Try to download over XP network, stop half way thru? 2

[RRMcC]

Have 2 XP machines on a network thru Linksys Router B. Whenever I download anything, it stops in the middle of the download. On the download dialog box where it shows the status, the download starts at around 50k (whole other issue is 50k slow for DSL)and just stops. I can browse perfectly.
-No viruses
-all proper protocols installed
-XP firewall off
-Router & modem have been reset
-Network adapters uninstalled/installed
-Everything can be pinged
Any ideas would be great. Thanks in advance

 

[linney]

Clean out your Temp files and then use Disk Cleanup to clean out Temporary Internet Files and the rest of your machine.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

As you have covered these I shouldn't mention them.

WinXP Connectivity Issues
faq779-4625

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

 

[bcastner]

For DSL, your MTU settings are likely at 1500. They should be at 1492, although AOL broadband is happiest at 1400.

. see if a newer driver is available for your NIC. Use it if so. The chipset drivers are often better than the OEM manufacturer drivers. So if you have RealTek, ADMTek or other chipsets, check their websites.
. test your MTU:

http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks

. download and use DrTCP to set the appropriate MTU value:

http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp

 

[RRMcC]

Performed the test ping

http://www.dslreports.com

-f -l 1472
At first only 576 would work, but then I was able to gradullay increase to 1472. I set the Linksys router MTU to 1492 (+28, then -9 for header)

Since making MTU change to Linksys router I can complete downloads, so thats good news But!
Tried downloading large file (33Megs) 7k/sec (somethings gotta be wrong here)
downloading med file (16Megs) 39k/sec
downloading small file (5Megs) 57k/sec
All these download start around 112k/sec and then quickly drop like a stone to 39k
Is the difference dependent from the site I am downlaoding from? I am very close to switch I thought downloads were supposed to be much faster, I could be wrong.

It is probably good to note tjat I have SBC Yahoo DSL

Can you help me extrapolate the data I received from the test bcastner suggested? Is there anything in here I should take note of?

Your Tweakable Settings:
Receive Window (RWIN): 65340
Window Scaling: off
Path MTU Discovery: ON
RFC1323 Window Scaling: OFF
RFC1323 Time Stamping: OFF
Selective Acks: ON
MSS requested: 1452
TTL: unknown
TTL remaining: 1

Test 146000 byte download
Actual data bytes sent: 146000
Actual data packets: 101
Max packet sent (MTU): 1492
Max packet recd (MTU): 1492
Retransmitted data packets: 0
sacks you sent: 0
pushed data pkts: 5
data transmit time: 2.312 secs
our max idletime: 158.7 ms
transfer rate: 35574 bytes/sec
transfer rate: 284 kbits/sec
This is not a speed test!
transfer efficiency: 100%

ICMP (ping) check
Target unpingable

 

[RRMcC]

Sorry I should have mentioned it I did already try:
HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

and remove adware/spyware

 

[bcastner]

Your download experience is very site specific, and often time of day specific.

Make sure you set both router and client MTU settings. The router setting only shapes upstream traffic.

 

[RRMcC]

Can you refresh my memory on setting client MTU? And is there any info that jumps out that I should be aware of on test results I received. Thanks.

 

[bcastner]

Other than:
Max packet sent (MTU): 1492
Max packet recd (MTU): 1492
Which suggests settting the MTU to 1492.

There is not much more that can be said from the values you list. It is pretty normal to see a download start fast and decline. It is also normal to see them start and slowly speedup as well.

Download and use DrTCP to set the appropriate MTU value:

http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp

This will change the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\<Adapter ID>
Value Name: MTU
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: Default = 0xffffffff

 

[RRMcC]

I will do the drtcp on dslreport.com. When I first enabled the MTU on the Linksys router and set it to 1492 things were actually working better, did several downloads as tests on download.com and none of them stoppsed while in progress (doesnt make sense?) Then I made the registry change as you have listed above or as MIcrosoft states, I did have a couple of downloads stop halfway thru.
-Maybe I should drop them both MTU settings a bit?
-Am I correct in stating that I will have to change the RWIN also, and drtcp can do that? Thanks.

 

[bcastner]

The reason to use DrTCP:

. the MTU value is hexadecimal, and is easily mis-stated. DrTCP gives you decimal numbers easier to understand;

. You can apply the setting to the wrong interface using regedit. DrTCP makes this nearly foolproof.

 

[RRMcC]

Ok. I will try tonight and let you know. Thanks.

 

[bcastner]

...did several downloads as tests on download.com and none of them stoppsed while in progress (doesnt make sense?)"

Since we got you there (the point of your original question) lets be sure we get you back to that state.

Use DrTCP. You can examine all identified WAN interfaces. Prior to running DrTCP do a Start, Run, CMD
ipconfig /all

You want to unambiguously identify the active WAN adapter.

Best wishes,
Bill Castner

 

[RRMcC]

Please forgive my lack of knowledge. While I am very familar with the ipconfig /all command what exactly am I looking for since I see nothing in relation to the WAN when the command is executed. Thanks.

 

[bcastner]

You want the 'Description' field for the interface as shown by ipconfig. This should match what DrTCP brings up if there are multiple adapters.

 

[RRMcC]

I have identifed the proper adapter and there are not any others.

So now I cant complete a download. I set the MTU to 1472+28 because the packets were not fragmenting during the ping test. I set the RWIN to the number the dslreports.com said I should which is 10164 under recommendations, now it says the RWIN is in range. Under reccomenrdations it is also stating for me to change the MTU to 1500, which I guess means I dont have PPPoE.

I have identifed the proper adapter and there are not any others. I domt understand why results are regressing? Thanks

 

[bcastner]

Max packet sent (MTU): 1492
Max packet recd (MTU): 1492

For your connection you want the router and client set to a MTU of 1492.

 

[RRMcC]

Ok. I will do that and let you know. I have noticed that when I removed the Linksys router from the chain, the computer was able to finish any file. So obviously there is some setting I need to tweak on the router?

 

[bcastner]

The router MTU.

See:

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,1700907~root=equip,16~mode=flat

 

[RRMcC]

Success!!! I have to hand it to you, I learned alot from the links & advice! It was several things I needed to adjust, one of which was an incorrect MTU setting. The only thing left that has me puzzeled was that DRTCP didnt show the change in the registry for the MTU. I had to manually change it for it to work. It works now just fine. Great job