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Slow LAN

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by sonnaccino Jun 18, 2003 last reply Jul 8, 2003

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I'm working in a small business office for the summer. They have 2 computers networked through a hub with a cat5 cable. The computer I use is a very new HP Pavillion with Office XP and Windows XP. It connects at 100 mbps. My problem is when I open Word or Excel thing seem fine until I try to Open anything. It takes up to a minute for anything to show up in the "Look in" box after I click the arrow. Even after I click a network location, browsing is taking way too long. Any help?

11 replies

by donmars Jun 19, 2003

is this a P2P (peer to peer) setup or are you running client/server? What distances do think seperates the computers? One thing I know will help regardless of the problem is to ditch the hub and purchase a switch instead. You can get a mini smart switch for only a few dollars more than a hub but the advantages are incredible. Now is it a network problem or a workstation problem? It could be hardware or software. We need to know all the operating systems involved, the type of setup P2P or client/server. If client server what network operating system. If you are P2P which computer are you going to the files for? Do you also go to the internet through this hub? Before we get into checking protocol setups and tweaks I need to know those thingsbut please replace the hub with an auto switch. A mini switch will run around $70.00 maybe less. They are also called Intelligent Hubs. You maybe suffering from "Network Storm" a switch can help.

by donmars Jun 25, 2003

Sorry I totally missed it but you are doing only 2 boxes for your network then the hub will not really be a problem with speed and as the other fellow said a crossover cable is the way to go.

by sonnaccino Jul 8, 2003

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by don_c Jun 20, 2003

i agree with ditching the hub BUT. if your just going to run p2p then i would just get a cross over cable it is a hole lot cheaper then a switch.And yes like he said check your distance. Also check the nick in the other computer to see if it 10mbps or 10/100 mbps or 100mbps

by sonnaccino Jul 8, 2003

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by rsanchezp Jun 20, 2003

I would have to say that this has gots nothing to do with LAN configuration as you said that your problem is coming from Word or Excel and try to browse anything else right?

Check your systems. HP has a habit of having many services start up automatically at startup and may be using a lot of your memory that when you open up documents ..excell, wordperfect etc..they do take a lof of memory too!! heeh.. so slows down your computer. How much memory/page swap do you have?

Try to disable startup services that you don't need. Go to My computer, Manage and go to Services and Application at the end or just go to Start>Run and enter msconfig and go to your services and start up tab.

Thats juss another point of view :) ..since I dont' see it can be a LAN problem. Its only 2 computers and running from a hub shouldn't be a problem. Did you try to download or transfer a file from pc to pc? ping your station and see your response.

by sonnaccino Jul 8, 2003

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by sonnaccino Jun 20, 2003

I have found a work-around. If you click "my network places" or go through the windows explorer it's much faster. I tried the other machine which is a lot older and it's not having the same problems at all. Leads me to believe there's some sort of issue with the office package, but I still don't know what. I'll try the Microsoft support desk. Thanks.