[Triple Ace]

I am running XP with 384 ram with 56k modem and 1.6 ghz athlon. My old system was crappy with 64 ram and 450 mhz celeron but ping was lower around 150 to 250. With the system I have now I get 450 and higher. I tried messing with settings and closing all that crap XP runs but it is no good. Any ideas anyone?

[TopAce]

Did you have WinXP in your previous computer?
I deem you should try to reinstall the modem. Or maybe the windows?
I also find it possible that you are low on your available Winchester space. I suggest you remove some redundant stuff so that you can get more free space.

[Triple Ace]

I had win98 and I tried reinstalling the modem. I have no clue what winchester is.

[diamondgeezer]

'Winchester' is apparently an archaic word for 'hard drive'. Hungary, however, has yet to realise this

[TopAce]

. Sorry, I keep forgeting that merely a few of you can understand this. Just keep warning me and I am sure to bear it in mind.

[Triple Ace]

I still have 20 GB of hard drive space left.

[Liberator]

How do you play with pings that high?  That's nearly a second and a half to send and receive a packet of data.

That said, XP is bloatware and probably has something running that is eating your bandwidth.

[Fury]

You probably don't want to hear this, but get a broadband.
Seriously, modem connections are overlived already. Relatively cheap broadband connections are available in most areas.

You want to make sure it's not XP which taking the bandwidth and causing high pings? Then go through this tweak guide: http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

Also, if you have a firewall installed, it might be just that. Make sure you have the newest version of all softwares which are running in the background, and you have your Windows up to date.

If you've had your system without a firewall and anti-virus while you have used the net, there's a possibility that high pings are caused by a virus or worm. Yes, even with a modem connection you need a good firewall and anti-virus softwares, and keep those and Windows up to date!

If I were you, I'd check my system with Stinger. http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

[Shrike]

The monkeys that live in your computer need more bananas to work properly.  I suggest feeding them.

[Drew]

Originally posted by Mr. Fury
You probably don't want to hear this, but get a broadband.
Seriously, modem connections are overlived already. Relatively cheap broadband connections are available in most areas.

seriously.... 10 bucks a month can land u with a ISDN line

[Triple Ace]

With my provider its 50 bucks a month and its not my decision to make, its my parent's. Until I am 18,through college, and get my own place I can't get broadband. And blackviper's guide confuses me.

[Liberator]

Umm, there's usually more than one provider in an area.

Local Phone
Cable TV
Secondary Providers

I'm on Charter and my 256k is ~$35 a month.  This is well worth it as I usually get nearly 3/4 of a megabit.  That price is also comperable with BellSouth DSL Lite and other Broadband services.

[Ace]

Somes places, such as where I live, do not have other options. Comcast has a monopoly here with their "high speed internet."

But even then, it's still under $50 a month.

[Liberator]

They shouldn't, last I heard they were required to share their bandwidth with at least one competitor to prevent such a situation.

[Ace]

Nope, Comcast has a monopoly, no competition what so ever in Clark Country, Washington. The reason is "it's such a small market" but there's a lot of IT companies in the area, even for the area, so it's really unexcusable.

What is funny though is that Charter has their call center in Vancouver, WA, but doesn't provide any actual service to the area

[Triple Ace]

Comcast would probably be my last choice for a provider since they are ripping me off me with their cable tv.