Windows updates that could be installed on the Dell doesn't address anything that resembles the problem. Normally, I would just format it and put XP on, but I've got a lot of progs on it that I don't have the CD's for and don't really want to lose.

Here's some specs:

Dell Optiplex (the computer in question):
P4 1.7 GHz
Win2K
512 MB RAM
U.S. Robotics V.92 Modem

Compaq Presario (the computer that works):
Duron 800 MHz
WinME
64 MB RAM
HSP56 Micromodem

I'm sure your question is "why no broadband?". Long story short, it's not available here. Anyway, any help is much appreciated :)

[bassman]

Try going on to a well know download site like www.download.com (http://www.download.com) and download something of your choice; if your download speeds are around 4 or 5 KBps, your connection's speed is normal, even if it tells it's connected @ 33.6 or whatever. It wouldn't hurt to update the modem's drivers and firmware to their latest version: http://www.usr.com/support/s-main-menu.asp

[omendata]

Unlikely but it may be the QOS component in networking - remove it!

[AllGamer]

go to http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php

and get the file called TCP Optimizer

then select to Optimize for Dial up
:t

[omendata]

Naw on a modem you want to tweak everything - com port speeds , hosts lookup - tweakdun is a great wee programme and does most of it , will even work out your mtu for you!
Reduce your protocol overhead too - remove all but tcpip.

[Sterling_Aug]

Omendata:

Win2K did not have QOS built in. Only WinXP installs it automatically.

[omendata]

True but you know what users are like fiddling with things.Since being on here and out on the road Ive learned never to assume anything with users. I had one user who after 7 years of using her pc didnt know what a monitor was or how to switch it on?
Double duh - its that sort of call that takes ages to complete over the dogandbone!

I know when i first get a new os i install absolutely everything to learn before i install for real with what i need or find advantageous!!!

To be honest though ive never noticed a difference with qos enabled! Just thought Id throw it into the pot!