Can you upgrade your Laptop's wireless?

I made a thread a few months back about my connection dropping off when I loaded myspace pages or pages with a lot of pictures.

Anyway, I got a new Linksys WT4g router and things have gotten better, but I still notice that myspace pages can load slow and drop my connection sometimes. I know it is not the router anymore. I know you have to have a setting up around 1500 or so, and I have done that. So now I am trying to figure out what to try next.

I am guessing that my wireless in my laptop is the issue. I have a Toshiba Satellite. I have Vista with all the updates. I get online a lot faster now after the SP from Vista, but I wonder if that is affecting my net connection.

Any ideas?

 

What wireless card do you have in it currently? I've had the same problem with my vaio, but it's so old it has b-only wireless on the built-in card. I looked around at replacing the internal mini-card, and just decided to go with a pcmcia wireless card 'cause that was less expensive and took less time.

 

Are you certain you don't have software running on the client that is interfering? There have been instances where software firewalls and antivirus applications have caused certain pages to load very slowly.

 

The adapter is a realtek TRL8187b wireless 802.11 b/g

I am using Avira Antivirus, firewall off on the router and windows defender. I am not 100% on if that is the issue, so great question.

 

do you also get a slow response to image loading when you just do a search in google images ?

switch the firewall on in the router and switch off windows firewall and free up a few mb of ram and some resources.
make sure you have the latest firmwire for router.

i never use a software firewall as no point when router has a hard wired one

 

Does the router firewall slow anything down? or do you just portforward and it doesnt matter?

 

Well I have disabled the Windows firewall and I so far see an improved response.

I have the new Linksys wt4g that is in the little pod shape. anyway, when you go into it's control panel, I see firewall options, but nowhere to turn the firewall off. Is this correct?

If so, I guess I had too many firewalls going, so disabling the Windows one was probably a good idea.

 

What other firewall did you have opened? I just saw w defender. Be careful with working w/o firewall, yes, you'll upload faster but you are compromising your network security.

 

the router firewall will not slow things down, not like a software/windows firewall.

 

we have the home network shut down and no file sharing.
we do have a small 120gb server which is running xp pro but is not connected to the web (only once a day for virus updates). and you need a password to put and take files off.

i always make sure the firmwire is up to date and the firewall within the router is on.
latop im using now has been running with no firewall for a year, wife's laptop also a year,old travelmate laptop three years no software firewall.
if you want to see whats going on, just run net state in CMD

 

and it would be unusual to be able to turn off a router firewall.......

 

Just one time will suffice to get a virus or else, to see the advantage of having a firewall.

 

sounds like you're in good shape and careful also........

 

Well I agree. I always run a firewall. But I have been able to disable router firewalls before. This is the first router I have had where I have not had that option. My last was a buffalo and I had that one's router disabled.

Regardless, the current router firewall is on. Some of you are maybe saying that is not enough and I should have more?

I see now that my net speeds are a lot better and I think their was a conflict between the linksys and Win Defender.

It's not like I am in DMZ mode or anything


I used to run kerio light with no firewall on my old router. Never once did I get any viruses.


Am I correct in thinking that you should have either a router firewall or a software one but not both running at the same time?

 

Never heard that. If you have a good firewall in the router then that's great, you may also have DEP in your laptop hardware. You also get a firewall at the ISP AP, so you may get away without a soft firewall in your laptop, and BTW "defender" is not a good reference neither, it would seem that is not a good one.

 

I know defender sucks, but I didn't like the top rated Vista ones either. So far my internet moves a lot better right now. I may have had serious overkill going on.

 

Do you have DEP?

 

you mean Johnny Depp?

 

How do I check if I have DEP? I have a Toshiba Satellite running Vista Home Premium.

 

Start, right click on my computer, advanced system settings, continue, advanced, settings, Data Execution Prevention. You should see there if your hardware comes with it or not.

 

yes..it is selected for "turn on DEP for all programs and services except for those I select" and I have nothing in the box.

It says my computer's processor supports hardware based DEP.

 

Great, that is added security as you don't have the firewall on anymore. My computer doesn't support hardware based DEP, only software DEP based

 

well thanks guys. I think I had too much going. Things are much smoother and faster now. Much appreciated..reps handed out!

 

It was a great pleasure to help out.

 

a pleasure doing business w/ u