| This is an often-asked question that can have | | | | |
| many answers. I'll try to touch on a few more | | | | If you tend to install and uninstall many |
| common things to check when your broadband | | | | programs, there is the chance that your |
| slows down. (Keep in mind it could be your | | | | computers hard drive is fragmented. Simply, |
| 'computer' that is slowing down and 'not' | | | | the hard drive needs to search more when |
| your broadband connection) | | | | trying to piece together a file, etc. Hard |
| | | | drives do not store information sequentially. |
| The first thing would be to run an online | | | | A file can be stored at many different |
| speed test. This helps to get a general idea | | | | locations throughout your hard drive and your |
| of the current speed of your internet | | | | computer works harder to find and put |
| connection. It's only an approximate, but | | | | together the file you're accessing. For |
| certainly ok for a starting point. To find a | | | | windows users, you can click the start button |
| broadband speed test utility, you can perform | | | | (lower left corner) then select Accessories, |
| a google search with a search string of | | | | then select System Tools. In this program |
| 'broadband speed test'. This should pull back | | | | grouping, you will find a utility called Disk |
| a number of options for you. | | | | Defragmenter. |
| | | | |
| Another way is to visit our web site and | | | | Running this utility will tell you whether or |
| check the utilities section. We've gathered | | | | not you even need to de-fragment your hard |
| up a few different links to a few different | | | | drive or not and if you do, there is a button |
| speed tests. This way you can run a few | | | | to click to begin the process. |
| different tests and compare your results. | | | | |
| When you execute these tests, your browser | | | | Before you get to worried or geek out to |
| should be the only thing running on your | | | | much, check your current broadband speed, |
| computer. Close down any games, email | | | | clean up any spyware, protect yourself from |
| clients, etc. you may have running. | | | | viruses, clean any viruses found and check |
| | | | your disk space and fragmentation level to |
| Ok, the next thing to keep in mind is the | | | | determine whether or not you need to |
| type of broadband access you're using. If | | | | de-fragment your hard drive. |
| your using DSL, then the further away you are | | | | |
| from the telephone company central office, | | | | These are just a few things that you can |
| the weaker your signal will be. If you're | | | | check. We've left out things like memory |
| using cable internet access you're sharing | | | | capacity, firewalls, proxies and modems. |
| your connection with others in your | | | | |
| neighborhood using the same cable internet | | | | Our intent was not to discuss each |
| access. These are a couple of things that, | | | | possibility, as there are many. Our intent |
| unfortunately for residential users you have | | | | was to point out a few basic things you could |
| no control over. But let's get to some things | | | | do yourself today. |
| you do have control over. | | | | |
| | | | If you see that your broadband connection |
| First up spyware. These are the nasty little | | | | itself is the culprit due to bad speed tests, |
| ('almost' invisible) programs that find their | | | | contact your internet service provider (ISP). |
| way onto your computer. Some malicious, some | | | | |
| not, but in either case they take resources | | | | If your broadband connection speed is fine, |
| away from your computer. Resources are things | | | | chances are the problem is with your |
| like your CPU (processor), memory, hard disk | | | | computer. Follow the steps outlined above and |
| space, etc. You can be proactive here. We | | | | test again. |
| recommend using Spybot. This is a free | | | | |
| utility you can install and execute on your | | | | If the problem persists you may need to |
| computer. Its job is to hunt down and destroy | | | | upgrade your computer. However, before I |
| these resource hogs. Again, do you google | | | | would upgrade anything, I would first attempt |
| search using 'Spybot' as your search term. | | | | to get more information from the internet, |
| | | | friends, family or someone knowledgeable to |
| Viruses are another problem. You should | | | | diagnosis the issue further. Running out and |
| 'always' keep your virus protection software | | | | buying new equipment is fine if you can |
| running and up to date. These are usually | | | | afford that. I think it's better to identify |
| configurable for auto-update capabilities. It | | | | the problem first. After all, it may be |
| is imperative you keep this running so it can | | | | something easily fixed. Better yet, once you |
| protect you from malicious computer virus | | | | understand what it was and how it happened, |
| attacks. A slow computer is one thing; a | | | | it may be something you can guard against the |
| computer that crashes is completely | | | | next time. |
| different. | | | | |