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