# Attn: puter people - DSL problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038 "2001-01-14T22:46:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038/1 "2001-01-14T22:46:02Z")
I’ve had a nagging problem with my DSL connection ever since I got it. I’ll be surfing along full blast, and then, randomly, my connection will pause for about 20 seconds, and then start up again full blast. This problem happens on two computers with two different network cards. The other interesting wrinkle is that the problem does not happen in “streaming” apps like RealPlayer, or even a multi-player Net game. I suspect then, that it has something to do with IE and MSN Explorer. But I can’t figure out what could be amiss. Or is it my DSL modem? Spanks-a-million in advance. ---
**Author:** ![nowalls99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e68b1a/32.png) [@nowalls99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nowalls99)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038/2 "2001-01-14T22:54:58Z")
Let me guess. You’re either using Windows 98 or Windows ME, right? I had the same problem. Occurs about every 5-6 minutes? There are a couple of registry hacks out there that might help you out. [http://www.regedit.com](http://www.regedit.com) This page is the best I’ve found so far with registry hacks for high speed connections. Personally, I just installed Windows 2000, and the problem disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038/3 "2001-01-14T22:59:32Z")
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Do **not** go hacking your Registry to speed up TCP/IP functions unless: 1. You really understand what you are doing, and 2. You first **back up your current registry**! Hell, **I** know what I am doing, and I still screwed my PC up badly enough that I needed to break out the Win95 CD, and re-install… Yes, you can get some serious speed increases - but just be careful! ---
**Author:** ![nowalls99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e68b1a/32.png) [@nowalls99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nowalls99)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038/4 "2001-01-14T23:03:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! > > Do **not** go hacking your Registry to speed up TCP/IP functions unless: > > 1. You really understand what you are doing, and > 2. You first **back up your current registry**! > > Hell, **I** know what I am doing, and I still screwed my PC up badly enough that I needed to break out the Win95 CD, and re-install… > > Yes, you can get some serious speed increases - but just be careful! \*\* There are warnings all over the site I listed stating exactly these same things. I’ve been using computer for 17 years now, and forget that not everyone knows to back up everything before making changes. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038/5 "2001-01-14T23:04:56Z")
You may have had the same problem I was having. I posted my problem to a thread [Internet connectivity issues - please help!!!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=43727) and got some good answers. **MinkMan’s** suggestion worked wonders for my connection speed. No more hangs at all, unless it is traffic at the site I am visiting. Good luck - I know too well how frustrating it can be to wait for a fast connection to do something. ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038/6 "2001-01-15T00:10:51Z")
MinkMan’s post fixed everything…now, just cause I’m greedy, I’m gonna go blow up my computer with those speed hacks. Thanks for everything! 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038/7 "2001-01-15T04:30:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nowalls99 \* > \*\*Let me guess. You’re either using Windows 98 or Windows ME, right? I had the same problem. Occurs about every 5-6 minutes? There are a couple of registry hacks out there that might help you out. > > [http://www.regedit.com](http://www.regedit.com) > > This page is the best I’ve found so far with registry hacks for high speed connections. Personally, I just installed Windows 2000, and the problem disappeared. \*\* Sorry for one last bump, but I’d just like to endorse the above link. It easily bumped up my DSL speed 20%. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-puter-people-dsl-problem/50038/8 "2001-01-15T04:36:28Z")
Whenever I reinstall windows, that is amongst the first few things I put in. You’re right, it works like a charm for a fat connection.