By Windows Talk
Why Is My Internet So Slow?
We live in a world where vast amounts of data can be sent and received with the touch of a button. We often take this capability for granted until a problem arises and we are no longer able to access a certain file or stream a high definition movie. Often times we become quite frustrated at how slow our computer seems to be operating. Computers are similar to any other machine; without proper maintenance their performance will steadily decline. This lag time may be the result of internal errors or be caused by external variables. Let us have a look at some of the common causes for poor performance.
Internal Problems
It should be pointed out that before examining any external factors, one should determine whether there may be any internal or user-generated causes. For example, if many different windows are open which are constantly updating themselves, much virtual memory may be used in this process. This can be common with flash-oriented websites such as Facebook or YouTube. Similarly, if a user is attempting to download a very large file, speeds can be adversely affected. If none of these seem to be the case and a virus scan has detected no abnormalities, then chances are the problem is due to conditions outside the user’s immediate control.
External Conditions
There are times when the internet itself can cause a great deal of issues in regards to the speed of an operating system. For example, a website which is composed of movie files or flash presentations will naturally be slower than a mainly text-based site such as a blog. If a site is loaded with advertisements, chances are that these ads will refresh at certain intervals. This can cause a pronounced delay when executing specific online requests. If a website is inundated with many visitors, the page may take longer to respond or even freeze entirely. For flash sites, the time of day and number of people browsing can also have a direct effect. Many people accessing a site at the same time can put great strain on the site’s server capacity.
Shared with permission from Windows Talk.
