how do I improve a slow Orange Internet connection?

If you're finding that web pages are slow to load when you're connected to us, there are a few things you can do to try and speed up your connection.

turn off any other web programs

The first thing we suggest you do is reset/suspend any other Internet activity or network activity if your PC is a part of a network. 

Remember if you have any peer to peer software open that other Internet users may be uploading files from your computer's hard drive, which has an impact on your connection. If you're not sure, it's unlikely that you are.

check your browser 

We suggest that you delete your cookies, and reset Internet Explorer, to see if this improves the speed that you can view web pages.

close all other programs

It's a good idea to exit applications you don't need when you're using Internet Explorer, particularly if your computer has less than 128MB of RAM. It's also good practice to limit the number of windows that Internet Explorer has open at the same time and close web pages that you don't need. 

'Defragment' your hard drive

If you've been using your PC for a while, the hard disk may have become 'fragmented'. This means it's storing files in small parts, spread across many different places on the drive. This has a detrimental effect on speed, as it takes time for the computer to find and compile all the parts when launching a program or open a file.

We recommend you 'defrag' your hard disk every few months. The following Help article explains how do to it: how to defragment your computer's hard disk

unplug other USB devices

If you've got printers or scanners attached to your computer that use a USB cable, these can cause connection problems. Try unplugging these devices to see if the connection problem is solved.

check for stuck Email

If you're trying to download an attachment that's more than 2MB using Outlook Express, this could block your connection. To check if you have a stuck email see how to delete a stuck email using the Web.

Its also worth noting that web pages will take longer to load if you're simultaneously downloading a large email.

is your broadband cable plugged in securely and in good condition?

If your modem cable is not plugged in securely to your filter and PC, you may not be able to connect or your connection could drop. Make sure you've got a good quality cable with no kinks that reaches comfortably between your computer's modem and the phone wall socket.

Try plugging your modem in to the master BT socket to see if that improves the situation.

You should also check that your filters are set-up correctly

time of day

You may see your speed reduce during peak times. The busiest time is from 6-11pm.

If you need to download large amounts of data we suggest that you do so outside peak time.

maximum access speed

Some websites have a maximum access speed, therefore you may experience slow speeds on specific websites. 

viruses and spyware

Viruses and spyware can have a serious impact on your connection speed so make sure your computer is protected. For more information click here

are you on dial-up? Join our Broadband service

If you are using a dial-up connection and it regularly causes you problems, you may want to consider upgrading to our broadband service. This will give you up to ten times more bandwidth which will improve performance.