Windows XP Pro / Internet Highspeed slow

Hello to all, hope this fits the profile.

I have had this selfbuilt computer for several years: Pentium IV 3.2 MHz; 1 MB RAM, CHARTER-Cable connection, Highspeed Internet. OS: Windows XP-PRO Sp 2
About a year ago I added Vonage Phone service to run on my Highspeed Cable Internet with Charter.com in the Covina, California, Covina 91722 ZIP area. My speed (without checking was so so. I had contracted for Download 3. MB/s and Upload 256 Kb/s

All of a sudden, I lost my speed, at about the same time I developed my now resolved SVCHOST.EXE Appl Error posted here on December 17, 2006.

My Vonage started stuttering, and my FAX-es would not go out at all.

I started measuring my connection speeds.

Using Internet-Frog and Speed Test Charter.Com

While the test results differed quite a lot, I took sufficiant test readings, to get a rough average of the actual speeds.

The speed was at around (for couple two / three days I checked) between, Upload from 0.1 KKB/s to cca 180 KKB/s and the download at a range between 800 KKB/s to 1.3 MB/s
Readings with the Internet Frog came in substantially lower.

Talking to Charter, they said to get an accurate computer-un-effected true reading, I should go into SAFE mode, and then test.ATTEMPTING TO GO INTO SAFE MODE with the F8 key, I only get to the page where I can choose the boot-drive.

Is it possible to start XP-Pro in Safe mode? How?

So I have not been able to test that way.

I ordered (for an addition 30 $ per month) speed-upgrade to Upload 1MBb/s and Download 10 MBb/s
Now my speed increased very slightly, the phone appears to work better. But my actual speeds barely reach the originally contracted 256 / 3,000 speeds.

Is this caused by my computer, the way I check the speed, or is it the Cable company?
What I get is such a far cry from what I am paying for, I want to be sure whom I start to wrestle with about this issue.

Any and all of your help I welcome in the spirit of Christmas,

Lelie Eloed

 

High Speed Cable Resource

You can check out this site for help:

www.askmarvin.ca
As well it could be a spyware / virus problem on your computer.
Also rule out that it is not the settings on your router.
Had one Linksys router that slowed the system to a crawl.
Linksys told me to adjust the MRU.

 

Its because you list only 1mb of RAM.

Just kidding.

. To start XP in Safe Mode when the F8 key does not let you:

Start, Run, msconfig
Select 'Diagnostic startup'

To be honest, I think the Charter rep was blowing hot air at you. Since you use the computer in Normal mode, that is how you want to test it. Furthermore, your Vonage service is an independent entity, and if it stutters the issue likely lies outside of your PC. Your fax situation is another example.

Since you are on cable, they really cannot gaurantee you a speed up or down, they can just alter your caps. All you need is a couple of kids running bit torrent 24/7 to effect you mightily. But you should insist on a line reading to the cable modem. This requires a site visit by a technician, do not let them try and read the values remotely. You want what the cable modem reports at your site to be read.

I would most certainly investigate switching to DSL. See http://www.broadbandreports.com and ask for a price comparison for all vendors in your area.

While at the BroadbandReports site, see the Charter Forum to see if issues are being reported in your area.