Optimize Windows XP for Broadband Internet

In its standard configuration Windows XP is not optimized for broadband connections. The internet settings are configured for slower connections, like the traditional dialup connections. If you want to speed up your broadband connection and increase internet speed, you have to tweak the network settings.

The most important setting to change is the MTU value. MTU is short for Maximum Transmission Unit. This is an optional registry parameter in Windows XP.

1. First determine the maximum value for the parameter. Start a command prompt and type:
   ping <web address> –f –l 1472. Replace<web address> by any internet domain address, e.g. www.yahoo.com.
   The –l parameter specifies the size of the buffer to use, which will help us to determine the most suited MTU size. If the buffer is too large, the ping command will report “Packet needs to be fragmented, but DF set.” If you see this message, reduce the size you specify for the buffer.
   Repeat these steps until the normal “Reply from …” message is shown. The last buffer size used is the size we will specify as the MTU size.
2. Start the Registry Editor. From the Windows Start menu, select Run. In the Run box, type regedit and click OK.
3. In the Registry Editor, locate the following key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
   Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces
4. In this key, select the {number} that belongs to your internet connection. You can get the name for {number} under:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
   Network\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\{number}\
   Connection
5. Once you have identified the correct entry, select it and then select the Edit menu, click New and then DWORD Value.
6. Type MTU as the name. Next, right-click the new DWORD Value and select Modify in the popup menu. Enter the maximum value for the MTU size based on the earlier buffer test. Make sure you enter the value as a Decimal value and not a Hexadecimal value!
7. Close the Registry Editor. Select Exit from the File menu.

This Windows XP network tweak will increase the internet speed, but especially benefit download speed an upload speed rather than regular browsing speed.