How to Troubleshoot Slow Network Software

Identify the root cause of poor network software performance in Windows.

A large portion of the programs and applications you can install on a computer have some functionality, such as software updates, that are dependent upon Internet connections for proper operation. If software that communicates with sites on the Internet starts to slow down, there is a series of steps you can perform to identify the cause of the issue. Use network utilities included with the Windows operating system to identify the root cause of poor performance in network applications.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Windows 7 computer

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" button located in the lower left corner of the Windows 7 desktop and then click "Programs," then click "Accessories." Right-click on the command line icon and click "Run as Administrator."

2. Open the program or application that runs slowly on the network. Type "ipconfig /flushdns" and press the "Enter" key. Test the program or application and if the issue is not resolved, proceed to the next step.

3. Type "net stop dnscache" and then press the "Enter" key. Test the program or application and if the issue is not resolved, proceed to the next step. If the issue is resolved, then click the "Start" button, then click the "Search" box and type "services.msc" and press the "Enter" key. Scroll through the list of services in the "Services" window that appears and double-click on the "DNC Client" service then click the "Startup type" box and select "Manual" and click the "OK" button. Reboot the computer and retest to verify the issue is resolved.

4. Click the "Start" button then click "Control Panel" and then select "Network and Internet." Click "Internet Options" and then select the "Connections" tab, then click "LAN Settings." Clear all three check boxes that are displayed in the "Local Area Network (LAN) Settings" window and click the "OK" button. Test the program or application and if the issue is not resolved, proceed to the next step. If the issue is resolved, then test other applications such as "Internet Explorer" and verify that they still function correctly.

5. Disable the antivirus firewall and antivirus software on the computer and then close and reopen the network program or application that is performing poorly. Test the program or application and if the issue is resolved, the antivirus software or firewall is conflicting with the program or application. Update the antivirus software or replace it with a different antivirus software and firewall to resolve the issue.

References

• OReilly Answers:How to Configure Proxy Settings in Windows 7
• WinVistaClub:Flush or Reset the Windows 7 or Vista DNS Cache
• Microsoft:Support -- How to Disable Client Side DNS Caching in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003