Network speed problems after a corupt registry.

LittleLexx · 11th July 2004

Hi everyone,

A couple of weeks ago my computer crashed on me and I had to restart it. After it ran the scan disc it told me that the registry was damaged and that a backup would be restored, only it restored a copy from about 6 months ago. This caused no end of chaos resulting in my having to reinstall a number of things. The system is all running along happily now with the exception of the network, which is where I need help as my knowlegde of networks is limited to the theory side of things not the practical. My knowlegde of computers in gerneral is very good otherwise.

I'll start by explaining what I have got. I have two computers, PC1 (being the one that crashed) & PC2, both running Windows 98SE. They both have the same network cards by Belkin, the F5D5000 which both came in the network starter kit. These are then connected to an Origo ADSL ASR-8400 Router with a hardware firwall, which is then connected to a 512kb ADSL internet connection. I also have the Zone Alarm firewall on both computers.

The problems I am experiencing are that the internet speed on PC1 has dropped from the normal maximum speed of 60KB/s to a measly 4-5KB/s. But when I am browsing the web the speed can vary anywhere from 4 - 30KB/s. To check the connection speed I have used the speed test on ADSLguide.org.uk - http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp - which has always given a fairly acurate result in the past, but is now giving the 4 - 5KB/s result.

The second problem is sharing files between the computers. I know how to set up the folders to share files and have checked that they are set up correctly. I cand send files from PC1 to PC2 no problem, but when I try the other way PC2 to PC1, the progress box come up which says there is 2 minutes remaining and it just sits there and does not do anything.

I have tried just about every thing I can think of to sort the problems out. I've reinstalled the network card no end of times, re-setup the network and the router, turned off Zone Alarm, I've even reinstalled Windows, nothing has worked.

The speed problem I had once before when I first setup the network, but that was due to my forgeting to setup the router on both machines to use the right network cards. But doing that has not worked this time. I think the registry went to a back up that was before I resolved the problem the first time. The only other thing that has really changed since the crash is that before I used to have to log in to use the computer after I had set up several profiles, but in the end only used one. I could never find out how to get back to not having to log in each time. After the crash I by chance discovered how to get back to not having to log in, I wouldn't have thought this would be the cause of the problem, but you never know.

PC2 seems to be absolutely fine and going at full speed, although there have been some stange problems occuring with it's printer and internet explorer since PC1 crashed, whether it's related I don't know.

I'm at a loss now of what to do to fix the problem

, (Belkin have been no help, they haven't even replied to my second email to them

), so I'm hoping that some nice person out there might be able to help.

Thanks
Paul