Troubleshoot Yourself First (2006 UPDATE!)

Hi There! Bogus here! This is my 2006 update (early) just for you!
I will update this post...when i come back from my much needed vacations in mid January

So many people have problems with speed for a number of reasons.
A good way to solve (and learn) is to go to the basis: troubleshooting and verification.
Here is a small and simple list of things to do.
Remember; Do not take things for granted as it is VERY easy to overlook something:

- My OS (Windows) is stable and up to date.
- My Antivirus has run, nothing was found, So is my Anti spyware.
- My Firewall is well configured ( cause of problems)
- Is my Client (BC) up to date and correctly installed as default?
- My ISP Connection is healthy
- My hardware is prefect condition (mem, HD, Nic) and all drivers up to date?

45% of No connection or slow results are due by wrong settings in BC, ports, router, NAT, Firewall.
40% of slow speed is due to Public tracker users setting upload speed to bare minimum
10% due to software conflict or imbalance
5% Due to undetected virus –spyware –trojan
4% to hardware problem :
1% of no connection is due to user trying to use a toaster to connect to the internet.

A) FOUND OUT THE REAL POWER OF YOUR CONNECTION (UP AND DOWN)- run 2 different test
http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest
http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest
http://www.dslreports.com/stest

- Check if your ISP is capping {a lot are doing it}). Read article for info on what is capping and more. http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2003F ... 018689.htm

- Check setting on your DSL Modem, filters and router.
Learn about it at http://cable-dsl.home.att.net
ALSO GO TO THE WEB SITE OF YOUR ROUTER MANUFACTURER FOR SETTINGS.

- Check NAT (major cause)
Lots of sticky made by the good moderators of Bitcomet (Scythe, Dragosani, Mga etc) are there to help you configure it.
Also you can go to http://computer.howstuffworks.com/nat.htm to learn and understand what is NAT all about.

- Check ICS if you have more then one computer and have a small home network with a shared connection: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q234815/

- Check Line noise if Telephonic connection (DSL) and not cable: Follow this link to learn about it.http://service.sympatico.ca/index.cf ... ent_id=716

- Check your router! Especially if it is wireless..someone might be using you own connection! Learn a bit about WPA for protection: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=815485

- Windows XP firewall: Here are the directions for opening ports in the Win. XP firewall:
1) Open the 'Network Connections' folder (click Start, then Control Panel, then Network and Internet Connections, then Network Connections.)
2) Click the shared connection or the Internet connection that is protected by Internet Connection Firewall, and then, under Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.
3) On the Advanced tab, click Settings.
4) For each port you wish to forward, (i.e. 6881, 6882, ... 6889) do the following:
5) On the Services tab, click Add and enter all of the following information:
6) In Description of service, type an easily recognized name for the service, such as "BitTorrent".
7) In Name or IP address of the computer hosting this service on your network, enter 127.0.0.1 (this means "the local machine.")
In both External and Internal port number for
this service, enter the port number, e.g. 6881.
9) Select TCP, then OK.


SLOW BROWSING WHILE DOWNLOADING:
OK...See your connection bandwidth a bit like your mouth:
Download is what you put in - upload is what you spit - Browsing during this operation is like trying to speak:
So, You poor a huge barrel of water while your mouth is wide open, you spit out some......Now try to say something?
Get it?
So throttle back a bit your speed to be able to browse! (in Preferences)


B) WINXP SETTINGS
Unless to have absolutely no idea and barely know the difference between a computer and a toaster, try to fine tune your XP by hand:
Using a third party program (using resources) to liberate resource...doesn't make any sense.
NOTE:
Microsoft is NOT like Linux or Unix: Its prone of becoming unstable for very little reason.
Read about fine tuning at: http://www.xptuneup.com/xptuneup_listview.htm

- Are you on the default settings and let automation running? Control panel>System> ....Been Lazy cost you a lot of performances. While your there, check performance settings and Page file.

- Check what service are running: Control panel>Admin>Service, close service like messenger (not related to MSN messenger..) You can also use programs like Wintasks 5.0.

- Use the TCIP patch, change setting from 10 to 50 (A MUST!)

- All drivers (especially NIC), Bios and Directx are latest? Use the command: Start. Run>dxdiag it will tell you all about your drivers.

- Your ISP connection is correctly set?

- You are using the latest browser? Note: latest is not always best as many browser manufacturer are including so much 'add-ons" that in fact, you are bleeding dry. Keep you browser simple and 128 cipher.

- Defragmentation and error checking had been run lately? The way file are read and written on your H.D influence a lot of things.

- File system. Not only is more secure, NTFS access is faster. Also he is not limited by the 2Gig barrier.

IF you’re not using XP and still on ME: congrats! You have the crapiest version of the worst OS existing.


C) ALTERNATE PROGRAMS
- Anti-virus, spyware, adaware are latest and settings are not to defaults? Remove auto - update, train yourself to take command.
- Firewall is properly configured?
- Are you infected? LOL! Programs like Kazaa, Imesh are also piggy- backing joint programs (ex: Gator) and suck up the juice out of you. Destroy. Because you accepted the primary install, your antispyware cannot see them. Outside the Antispyware, run lavasoft's adaware, you’ll be surprised to see how many programs are bleeding you. http://www.lavasoft.com
- Are you running something in the background? Ex: MSN -Yahoo Msgr?

D) BITCOMET click on Preference
- You have 0.60?
- Are you trying to download ONE file or many? In this case: Size does matter (and so is numbers...you Ron Jeremy wannabe..LOL)
- How many seed-peers are connecting? One of the MAJOR factor, as if less people have the file you want, slower the speed.
- Connection: Max download and Upload is correctly set to your type of connection? Or did you left it at 'No limit"
- Port: Which port are you using? Check bitcomet admin sticky list for recommended range.
- Proxy? Using one? Is settings are accurate?
- Advanced connection: DHT and Nat enabled? Max con per tsk set? Con to keep per tsk set? Max half open con set correctly?
- Disk cach : set up?

DHT NOTE: Many sites are banning DHT enabled client


SETTING anything to low OR too high will crap out your connection.
Remember that ALL computer have an obsessive-compulsive behavior therefore if something is set improperly, your computer will simpl
y bang his head on it until the redemption, sucking out resources in the process.(except the ones running UNIX, which are more like a stoned hippie escaped form the ’60 :huh? sure man! what---ever!)


E) TRACKER

Public Trackers (leech trackers): full of doofus who don’t care if you get the file or not. there is no ratio system to keep up with, so the average P2P user is only tossed out to the wolf.. most people on these trackers have their upload speed limited and as soon as the file is complete, they are gone.

Private Trackers :ratio enforced system. in other words, they make you give back at least as much as you took and if you don’t you get BANNED. private trackers are generally on an invite only system and the people that get invited(for the most part) are people who are known to keep a good ratio. People on these sites will utilize their full upload capacity in order to keep their ratios up and will seed for much longer.

the seed to peer ratio has a major effect on your speeds. if the number of peers greatly out numbers the number of seeds, this will generally cause a slow torrent. in order to max out your connection(whatever that might be) you will need to have a good number of seeds with their upload uncapped.


- Again, if your tracker is slow or cannot find enough people, no matter what machine or settings you have...youll get slower speed.

- Get the file from diferent places!

- Check status of the tracker! No seed/peer = no dowload!

- No accelerator exist nor is VIP service (nova..) so don't pay for it. If you still have the urge to open your wallet and throw away money ...Call me 24/7....

- If your download speed is Okb....either your tracker is not connecting...or no one (peer/seed) is online. {OK there maybe some other factors...}. Reasons might be various, including a ban from the site.


To give you a better idea about private/public tracker, check out Mga's wonderful post at : http://www.p2pforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=17985

F) USER - Do not run things in the backgroud
- Do not stare at the monitor (wont go faster)
- Do not do a voodoo dance under a full moon while dressed up as a chicken...you might end yourself in a nice little room without a computer
- Set up your download: let it run during the night or during the day while your at work.
- Remember that you are getting what your paying for.
- You enjoyed the download? let others Upload! That's the only way P2P networks survive; Give back to the P2P community what you had the privilege to get from, so set your upload properly.


NOW, If you still have problems: ASK! A MODERATOR (AM NOT ONE OF THEM) or post your problem WITH details. Do NOT forget to say THANK YOU! to them as they are working hard to help people FOR FREE

But pretty please, with sugar on top:

When Asking a Question

Make sure you include as much detailed information as possible so others can help you. Remember, we're not psychic (just psychotic), so include as much information as possible to help us…. help you!

For example, if you have a speed problem you should include the following:
° A detailed description of the problem.
° What modem/router you're using.
° What ISP you're with (many ISPs are known to block or throttle BitTorrent traffic).
° Your connection speed (both download and upload).
° Your operating system type. e.g. Windows XP SP2
° Things you have tried to resolve the problem thus far.
° Anything else you can think of that may help others help you


Enjoy!