I’m hoping someone can help me out with this. I’m guessing it’s a configuration setting somewhere, but I can’t figure it out.
When transferring files between PCs on my home LAN, the transfer rate is really slow. Around 800k/sec. This makes trying to watch a video file stored on another computer’s hard drive impossible. My PCs and laptops are running Windows 7. My Wifi is a Comcast router with built in Wifi.
When I test my download from the internet I get usually get 50M/sec. I can stream Netflix and MLB.tv no problem. It’s only between computers that sucks.
Ignore Method 1. It’s a stupid thing to do. Also ignore Method 3. It usually doesn’t help.
Another potential problem - turn off Large Send Offload in your network adapter’s settings (you may have to hunt around a bit to find it). You may have a setting for this under both IPv4 and IPv6. Disable whichever of these (or both) that you may be using.
First thing I’d check with “painfully slow” is whether there’s a mismatch between full duplex and half duplex.
Full - can transmit and receive at same time (best, typical setting with switch)
Half - cannot transmit while receiving. (very old hubs, etc.)
I assume you have a modern, up to date switch - so it should do at least 100Mbps full duplex, hopefully 1GB. If you have a really old DSL or cable router that acts as a switch between your devices, invest in 1GB mini switch.
I also assume cables are pretty solid and new, not the problem. (simple test - swap out the cables one at a time to see if anything changes)
“Switch” receives the full packet, or at least the header, and analyzes it to figure out which port to send it out on. (“This is for PC 2? send out port 5.”)
If the switch is not the problem, check the properties of the network interface at both ends. If one end thinks it cannot send and receive packets at the same time, and the other end is happily sending while receiving, the first end will send a “jamming” signal when it thinks there is a “collision” between send and receive, back off and retry a short random time later - only to get the same result, until finally after many retries the packet goes through.
If it’s WiFi, all bets are off - you have no idea what the neighbours are doing on your same channel with their signal. You have to share bandwidth. Download something like InSSIDer to check the wifi neighbourhood.
If you are able to use an ethernet cable (Cat 5) connection directly between the two workstations by-passing the router, and still have the problem then I’d look into the configuration problem with the workstations. If you don’t have the problem, then it’s outside of the workstation which leaves any switches, hubs and the router.
The very first thing I’d do, is turn off the router, switches and hubs, turn them all back on and see if you have the problem. If it’s still there, then contact your internet provider and find out if you have the latest and greatest firmware updates in your router.
Dump the Comcast router and buy your own. You will recover the cost of the purchase in about a year. You will no longer have your router as a public hot spot for anyone else to use.
When it comes to transferring files, do it with an external hard drive.
There no need to go through the major hassle of using an external hard drive to move files around when the OP has a network in place.
Anyone who has a LAN with computers which needs to share files, should consider putting a file server in place. This way all the files the users need are accessible.