SammySmith
join:2002-03-19
Decatur, IL
| I recently complained about slow speed in Decatur
I really thought my Insight connection was capped at 2Mbs, but now have decided it is something on my machine doing it, and I have no idea what it is. I did try the GlobalMaxTcpWindowSize registry entry as recommended, but no help. Anybody know what else might limit d/l speed?? I have XP with all updates, the latest free Zone Alarm and Norton's AV 2005. Best I know no spyware/adware. The machine run just fine otherwise.
To justify my thought, because I have a partition on this machine with XP sp1 as supplied from Gateway and the drivers for my video and sound. There has been no windows updates or any protection software ever installed. I set this up just for these kinds of tests. I tried a d/l in this partition (Adobe Reader 7 setup file), and did get a close to 4Mbps d/l. So it has to be something on my main partition. Any hints???
Thanks |
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GLIMMER
join:2004-01-17
Urbana, IL | have insight come out and swap your modem they did that for me and my speed went to 6mb where they are supose to be. Your modem upgrade may have gotten screwed like mine did |
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SammySmith
join:2002-03-19
Decatur, IL
| reply to SammySmith
Thanks, but it can't be the modem. As I think I stated, I have another bootable partition on the same machine. And I get the 4Mbs that is stated for the base service when I boot to that partition. That means it is the same modem, router, cables, and NIC. The only thing it can be is some setting in Windows. |
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SammySmith
join:2002-03-19
Decatur, IL
| reply to SammySmith
Just a update. Someone in another forum said Zone Alarm 5 may be the culprit, and it was. I uninstalled it, and now I can do a 4Mbps per second. A reinstall did make the d/l slow again. Not sure what to do, find another firewall or just live with it. I don't do heavy file d/l that much anyway. |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
2 edits | But ZoneAlarm being the issue isn't in fact an experience being shared by all. I've covered this in many other threads in this forum and the security forum. These reports of ZoneAlarm causing speed issues have been around for awhile now. And every time I come in and show that not all users aren't seeing this. I get nothing but a ton of crap for it. I'm using the latest version of ZASS ( ZoneAlarm Security Suite ) on two different machines. One connects to the internet wirelessly. The other is directly connected to the router - which is connected to my Motorola SB5100 cable modem. Three of my speed test are currently in the top 20 under the Insight speed archive.
Again I'll ask. How are you testing your speeds? Which sites are you using? Are you seeing slow speeds when doing actual real downloads? Your previous thread seems to cover some of this »Anybody else slow in Decatur?
But still doesn't give me any real specifics. Have you looked at your line quality? This site offers line quality testing for free. Many modems will also offer your signal levels using this link »192.168.100.1
Your version of Norton ( Norton's AV 2005 ) also includes a setting that acts as a firewall. There may in fact be a conflict between this feature and ZoneAlarm. That is causing the issue.
My thoughts on ZoneAlarm being the speed killer can be found here »iggy.gnomeblog.com/blog/_archive···988.html
That link includes many links to previous threads related to the subject as well. I think some of those previous threads would be worthwhile to read. Maybe you can find something similar in your setup that other posters share in common with you. This might help to track down a "source" of the issue or conflict.
I'll do another quick blog post on this as well. I can send this link in to ZoneLabs also. In my opinion - I feel this perception of ZoneAlarm being the source of speed issues. Is causing harm to the brand name. At least within some online communities. These people all have friends and family. And in my opinion ( yet again ) - word of mouth can in fact harm or help a name brand.
»Symantec Norton Antivirus 2005 and Zonealarm 5.5
»Norton Antivirus Update Weirdness...
»sudden slow browsing - CPU flat out
Most of those were found here
»www.iggyz.com/book/antivirus2.html
»Things to post when seeking help on problems.
»[Speeds] Need expert help
I just added a blog post on this. I've seen many users searching Google and ending up on my blog. Looking for a resolution to this. The new post should help with that.
»iggy.gnomeblog.com/blog/_archive···216.html
I'll be sending that link and the link to this thread to ZoneLabs in an email.
That email was just sent.
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Iggyz Blog ZoneAlarm Help |
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SammySmith
join:2002-03-19
Decatur, IL
| Iggy, it was ZA 5.5 that was the culprit. I downgraded to 4.5.594 and got my 4Mbps now. 
Without answering all your questions here, I posted my problem in the forum "Broadband Tweaks" with the subject:[Cable] "Half my available d/l speed"
»[Cable] Half my available d/l speed
I did do some tests, and posted links in that tread.
Thanks for trying to help as well as others here! |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
4 edits | Using an older build of the product is not good security.
Is it good security to run older ZoneAlarm versions?
»Re: Problems in Bowling Green
I previously posted on this in that thread.
Just recently a minor security issue was resolved in a build update.
»iggy.gnomeblog.com/blog/_archive···657.html
This blog post covered users seeing speed related issues in November of last year.
»iggy.gnomeblog.com/blog/_archive···383.html
Another question that comes to my mind. Is how are you installing the product? Are you doing a clean install? Or installing the newer build over the previous version?
Going back to using an older build isn't good security. It's not 100% safe in my opinion.
If we use the last 4.5 build as an example.
4.5.594.000 was released to the public on April 12, 2004.
That would mean your using a product that is over a year old. Many fixes and few security updates have been added to builds since then.
Is there a reason your still run SP1 instead of SP2? This might be a source of conflict as well.
My reason for going so heavy on all this is - I'd prefer to find a cause and resolution to the problem. If your solution is just to go back to an older build. We never find what is causing the issue for you in the newer build. If in fact something in ZoneAlarm needs tweaked or fixed. It won't get done - if the issue isn't tracked down to a source.
"This is not the first time we've seen ZA 5 cause speed problems. That's why we have a special web site all set up to help folks download ZA 4.5."
Special website lol. Heck you can still get that build from my website and I think 4.5 is still available from ZoneLabs. I've had my debate with the folks in the tweak forum already. From a security aspect they are doing users more harm than good. They also aren't helping users get to the root of the actual problem.
Also the members in that forum now just assume that the firewall is the problem. They don't even try to troubleshoot past this. It's - oh your using 5. whatever version of ZoneAlarm - that is your problem - just uninstall it. Advising a user to uninstall a software firewall on a broadband connection - when no router is in play or the windows firewall is not enabled - is just asking to get these user infected.
Considering some of the members in that forum are supposedly professionals in the industry. You'd think they would take a bit more care in regards to consumers machines.
They can also never seem to be able to explain why if 5.0 builds are so horrid - that I get the speeds I do using those builds.
Yep this 4.5 link sure is a special website. Just shows they haven't done as much homework as they claim.
»download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/1···_000.exe ( this a live download of ZA Free 4.5.594.000 - just a warning for anyone who would click it ) the link is a direct link from ZoneLabs.
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SammySmith
join:2002-03-19
Decatur, IL
| reply to SammySmith
Well, nothing is 100% safe. But I am pretty careful, and am behind a router. Never had a problem yet. And since I am not one to install every bit of software that comes out, I feel pretty comfortable. I was using a older version anyway for ever. One day just being board, I decided to upgrade. Big mistake
I did do a "Clean" install. I read on some guru's site that I got from a ZoneLab's Users Forum linked to the ZoneLab's site. to add the /clean to the uninstall command as well as other instructions to follow.
You ask why I am running SP1. I am not normally. If you read my original posting again, my "test" partition is a basic SP1 install, but my everyday partition is SP2 with all current updates. I have used Partition Magic on this machine, and have 2 bootable partitions. The test one has only drivers and one non-MS application installed, NetPerSec, my bandwidth meter. Been using it for years, and happy with it.
If it hadn't been for my test partition working fine, I was firmly going to blame Insight. I like to be sure before I bitch at them
You typed, "an older build. We never find what is causing the issue for you in the newer build. If in fact something in ZoneAlarm needs tweaked or fixed. It won't get done - if the issue isn't tracked down to a source."
I agree with you 100%. But everyone knows you can get almost no help from software companies unless you pay $$$. If they really wanted to work with me to tell me things to change, etc, I would. But it will never happen. There is enough problems out there, I am surprised they don't have a fix yet.
I have heard even the LSP stack order may be the issue. If I knew how to change it, I would try it if it didn't involve to much work. BTW, I did d/l my version 4.5 from Zonelabs directly. I only install software that comes from the publishers web site.
Oh well, I am happy even with a older version, so I am going to let this die unless someone finds a real fix
Thanks for your input. |
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adz133
join:2002-12-03
| reply to SammySmith
Re: I recently complained about slow speed in Deca
I tend to think that a properly configured nat firewall covering the whole network is sufficient for home use. Unless I have a computer exposed to the wild (ie, dialup) then I don't bother with software firewalls. Plus, the built in windows firewall does a sufficient job, if not a wonderful one. |
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bizz0ch
join:2005-03-11 | reply to SammySmith
I am not using ZA and I am suffering slow speeds here in Quincy... HORRIBLE speeds at the moment. |
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