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Thread ID: 91379	2008-07-05 02:14:00	Rapidly declining broadband speed	Misty (368)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
685370	2008-07-05 02:14:00	I have been doing quite a bit of work on my brother-in-laws PC, which was, and still is to quite a degree, in a sad state. Firstly I replaced AVG with Avira Anti-Vir (free version). Ran that and found four viruses - low level - which I quarantined. Ran Spybot (after updating) and found only six items of spyware (last time he had over 100). Ran a conservatively ticked range of items on CCleaner (after updating) and got rid of Temporary files, including Temp Internet files. Also index.dat files. These totalled 500 Mgs approx. Did a defrag, though had been told it wasn't necessary by Windows. For some reason his hard disc is partitioned into C:\ approx 35 Mgs NTFS D:\ approx 4.5 Mgs Fat 32 Suppose that does not matter too much ?? I did not get round to checking how much RAM he has but know that it should be plenty because he increased it for one of his daughter's CAD program. The basic speed is too slow and it took forever to do the above. I must check whether he has SP3 for XP. I very much doubt it...but it should not be too significant in this context. The peculiar thing is that when I do a speed test on NZdsl broadband it started off great guns at 2.4Mgs per sec but rapidly dropped and dropped in speed until halfway through it did not look like it would ever finish. Tried this a number of times and got the same results each time. He is in the country, a bit north of Te Kauwhata on Xtra. Runs XP. The sound card does not appear to be working. Misty :illogical :confused:	Misty (368)
685371	2008-07-05 02:38:00	Firstly I replaced AVG with Avira Anti-Vir (free version) . That doesn't scan emails for viruses . Use AVast . For some reason his hard disc is partitioned into C:\ approx 35 Mgs NTFS D:\ approx 4 . 5 Mgs Fat 32 Possibly a recovery partition on D? The basic speed is too slow Windows bloat - CCleaner won't help once its over a certain point, only a fresh install wiil . The peculiar thing is that when I do a speed test on NZdsl broadband it started off great guns at 2 . 4Mgs per sec but rapidly dropped and dropped in speed until halfway through it did not look like it would ever finish . Try a different one . Xnets speedtest for instance . The sound card does not appear to be working . Is it muted? DOes the driver have a problem under Device Manager? Is it the sound or is the speakers?	pctek (84)
685372	2008-07-05 02:51:00	Try the Consumer speed test www.consumerspeedtest.org.nz Are you doing the tests from his place or yours. When was the last time the ADSL modem was turned off.	Safari (3993)
685373	2008-07-05 03:05:00	That doesn't scan emails for viruses. Use AVast. Thanks, pctek, will consider. However I guess that that particular change will not affect where we are at present. Avira AV will have checked existing emails ..just will not check new ones. Possibly a recovery partition on D? It could well be. I ran out of time as everything took sooooo long. Just presumed it was for data. It was 75% used. Will check next time I am south of the Bombays.. will be next week. Windows bloat - CCleaner won't help once its over a certain point, only a fresh install wiil. Will need to do a fresh install of Windows you say. Would a repair be worth a try first ? If I do a re-install I will need to check that he does proper backups. Try a different one. Xnets speedtest for instance. Will try as soon as I am down there. That is the biggest worry. However I have used nzdsl broadband speed check for years and it has always given reasonably consistent readings. Will try however. Is it muted? DOes the driver have a problem under Device Manager? Is it the sound or is the speakers? I checked all the settings. Everything seems fine. Will try re-uploading the driver. Ran out of time to do that. Your suggestions much appreciated ! Misty :)	Misty (368)
685374	2008-07-05 03:09:00	Try the Consumer speed test www.consumerspeedtest.org.nz Are you doing the tests from his place or yours. When was the last time the ADSL modem was turned off. Hi Safari I will try that thanks. I did the test at his place. HOwever, thinking about it, I could get him to try Consumer mag (and/or the one suggested by pctec) by coaching him over the phone. The modem was turned off (by unplugging the power cable) when I was between uninstalling AVG and installing Avira AV -- so to keep away dangers while there was no protection in-between. Misty :)	Misty (368)
685375	2008-07-06 09:41:00	I got hime to try the speed test with Xnet. I thought it different from nzdsl and Consumer mag, which are both Ookla. However when I looked that the bottom right hand corner of Xnet it is Ookla too ! Nevertheless, the news is all good. Whatever I did (as documented earlier), something worked, or perhaps more likely the combination of things I did worked. The test today gave him over 2.900 Kbs per sec. I had taken the test three times yesterday and the maximum I got here in Glenfield, one of Xtra's pre-eminent sites was 2.846 Kbs per sec. So I seem to have made a breakthrough, which is the results of watching and learning from you guys for a number of years. Just cumulatively taking on board various bits and pieces. Which AV to use, always updating, quarantining; spyware, updating; using CCleaner, updating; doing defrag. Take a bow guys !! Misty :thumbs: :thumbs:	Misty (368)
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