CompuClever Blog

Introducing Windows 10

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Microsoft is coming out with a new operating system.  There is a lot of “love” going out for this release.  That is to say… much of the feedback is that users love the features.  And the icing on the cake, like Apple OS X and mobile operating systems, Windows 10 upgrade is free.  As many of our readers know… free sometimes comes at a cost.  We will examine the fine print and give our recommendations.

So let’s begin.  We won’t go into all the details of the offer but we will highlight the most important ones.  We encourage you to go to this page to find out more if your questions are still left unanswered.

What is it?

As Microsoft states:

“Windows 10 is yet another radical change from previous versions, and it’s a huge Microsoft effort to recover after the critics on Windows 8. The new operating system brings a brand new user interface, a new Start menu, Cortana, Continuum, and some other features. This makes the operating system new again, but more familiar to customers upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8. Also, Microsoft is making its new operating system a single piece of software that with little modification can easily run across devices, including PCs, tablets, phones, and game console.”

It is for a full upgrade if you have the right OS.  “Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 with Bing, Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Windows 7 Home Premium will upgrade for free to Windows 10 Home.  While Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate will upgrade for free to Windows 10 Pro. (This promotional offer excludes the Enterprise version.)”

To be clear, users have to be running a valid version of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1 Update.  So, you may have to update your existing OS before getting Windows 10.  Also… you cannot create a dual boot install where you can keep your existing OS and choose to boot into Windows 10.  The update requires installing on top of a Windows 7 or 8.1 OS.

When?

  • The offer begins July 29th, 2015 and expires July 29th, 2016.
  • Prior to July 29th you can make a reservation to have Windows 10 installed.
  • On July 29th “Microsoft will begin notifying devices that there is a free upgrade available.  Then users will see the ‘Get Windows 10’ app, which they can use to schedule the upgrade.”

How?

As of June 1st, Microsoft began offering users the option to reserve a copy of Windows 10.

“Qualifying devices running Windows 7 and Windows 8 will start receiving the ‘Get Windows 10’ app icon in the system tray.  From the ‘Get Windows 10’ app, users can check if their PC is compatible and reserve their copy of Windows 10. Then when the operating system releases users will get notify [sic] automatically. “

After July 29th, “Microsoft will begin notifying devices that there is a free upgrade available. Then users will see the “Get Windows 10” app, which they can use to schedule the upgrade.”

What Will You Need?

As stated you need to have a qualified device; that is, one running Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update.

Note:  You can check out your System Information by doing the following:

1.Open up PC TuneUp Maestro and click About (located at the top-right corner).
2.click the “Get My System Information” button.

A window appears with information including: OS, Processor type, RAM, and more.

The minimum system requirements for Windows 10:

  • Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
  • RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
  • Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
  • Graphics Card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
  • Display: 1024×600

How much?

For users who don’t qualify for the free upgrade, or for those who want to build a new PC, or want to run a dual boot system… you will have to pay the full price.  The retail pricing information is as follow:

  • Windows 10 Home will cost $119 (US dollar) | (UK £99.99) | (Eurozone €135)
  • Windows 10 Pro will cost $199 (US dollar)

What Is Missing?

Microsoft lists the following items as not being included in Windows 10:

  • Windows Media Center.
  • DVD playback capability.
  • Windows 7 desktop gadgets.
  • Windows 10 Home won’t be able to opt out from the automatic update, but Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have more update control.
  • Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts Games that were included as part of Windows 7 will be removed from Windows 10. However, users will be able to download the new “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” and “Microsoft Minesweeper” from the Windows Store.
  • USB floppy drivers will be removed. You’ll need to download the drivers from Windows Update or the manufacturer’s support website.
  • Windows Live Essentials and OneDrive app will be removed and replaced with the new OneDrive integration.

Why?

There is talk that this is the last major Microsoft OS:

“We’re not saying that there won’t be any more versions of Windows, but Windows 10 is the last big release we’re accustomed to seeing. Now, Microsoft is moving toward a new update model called ‘Windows as a Service.’ This means that no more big versions of the operating system will be released. Instead, the company will push new updates and features as they become ready.”

There is also the advantage of having the majority of users running the most recent version which includes being able to provide support and further updates to their user base. Microsoft states that they are

“…opting to make Windows 10 a free upgrade to speed up the software adoption. This will allow developers to bring modern apps and services to more customers and to reduce the fragmentation of Windows on the market. Having everyone on the same version of the operating system will help to build better apps and services and move forward at a healthy pace.”

Concerns?

  • Microsoft assures us that documents and files are preserved.
  • They also state it is fast and easy; it will take somewhere between 20 minutes and an hour.
  • However, it’s possible that some of your applications will not work; “…some applications and settings may not migrate.”  They suggest:
    “Before the upgrade, you have to remove some of the programs that came pre-installed as part of the factory installation. The “Get Windows 10” app will help you to identify some of these programs that may cause issues.”
  • Windows 10 Home users will not have the option to defer updates.  Instead, updates will be downloaded and installed automatically as soon as they’re available.
Will my current antivirus work with Windows 10? 

Microsoft states: “Probably not. Microsoft recommends installing an antivirus that is compatible with Windows 10. You’ll also want to remove your current antivirus before upgrading. If you leave your antivirus running, the upgrade process will check if the software is compatible. If it’s not, it will get removed and Windows Defender will be enabled by default. If it’s compatible, the upgrade process will make sure it gets updated to the latest version of the latest update.”

Roll Back / Go Back:

“You can roll back to the previous version of the operating system from the recovery partition or by using the recovery media that came with your system. Alternatively, Microsoft will offer the ‘Go back to the previous version of Windows’ option in the Recovery settings. The setting will only be available when the system was upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8.”

Our Recommendations:

If after reading the information stated here you feel positive about what is being offered we suggest you take advantage of the free offer.  We feel that Windows 10 is an improvement from Windows 8.  Windows 10 has made several noticeable improvements over fundamental UI designs and interaction by bringing back the classical Start button and making it easier to launch both desktop applications and tablet apps.

Those of us who are traditional Windows users will be more pleased with Windows 10 compared to the initial confusion we experienced when we first used Windows 8.  With Windows 10 the emphasis is on desktop software with seamless integration of tablet apps.  CNN’s review of Windows 10 provides a quick snapshot of what’s new in Windows 10.

Backup

We suggest and fully agree with Microsoft – if you do choose to go for the free upgrade, make sure to back up your PC.  We suggest you back up your files and data as well as other items not easily replaced such as contact information (email address and the like).

For those running previous versions such as Windows XP or Vista, before you consider upgrading to Windows 10, we recommend you evaluate if your existing PC hardware will be enough to meet your daily computing needs.   You will have to make sure you meet the minimum system requirements shown above.  Most likely, you have a PC that’s more than 5-10 years old.  But it could still function well and provide service as intended.  If not… it could be time to think about acquiring a new PC with better hardware and possibly getting Windows 10 pre-installed instead.  Check your PC dealerships for details of Windows 10.

For those users who qualify and are on board, you can get instructions on how to reserve your free upgrade here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/windows-10-upgrade

CompuClever Apps:

Let’s not forget the important part… all CompuClever products are Windows 10 compatible.  This includes our CompuClever Antivirus PLUS which will be launched soon.  So please rest assured that we will continue to be available to serve your needs in providing a safe and optimized PC no matter what OS you are running now or in the future.

In Summary:

Generally speaking, the Windows 10 upgrade comes with enhancements to both PC performance and onboard security.  We are encouraged that Microsoft has been able to optimize their core OS architecture and design as well as improve on safety and security measures.  If you do qualify for the free upgrade and can navigate past some of the shortcomings we have presented here, we feel you stand to benefit from this offer.  It does mean jumping in with both feet.

In an upcoming article we will be covering the theme of protection and security.  Until then… if you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover or have feedback to offer, email us at: newsletter[at]compuclever.com

Malwarebytes Mistakenly Flags and Disables CompuClever Applications

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[Update] As of July 30th 2015, CompuClever and Malwarebytes has successfully resolved the false positive categorization of both PCTuneUpMaestro and PCCleanMaestro. Existing or new users can download, install, and use both applications coexisting with Malwarebytes.

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Victoria, British Columbia – Since early June 2015, two of CompuClever’s products: PCTuneUpMaestro and PCCleanMaestro have been mistakenly categorized by Malwarebytes as Potentially Unwanted Programs (P.U.P).  The false categorization made by MalwareBytes has affected a small percentage of CompuClever users who also happen to be active Malwarebytes users. Under default settings, Malwarebytes quarantines these programs, rendering them unusable and even uninstallable.

CompuClever is a Microsoft Application Development Partner and an Intel Elite Software Partner. Both PCTuneUpMaestro and PCCleanMaestro were certified through the Microsoft Windows 8 Logo certification process, which means they are completely safe to install and use. Enjoyed by over five million users globally, PCTuneUpMaestro and PCCleanMaestro together provide an advanced suite of PC cleaning, optimization, and maintenance tools that are simple to use yet effective in delivering results.  Being a member of both Microsoft and Intel Partnership programs, CompuClever also strictly adheres to commonly accepted software marketing practices set by regulatory bodies like Google, FTC, and Microsoft/Bing.

CompuClever has been actively engaging Malwarebytes legal and adjudication team with full attention and sincerity in order to discover a viable path that leads to the complete removal of this categorization. We respect Malwarebytes determination to play an active role in regulating the online advertising space by combating those who distribute PUP’s. Nevertheless, we also call upon Malwarebytes adjudication team to examine applications with depth of research and objectivity.

“It is to the common interest of our mutual users of CompuClever and Malwarebytes, that this miscategorization is resolved in a timely and professional fashion”, says Andy Thompson, Communications Director and Editor-in-Chief at CompuClever.

Meanwhile for those CompuClever users who are affected by Malwarebytes’ miscategorization, CompuClever has provided a written procedure instructing users how to restore these two products.

Striving to resolve this issue with full attention and urgency, CompuClever appreciates its users’ ongoing support and patience with this matter. Users who require assistance are encouraged to contact CompuClever support team via support[at]compuclever.com.

About CompuClever

Founded in 2010, CompuClever’s mission is to provide PC users with a safe and enjoyable computing experience.  CompuClever offers products and services, powered by knowledge, know-how and expertise, aimed at enhancing computer safety, performance, and stability. CompuClever software products are designed from the ground up to provide powerful utility and optimization software that can be used quickly and effectively, even by novice computer users.

Contact:

Andy Thompson
media[at]compuclever.com
209 – 3375 Whittier Ave
Victoria, BC, Canada, V8Z 3R1

Restore Browser Speed

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In our latest series of articles we have examined Internet slowdown.  We’ve introduced very good information about the various causes of slow connectivity and the PC conditions we face.  Maybe you know firsthand or secondhand what it is like to be overtaken by something on your PC that cripples the overall functionality.  In extreme cases it means a trip to a PC repair shop and having the computer wiped and re-installed.  It’s very similar to the effects of a computer virus with only one exception – you may have installed it yourself rather than being attacked.  This condition is happening frequently among beginner PC users and it is this group of PC users that are being targeted.  We’re going to help you restore the previous condition of your web browser and provide some recommendations on how to prevent similar occurrences.

Add-ons

Picking up software add-ons means modifications get made to your web browser such as extra toolbars and popup windows.  Many of these items simply want to stake their territory maybe for the purpose of directing you to certain websites so you can make some purchase.

More: To get a better idea of what these items look like and what they do, see our article called: Foistware – Messing Up Your PC Experience. The word “foist” means to force something that is not wanted on someone.

Bog Down

It is the web browser specifically that gets bogged down in these situations as it contains too many unnecessary add-ons.  You will find that it isn’t as responsive as it should be as it gets pulled in different directions.  Being sabotaged takes a toll. Plug-ins, BHOs, add-ons, additional toolbars, if unnecessary, all compete with networking and computing resources.  The result is that your ability to browse slows down and is… hijacked.

Installation

An important reminder from our last article – these items land on our PC without our knowledge but are a result of unsafe browsing practices including opening email attachments or passing files from one PC to your own via chat rooms, peer-to-peer file sharing, or instant messaging.  It may be hard to believe, but many unwanted items wind up on our PC because you installed them unknowingly.  Some are from legitimate software vendors that bundle their installation with other software.  You need to examine the install steps and clear any check boxes that include extra programs.

Typically when installing software you will see some screens that have checkboxes with items like:

  • [✓] Make Ask.com my default search.
  • [✓] Add Yahoo! Toolbar to your browser.
  • [✓] Yes, I want Bing toolbar for Internet Explorer.
  • [✓] Also install, free McAfee security scan.

You need to know that you CAN clear these check boxes.  In this way, ONLY the software you intended to have in the first place will still be installed.

Action Items:

We are going to point you to our last article – Bogged Down – for steps on how to uninstall unwanted items.  The first step is removal of the items.  Next, we are going to cover how to restore your browser to its previous condition.

To restore the browser

  1. In the PC Clean Maestro window, select the Browsers button in the left pane as can be seen in the image below.
  2. Select the browser tab (for example: “IE” or “Firefox”).
  3. Click the restore button located at the top right.restore browser

Good Practices:

Let’s cover just a few examples of good PC practice to keep your PC from suffering the ill effects of add-ons and foistware.

Be Vigilant

  • When installing anything to your computer – examine what it is that you are getting.  This includes emails from trusted sources (their email may have been hijacked), and it includes reading all the information for each step of a software install.
  • Check online to see if the attachment, software, or the web site (URL) is legitimate or a known source of PC problems.
    Bonus Tip: refer to ShouldIRemoveIt.com to check the validity of a software.
  • If you are having something installed that you do not want – STOP the install.
  • If you are being attacked, save any and all data that you can and power down your PC.  If you do not have control of your PC you can press and hold the keys Ctrl – Alt – Delete.

Don’t

  • Don’t trust a download purely based on what you have heard or know of it – it could be faked and it can include add-ons.
  • Don’t install additional browser toolbars unless you are certain it is for your daily PC use.  Too many toolbars can bog down your web browser and you may find you don’t use all the functionality.

Anti-virus Programs

We recommend using an anti-virus program that allows you to be in control.  This includes not being bothered or nagged by popup messages and complications.  It should run in the background and protect you.  To that end, there are programs that are free and offer basic coverage.

In Summary

We know of PC users that get into trouble with their computer repeatedly.  It usually means having to take it to a PC repair technician and having the computer wiped and re-installed.  We hope that this article will serve you in taking action when you run into trouble and will help you in preventing it from happening at all.

We will continue to provide story lines like this that benefit all of us and we will describe them in a manner that is within reach of everyday computer users.  If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com

Bogged Down

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With our previous article we looked at slowdowns with respect to Internet traffic.  The cause could be due to Internet conditions outside our control or due to poor PC performance.  We looked at ways you could be causing congestion such as too many devices connected to your Internet service or that your overall PC performance is below its potential.  Now we can continue with this theme by examining something that can be hidden but very much a part of our Internet connectivity congestion.  A major factor in Internet slow down that can result in your PC being bogged down is: software running in the background which can also bring about web browser overload.  Your PC is a great at multitasking.  Despite this, there are instances when it can suffer the consequences of being bogged down.

The Hidden Factor

A very common PC experience is having too many applications requiring online access at the same time and applications that are picked up unknowingly that we can be considered unwanted.  This first category competes with resources and the second can be malicious or can run in the background without your knowledge.  Many software programs require taking up a portion of your Internet bandwidth to achieve their functionality.  In these instances the application will not even appear on your screen but will create “processes” – we can think of them as tasks – which include taking up Internet bandwidth.

Right from the time of installation these apps are designed to open and run in the background each time you start your PC.  Some of these apps can alter how you surf the web as is the case with malicious programs that are capable of hijacking your system so as to redirect you to particular sites.  They generate web traffic which can be profitable when selling software.  Redirecting you can also bring you to a page where other unethical vendors place ads and links to their own dubious websites.

Bog Down

There are several causes with respect to slow down that can potentially affect a number of your PC resources.  Applications running in the background compete with other programs you open and need such as your web browser or email application.  When too many applications run at the same time they compete for:

  1. computer resources such as: CPU, Memory, Hard Disc resources, etc. and
  2. networking resources which take a slice of the Internet pie available to you.  One very real result is your web browser isn’t as speedy as it could be as it fights for its share of the resources whether that’s bandwidth or PC resources.

Some applications require background network processing which adds to Internet congestion.  Email applications require bandwidth to check for new emails sent to you on an ongoing basis. Any program that performs upgrade checks requires bandwidth, as in the case of online music players, online games, and anti-virus (AV) apps.  As for AV programs – many can bring about slower PC and Internet network performance as they need to monitor the Internet and update their database sometimes on an hourly basis.

Installation

How do these items wind up on our PC in the first place?  Some get there without our knowledge but are a result of unsafe browsing practices including opening email attachments or passing files from one PC to your own via chat rooms, peer-to-peer file sharing, or instant messaging.  As for other apps, it seems hard to believe, but many get there because you installed them unknowingly.  Some are from legitimate software vendors that include other software when you install.  Here’s a well known example: Adobe Flash Point.

Adobe Flash update sneaks in McAfee installation

With the image above you can see how there is an additional offer to install McAfee to your PC.  This little check box is on by default and if you don’t look closely and click the “Install now” button without clearing the checkbox… you will be downloading two programs at once.

Action Items:

Although there are some among us who are “delete shy” and do not want to go there, we need to take action by bringing to light what software we have on our PC.  These hidden applications can be brought to your attention and you can then make a choice to remove them or to stop them from starting up when you turn your computer.

Examination and Uninstall

We will be using the free functionality available with PC Clean Maestro to look for a complete list of applications and to remove unwanted programs.  It’s quite likely that you have noticed a recent change in your PC functioning.  If so, we will start by examining the recently installed programs. After that you can examine each and all of your applications and determine if you can safely remove unwanted ones:

  1. Open PC Clean Maestro and select the Uninstaller button in the left pane.
  2. Begin by searching for questionable programs in the Recently Installed tab as can be seen in the image below.  If you installed something within the last 10 days it will appear here. If you do not see any items you can use the other tabs or enter a word in the Search box.  In this case the word “Search” would bring up Search Protect or other questionable programs.
    uninstall_unwanted_program
  3. Select the program and determine if it is unwanted. Examine the information in the right panel.
    Tip: If you are not sure about a program and whether to remove it… check the resource site: http://www.shouldiremoveit.com From here you will can enter in a program by name and get the goods on it.  You can also see that programs like “Search Protect” and many others with “Search” in their names are listed as the top most active programs to remove.
  4. For unwanted items, click the Uninstall button.

Once you have completed this list you can choose from other program tabs – All Programs, Large Programs, or Rarely Used – and continue with your process of examination and removal.

Apps at Startup

Another symptom of your PC being bogged is that it is slow to start compared to when it was fairly new.  We have spoken on this issue before and it’s worth a re-visit.  At installation applications are designed to be easy to access by offering a shortcut in your desktop, quick launch taskbar, and in your Startup menu.  Having these programs run each time you start your PC can bring about slower performance both in terms of startup and with Internet network speeds when requiring bandwidth.

For this action item we are going to be using free functionality available in PC TuneUp Maestro.  The steps include: opening the Startup Manager; reviewing the items in the list; and then choosing to  Enable or Disable.

  1. Open Startup Management: Begin by opening PCTuneUp Maestro and go to the “Optimize PC” page as seen in the screen below:

    Next, click the StartUp Management link.

  2. Review: There is a list that is provided with all the applications that are launched during the startup process.  The items that appear in the list will look like this screenshot:Tip:  You can review any items in the list to make an informed decision about how to best manage each.  This is especially advisable with ones you are not familiar with.

    To review a startup application in the list, click the blue link associated with the item.
  3. From the Startup list, you can check the status of any item in the Select column.  If it is marked as “Disable” then it does not launch when you start the computer – no need to worry. If something in the list is marked as “Enable” you can click the drop down arrow next to it and select: Disable.  The item remains in the list and no longer starts when you boot your computer.

If you see something on this list that is completely unfamiliar and you do NOT plan on using, it is a good idea to uninstall it altogether.  You can use the Uninstaller tool as described above to remove all its components.

Good Practices:

Our intent is not to take away any PC functionality.  We instead empower you to examine what is on your PC that you either do not know or rarely use at all.  By disabling programs to run at startup, you still can access them whenever you want – you now have the control rather than the applications running wild.

While we agree that programs need to perform updates especially when fixing some issue related to security or functionality, we feel that it should be up to you to determine when this happens.  Good programs include options where you can choose when the upgrade occurs such as before you shut down.

Strongly Recommend: Follow safe online practices – use caution when opening email attachments and other files that can install unwanted items to your PC.

In Summary:

We have presented information here that can better equip you with the necessary skills to improve your Internet connectivity and the symptoms of PC bog down.  We plan to continue this with our next article by examining the browser and items that can be installed there which not only clutter up your web browser toolbar, but can direct your online activities and slow down your Internet and regular PC activities.

We will continue to provide story lines like this that benefit all of us and we will describe them in a manner that is within reach of everyday computer users.  If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com

Improve Internet Speed

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With demanding schedules is it any wonder we become easily frustrated when we are held up in traffic?  Whether it is out on the road or on the Internet, we want uninhibited passage.  In our previous article we began to introduce you to Internet speed tests by reviewing four popular testing tools that are available.  The caveat is that each of these is different and results vary.  So… how do we equip ourselves to: a) determine if the fault is at our end and b) if not, to better be able to present some real data to our Internet provider?  First we are going to offer more information on the speed tests in case you have given up hope on them. The key to using them is: create a history!  Next, we are going to examine and better understand how slowdowns and bottlenecks occur and what the impacts are.  By doing this you can better assess if the issue is within your home and network or outside and due to poor conditions.  Finally, if the issue is due to your PC, we will show you a very easy method of improving your Internet speed.

What did we learn from our previous article and our investigation with the multitude of speed tests that are available?  We found out that there are considerable discrepancies in test results.  If you missed our previous article – click here.  We also found it difficult to determine if the results were based on averages or the top speeds that are achieved during the test.

We have one more batch of observations to make about these four speed tests.  We recommend that you pick out one speed test that suits your needs and try to stick with it to be able to compare your results over time.

1. Speed of Me (http://speedof.me/)

SpeedOf.Me can utilize several test servers in various locations in an effort to make the test more realistic.  Other speed test sites choose the nearest physical test server which does not seem to fit the real-world model.  SpeedOf.Me tests bandwidth in several passes using sample file sizes that increase gradually.  What we saw as a shortcoming is that they seem to display the download speed based on maximum speeds achieved.  You have to examine the graph to get a real idea of your connectivity and overall speed.  What we do like is that they provide a history of your previous tests.

2. Speedtest.net (http://www.speedtest.net/)

This site also includes a results page of previous tests and it is well presented with each test displayed in a list and in a graph.  There is also excellent information available in the support page.  For example, we found out that the tests are based on binary file samples and that they aggregate the samples into 20 slices, remove the slowest 30% and the fastest 10% and then average out the remaining pieces.  This seems to be a much better approach but Speedtest.net uses a nearby server methodology whereby they identify up to five servers nearby and then ping each to determine the one with the lowest latency (meaning nearest on the network).  This does not reflect real world conditions well and we found our tests results to be the lowest for two out of three of our network tests (not good for satellite or high-speed wireless networks).

3. SpeakEasy (http://speakeasy.net/speedtest/)

This site offers you the chance to pick a server location.  Of course testing from one server location is not reflective of real-world connectivity either as we surf to sites throughout the Internet world.  While it does include a history we found the test results to be dubious as they appear to be a mix of tests from our machine and other test that were much higher in download throughput.

4. Bell Aliant (http://speedtest.bellaliant.net/)

There are many positives to this test site: we were in favor of the lack of advertisements (unlike the other speed tests above), we felt the results were accurate in comparison to others, and we liked the ease of use.  However we think this site would be the outright winner if it also included a history.  If you pick this site we would recommend recording your test results along with the date and time of the test.

Recommendations:

  1. History of Speed Tests:  why is it so important to track your speed time?   If you are having issues with your connection that are not due to your PC or wireless router, then you can contact your network service provider and provide your findings.
  2. Time of Day:  Check your speed at various times of the day to determine if peak use times are an issue.  You could find striking differences when running a new test 30 minutes after the previous one.  It may be due to traffic and your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is not able to provide consistent service.
  3. Make sure you are performing your tests with no Internet activity (downloads, streaming, etc.), as this can affect consistency of results.

Now that we have provided you with more information to better choose a site that you can use on a regular basis you are in a better position to assess if your connection is an issue.

Slow Downs and Jitter:

Jitter is a technical term.  Although it doesn’t sound very technical, it relates to the quality of your connection.  For example, if you are having a video chat or you are watching a streamed video and there are delays and interruptions, this is referred to as jitter.  What is happening is data is transferred to you in packets and when they are not arriving in a steady stream you experiences disruptions or shaky pulses.

Another factor in connection speed relates to how many connections are between you and the source (or the receiver if you are uploading data).  We can refer to these connections as hops.  It’s like traveling from one city to another but there are various roads and interstate highways in-between.  The slowest and less maintained of these roadways will be the “bottleneck”.

The other critical factor to consider in our data route is the potential bottleneck that can be from your hardware (wireless router or modem) or with your PC.  This is the real challenge – determining whether the slow down you may be experiencing is due to something wrong at your end or as a result of connectivity conditions.

Let’s break our investigation down between items that are outside of our control and ones that are in our local terrain.

External Issues

  • Congestion:  When we share an Internet connection with other customers that use the same ISP, congestion can result.  If others on the service are using high-demand applications and are downloading large files regularly than this can really slow things down.
  • Time of Day: Peak hours come into play with shared Internet connection.  Many residential users will experience this from approximately 6 pm to midnight.
  • Throttling: In some cases your service provider will may slow down your connection speed otherwise known as to “throttle”.  This happens when you exceed a certain threshold of download (and upload) usage and it can happen with certain types of heavy downloading.  You may notice that the speed improves at the beginning of the month when you have a fresh allotment of download capacity.  Some ISPs have daily maximums and the reset occurs at the beginning of each day.
  • Internet Server Speeds: The speed of the servers you are connecting to and the routers in between may also experience slowdowns.  You may experience good connections with local sites but not with other more distant sites.

At Our End

  • Distance: If you are a considerable distance from the ISP source your signal could be weak.  For example, if you were in the middle of the countryside you could have slower connection speeds compared to being in the city.  For some types of service (such as line-of-sight wireless dishes), this is a major consideration as obstructions and weather can have an impact.
  • End-User Congestion: It could be that you have many users or Internet-connected devices in your home tapping into the same online service.  If demand is high, you can experience another form of traffic congestion.   Read below for more information.
  • End-User Hardware Issues: Using an old router can cause slow speeds or it could be you have a poorly configured Wi-Fi connection whereby you are experiencing interference.  In this case you need to do some investigation and this is a good place to start.

Wireless Router Tips:

  • Place your router near to the middle of the house, up off the floor, position the antenna vertically, and make sure there is no metal barriers between your router and your computer.
  • Interference from other wireless networks can cause interference as can cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens.  You can expect interference with cordless phones using the 2.4 Ghz frequency.

To find out more – including solutions – following this link.

How to Improve Your Speed:

Up to this point we have given some very useful information on how to test your Internet connection speed.  This is a very useful tool for your PC bag of tips and tricks.  We are now ready to move on to the next step… working on improving your speed.  First we need to check and rule out whether there are no other factors first requiring your attention.  Here are the top three items we would look at specifically if you were to require support relating to speed issues.

  1. Make sure it’s not your PC that is slow.  If you are experiencing slow performance with your Internet speed and other aspects of your PC (opening and closing applications for example), then you have to deal with your slow PC performance first and see if that clears things up.  Follow this link to deal with a slow PC.
  2. Congestion.  Have you tried taking a shower when the washing machine is running, along with the dish washer, and someone flushes a toilet?  This is similar to having too much demand on your Internet service.  We suggest examining all the devices that are connecting to your wireless network and making sure also that there are no outside devices connecting to your network without your consent.  To gain access to your wireless network you need to make sure you have a secure password that the whole neighborhood doesn’t know and share.
  3. Internet Explorer Browser Issues.  It could be that you are experiencing slow downs on your browser as a result of add-ons and other installed tools that are causing congestion.  If this is the case and you are using IE specifically we suggest that you click on this link and reset your Internet Explorer browser.

Internet TuneUp

Having unwanted applications can also cause browser issues.  Regardless of what browser type you are using, you can take full advantage of the Uninstaller tool available with PC Clean Maestro to remove recently added programs. Follow this link to find out about repairing your browser.

Now you are ready to deal with any networking issues by using the tune up tool available with PC TuneUp Maestro.  This tool analyzes your computer and provides a recommended list of items that will bring about Internet performance improvements.  The analysis focuses on PC areas that can benefit from a performance tuning and the results providing only the recommendations relevant to your system.  You can also use the Advanced Settings to configure the individual Internet TuneUp items.

Here are the steps:

  1. To begin, open up PC TuneUp Maestro and click the Optimize PC item in the left pane.
  2. Next, you can click the Internet TuneUp option in the list and the tool is immediately activated.

Note: You can view the Advanced Settings to see all the items that are optimized.

In Summary:

The knowledge presented here is intended to equip you with the necessary skills to assess Internet connectivity.  While we have covered a fair amount of area, we do feel that you can gain a great level of confidence and familiarity when it comes to assessing the conditions related to Internet connectivity.  With this in hand you are better able to speak to your Internet Service Provider if the bottleneck is indeed at their end.

We will continue to provide story lines like this that benefit all of us and we will describe them in a manner that is within reach of everyday computer users.  If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com