A lesson learned (or, Don't be too quick to blame NTL)

aldiboronti · 29-12-2006, 09:03

I'd been getting really slow speeds on my 4MB service for weeks. I kept calling NTL and they kept running through the checks and telling me everything was fine, even though I was only getting a max speed of 2.5MB.

I'd finally had enough and was ready to cancel, but I tried one more time ringing the tech support line. This time the guy was a lot more helpful. To cut a long story short, it turns out that it was my damn ZoneAlarm firewall which had been cutting my speed in half. I had tried disabling it before, with no effect, but once I completely uninstalled it my speeds shot up to the full 4MB.

I feel a total fool. I've been sounding off at NTL and all the time it was a software problem! (Although if one of the earlier techs had suggested checking my speed in Safe Mode with Network Support I would have discovered the problem a lot sooner!)

Flange · 29-12-2006, 09:05

I had the same problem with Zone Alarm.

Paul · 29-12-2006, 09:17

How did you disable it at first? Unless you stopped it running at start up you aren't doing anything to it at all. Complete removal is often the only way to check properly.

Quam256 · 29-12-2006, 09:38

Im using ZA aswell ,does anyone have any suggestions on what to use in its place ?
Has anyone heard of Comodo Firewall ?

Nikesh · 29-12-2006, 11:06

I'm on 4mb and I use ZoneAlarm Security Suite and I haven't had any problems with the speed.

Paul · 29-12-2006, 12:10

Most people don't but as with many things it only takes a file to corrupt and all hell can break loose. ZA has shown itself to be prone to rules table corruption in the past. As with most things PC related though.....

Quote:

No 2 PCs can ever be truly identical once they have been used so no 2 PCs will ever behave the same with various hardware/ software combinations.

Quam256 · 29-12-2006, 12:47

Have started using Comodo and it seems to be running fine and has also improved myconnection by 25% ,plus it has a easier GUI than ZA.

aldiboronti · 29-12-2006, 13:20

Thanks for the tip, Quam. I've installed Comodo and it hasn't slowed down my speed at all.

Paul, I used the Disable option on the ZoneAlarm menu, but you're right, I had to completely uninstall it before I could get my speed back.

KaySquirrel · 29-12-2006, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldiboronti

I feel a total fool. I've been sounding off at NTL and all the time it was a software problem!

Don't worry, there are probably things you should have blamed them for, but missed. It all balances out in the end.

Glad that you got the speed issue sorted, though!

I used to have ZA and never had any speed issues, but I seem to be in the minority with regards to that! (Lucky me!)

Quam256 · 29-12-2006, 14:36

Not trying to sell anything but Comodo do seem to have a good selection of software that is free and supported .

homealone · 29-12-2006, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaySquirrel

Don't worry, there are probably things you should have blamed them for, but missed. It all balances out in the end.

Glad that you got the speed issue sorted, though!

I used to have ZA and never had any speed issues, but I seem to be in the minority with regards to that! (Lucky me!)

I have ZoneAlarm security suite & it slows my 4Mb connection by about 20%, but as browsing is my main activity, rather than downloading, I can live with it.

KaySquirrel

- just read your journal re your trip to Southend & Wiki have it wrong - 'Rock Salmon', or Dogfish is a kind of shark (one of the 'Catsharks', ironically)

http://www.sea-fishing.org/sea-dogfish.html

while the 'Wolfish' is also known as 'Atlantic Catfish' - and is absolutely delicious, having extremely white fairly firm flesh, which has been compared to Lobster.

KaySquirrel · 29-12-2006, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

- just read your journal re your trip to Southend & Wiki have it wrong - 'Rock Salmon', or Dogfish is a kind of shark (one of the 'Catsharks', ironically)

I have one reader!!!

So Wiki says rock salmon is either dogfish (which they clarify as being a small shark), wolffish or catfish, when the truth is that it's really only dogfish?

I dunno why they need to rename things and make it all confusing. As long as it's something new I can try and it comes with mushy peas I'm happy!

(I wonder how they get the fish to breed with the dogs, cats, amd wolves..)

ON TOPIC: I'd never even heard of Comodo until this thread, but I think I'm going to give it a try instead of the free ZA for a while, just to see for myself! Especially if the GUI is nicer..

Quam256 · 29-12-2006, 16:41

Come back with any feedback and I will do the same.

ikthius · 29-12-2006, 17:04

after reading this, I thought about giving another firrewall a chance, so tried the mentioned comodo just now, I must say, my connection has increased a good bit just by changing.

this forum loads faster, and javaranch now loads a hell of a lot faster, that used to open like i was on 56k dial up.

ik

gazzaaa · 29-12-2006, 18:17

Hi All,
i assume you all must be using NTL as an ISP, so why dont you use "Netguard" that comes free. It contains a firewall, virus scanner (and other things if you use Netguard Total).
Have been using most of the options that come with NG total, and have never had any problems. It also up-dates every 15 mins.

Gazzaaa.