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trying to do speed test

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percypineapple | 14:18 Mon 30th Apr 2012 | Technology
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Hi,

what speed test can i use for windows 7 and will it also do vista? tried
www.speedtest.net, but message comes up saying we need to load some other programme, and another one gave a message about using google chrome.
reason is we are trying to convince plusnet that the speed is 350Kbs, not 3.5 Mb
which is what the line should carry ( checked on a laptop with windows XP ) but am using new desk top computer.
All help appreciated.

Percy.
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Forget online speed "tests" - they don't work. If you think about it, how could they...?

You need to download sufficient files concurrently from as near your ISP as possible until you max out your bandwidth and then sum the speeds of each of them to get a reasonably accurate figure.
Hold on....

Are you saying that one computer connected to your router is getting 350Kbs whereas a laptop connected to the same router was getting 3.5Mbs?

If that's the case it's nothing to do with plusnet, they are only responsible for supplying you a connection, what happens with your computers attached to that connection is not their problem.
percypineaapple, did you say you were asked to download a program before you run your speedtest on www.speedtest.net ?

If so you were pressing the wrong button.

Many web sites are now sponsored by computer programs and often it is not obvious what to click access the web site and what will download the sponsored program.

At the top of the www.speedtest.net web site is a huge "Start Now" button which you may think would run the speed test, but in fact all it does is download the sponsers program.

You need to select "Begin Test".

You need to be VERY VERY careful what you click on with some of these web sites (not just speed test ones). You could find yourself downloading unwanted programs, or worse still virues or malware.

Look VERY carefully at these web sites and dont always click on the first "START HERE" or "DOWNLOAD" button you see.

As has been said, these tests are not that good anyway. Some cant even cope with the faster broadband speed offered by Virgin and others (not that this is the problem you are having)
Question Author
Hi,
The speed test was done on the laptop because it has XP, but the desk top is using Windows 7 and the namesco speed test does not work on that, nor did anything else we tried. we are not after a dead accurate test, just need to confirm a rough average for guidance, as everything is so slow, even the new computer and a new belkin hub, which is no suprise if the speed is around 300 to 500 kbs.
Percy.
>>>but the desk top is using Windows 7 and the namesco speed test does not work on that

I am on W7 and just ran the Namesco speed test with no problem (on Firefox)

What browser are you using?
Have you got your router plugged into your BT master socket or is it plugged into an extension socket? I found recently that all my slow speed problems were associated with my extension wiring. I also had not got my ADSL filters plugged in correctly.
Another potential source of slow speeds on an extension (or even on the BT master socket) is "noise" on the line. To check for this dial 17070 from a BT landline plugged into the test socket (take the front off the master socket first) and at the automated prompt select Option 2 - Quiet Line Test.
Another possible problem area is interference from the Bell Wire (Google it!). This can be eliminated by fitting a BT iPlate - literally a 1 minute job.
Hope some of this helps!
Your ISP should have their own speedtest which is connected to their system and is a standalone program which you log into for your test . Get in touch with them and ask about it. That way they can see the results if you do the test whilst you are speaking to them.
If you are set on using a speedtest to get a rough idea but they don't work on your machine then it sounds very much like you either don't have Adobe Flash installed or you don't a Java. In all likelihood you'll need both.

They are both free from their respective providers, Adobe and Oracle. Go to their official websites and download the latest versions. This is a good idea anyway even if you didn't want to speed test, since using Windows 7 on the Internet without programs like Flash and Java is going to significantly reduce the amount of content you'll be able to access. Google Chrome browser has Flash built into it.
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You can check your Internet Upload and Download Speed by doing a speed test in http://www.scanmyspeed.com/ . Try the extended speed scan to get accurate results. It works on all browsers since it does not use Flash, Java or any external programs/add-ons to run these speed tests . It uses JavaScript which will be present in all browsers(as default) so no additional plugins needed.

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