Window XP Cable/DSL Modem Tweaks

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One thing users aren't aware of is all the unnecessary network protocols and components that you may have enabled and not using. Sometimes having these enabled may cause network problems and even degrade your connection. I've been through this with countless users that either have enabled too much or too little just for a basic broadband cable modem connection.

If you are experiencing issues with your connection and believe its your PC's configuration, take a look at your network connections properties a little closer:

Verify your connection properties
- Open control panel Network Connections.
- Identify the icon for the network connection your using for the cable modem/ISP, right-click it, and select Properties.
The following components might be worth disabling:

* File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks: this is both a security risk and a source of unnecessary network traffic unless you are sure you require to share files.
* Client for Microsoft Networks: Most cases its enabled if you wish to mount drives from a remote PC on the Internet using Microsoft file sharing.
* Client Service for NetWare: should be disabled.
* Service Advertising Protocol: should be disabled.
* SAP Agent: should be disabled.
* NetBEUI Protocol: should be disabled.
* NWLink NetBIOS: should be disabled.
* NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol: should be disabled.
* iVLAN Protocol: should be disabled.
* AppleTalk Protocol: should be disabled.
* DLC Protocol: should be disabled.

The following components, if present, should not be disabled:
- QoS Packet Scheduler: this is harmless and should be left enabled.
- Network Monitor Driver: this is used by the Performance Monitor, is harmless, and should be left enabled.
- Internet Protocol (TCP/IP): this is essential and must be enabled.

Optimize the remaining network configuration by selecting the name Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then click Properties:

- Click the button Advanced
- Click tab DNS:
Uncheck Register this connection's addresses in DNS
- Click tab WINS:
Select Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP, unless either:
Client for Microsoft Networks is enabled and you wish to mount drives from remote Windows systems or
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is enabled and you wish remote Windows users to mount your shared resources
- Disabling NetBIOS over TCP/IP is also a worthwhile security improvement.
- Click OK to close Advanced TCP/IP Settings.
- Click OK to close Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties.

- Click OK to close the Connection Properties.
- Disable SSDP Discovery Service: Right-click My Computer and select Manage:

- In the left-hand box, expand Services and Applications, then select Services.
- In the right-hand box, scroll down to find SSDP Discovery Service, and double-click it.
Set Startup type to Disabled.
Click Stop.
Click OK to close SSDP Discovery Service Properties.
Close Computer Management.

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Free up 20 percent of your internet bandwidth.

Would you like 20 percent more internet speed? Windows XP reserves 20 percent of your internet bandwidth for itself. Limit Reservable Bandwidth - Determines the percentage of connection bandwidth that the system can reserve. This value limits the combined bandwidth reservations of all programs running on the system.

By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20 percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to override the default. If you disable this setting or do not configure it, the system uses the default value of 20 percent of the connection.

Here is how to change this setting and achieve better download rates.

Click START, Run and then enter gpedit.msc This opens the group policy editor.

Then go to:
Local Computer Policy / Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Network / QOS Packet Scheduler
In the right hand column under settings double click on Limit Reservable Bandwidth. It will say it is not configured. The trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth, and then set it to ZERO. Click Apply. Click OK. This will allow the system to reserve nothing, rather than the default 20 percent. Reboot your system. Now you will have 20 percent more bandwidth to surf the internet faster.

If you have Windows XP Home Edition, follow these instructions to disable QoS:

Click Start and then the “Settings” option.
Select the Control Panel, and open up “Network Connections”
Right-click “Local Area Connection”and choose Properties.
On the General tab, uncheck QoS and O out of the dialogue window.
Restart your Computer and reconnect.
Increase your Bandwidths Capacity

· Make sure your logged on as actually "Administrator".
· Start->Run->type gpedit.msc
· Expand the "Local Computer Policy" branch.
· Expand the "Administrative Templates" branch.
· Expand the "Network Branch".
· Highlight the "QoS Packet Scheduler" in left window.
· In right window double-click the "Limit Reservable Bandwidth" setting.
· On setting tab check the "Enabled" item.
· Where it says "Bandwidth limit %" change it to read 0.
Effect is immediate on some systems, some need to re-boot. This is more of a "counter what XP does" thing. In other words, programs can request up to 20% of the bandwidth be reserved for them, even with QoS disabled.

Test your network connection speed before and after doing changes to benchmark the results.
Try these free services which will calculate you upload and download speeds


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