Small Files, Slow Response

The machines we love to hate

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Larry R
Posts: 764
Joined: 24 Sep 1999 12:01 am
Location: Navasota, Tx.

Small Files, Slow Response

Post by Larry R »

Using Win XP Pro and MS Office 2007.
I can send and receive emails and log onto the Web, however, I am having problems sending email attachments with as little as 4kb of data (MS Word or PDF files). It now takes several minutes to send a small one page word document. When sending an email with attachment, MS Outlook shows to be "Preparing to Send Email". After 5-20 minutes, depending on file size, MS Outlook shows "Sending Email". It use to not do that before the storm or the downloads.


Win Media Player #11 Problem also:
Getting a "Cannot play file because a network error occured" with Win Media Player ver 11.


On 9-11-08, I downloaded MS updates for Win Media Player 11 (KB936782, 939683, 929399, 954154). I also downloaded MS security update KB938464 for Win XP Pro.

On 9-12-08, I lost electricity, phone, and internet for several days. All is back on now and I have tested with my internet provider. My incoming and outgoing server specs test good.

Any suggestions on how to fix these two problems?

Larry R
Bruce Atkinson
Posts: 41
Joined: 10 Nov 2007 8:26 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Post by Bruce Atkinson »

I had a similar problem a couple of months ago. Everything on the web was slower and slower. Downloads took forever. Even after manually stopping every process other than Win XP processes itself, the problem continued.

I tried a 'speed test' at my DSL providers web site and it revealed speeds slower than dialup!

After consulting with a tech guru friend, she said it was the DSL modem! It had been absolutely flawless until then. So, I got a brand new DSL modem, plugged it in and I'm now back to 700mpbs PLUS! That was the problem!
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Jack Stoner
Posts: 22087
Joined: 3 Dec 1999 1:01 am
Location: Kansas City, MO

Post by Jack Stoner »

It is most likely a data link issue as Bruce mentioned. Uplink speeds (what you send) is almost always a much lower speed than your downlink (what you receive) speed. When you are just using the net you won't really notice it but when you send any attachment it can show up.

You can run link tests and that can help in troubleshooting. The truest test is one between you and your ISP, as that is where your link speeds are determined. However, a general link test can still give you a good idea about the problem.

You will need to know what your link speeds (uplink and downlink) are supposed to be. You will never get the published speeds but if you can get to 75% of the published speed, chances are your link to and from the ISP are good.

Here is a nice link testite:

http://www.speedtest.net/
Larry R
Posts: 764
Joined: 24 Sep 1999 12:01 am
Location: Navasota, Tx.

Post by Larry R »

Thanks guys for the info. I'll try the speed link test.

Larry
Larry R
Posts: 764
Joined: 24 Sep 1999 12:01 am
Location: Navasota, Tx.

Post by Larry R »

Well I finally got the problems resolved. I determined that I had a bad network port on the motherboard. I installed a 10/100 ethernet card in a spare slot and now I can up upload as well as download files although not as fast as I'd like to because I'm at the very limit (distance wise from the Central Office) of where DSL communications can reasonably work. Also, my DSL provider had some equipt problems several miles away from my residence. It took a technician to visit my residence and trace the trouble back to a communications hut to find the problem.
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