Windows NT/2000/XP Optimizations Guide

This guide is designed to work best on Windows NT/2000/XP 4.0. It improves performance for all online programs or games that use the TCP/IP protocol to communicate. Make sure you have installed all the updates on the previous page before attempting the procedures in this guide.

Modem Setup

1. Open the 'Modems' control panel.
   
2. Select the properties for your modem.
   
3. Write down your modem's COM port (We will need this later).
   
4. Under the 'General' tab, set the 'Maximum speed' field to 57600 for 28.8k/33.6k modems or 115200 for 56k modems.
   
5. Unmark the 'Only connect at this speed' option.
   
6. Under the 'Connection' tab confirm that your 'Data', 'Parity' and 'Stop bit' fields are set properly (Usually 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit).
   
7. Click 'Ok' to return to the 'Connection' tab window.
   
8. Click the 'Advanced' button, mark the 'Use error control' and 'Compress data' options.
   
9. Mark the 'Use flow control' and 'Hardware (RTS/CTS)' options.
   
10. Confirm that the 'Modulation type' is set to 'Standard'.
    
11. Add any 'Extra settings' that you require or prefer (Consult your modem manual for details).
    
12. Click 'Ok' from the 'Advanced connection settings' window.
    
13. Click 'Ok' from the 'Connection settings' window.
    
14. Click 'Ok' from the 'Modems' control panel.
    
15. Restart the computer.

COM Port Setup

This section applies to all internal and external modems, most external ISDN adapters, and some internal ISDN adapters. If you have a device other than a modem replace 'modem' in the text below with your device's name (Eg. 'external ISDN adapter'). If you have an internal ISDN adapter that does not incorporate a modem this section does not apply. This section only applies to devices that connect to or emulate a serial port.

1. Open the 'Ports' control panel.
   
2. Select the 'Settings' for your modem's COM port.
   
3. Select the 'Port settings' tab.
   
4. Change the 'Bits per second' field to 57600 for 28.8k/33.6k modems, or 115200 for 56k modems.
   
5. Confirm that the 'Data bits', 'Parity', and 'Stop bits' fields match those set in the 'Modem Setup' section (Usually 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit).
   
6. Confirm that 'Flow control' is set to 'Hardware'.
   
7. Click 'Ok' from the 'Communications port properties' window.
   
8. Click 'Ok' from the 'Ports properties' window.
   
9. Restart the computer.
   

Dial Up Networking Setup

1. Open the 'Dial-Up Networking' settings.
   
2. Under the 'More' tab select 'Edit entry and modem properties'.
   
3. Under the 'Basic' tab click on the configure box.
   
4. Confirm that the 'Initial speed (bps)' matches the response given in the 'Modems' control panel (115200 for v.90 (56k) modems, 57600 for 28.8/33.6k modems).
5. Confirm that all of the 'Hardware Features' are marked, including 'Enable hardware flow control', 'Enable modem error control', 'Enable modem compression'.
6. Mark or unmark the 'Disable modem speaker' option to suit your preference and/or needs.
7. Select Ok from the 'Modem Configuration' window.
8. Under the 'Server' tab, confirm that the 'Dial-up server type' is set to 'PPP: Windows NT/2000/XP, Windows 95 Plus, Internet'
9. Mark the 'TCP/IP' option, unmark the 'IPX/SPX compatible' and 'NetBEUI' options.
10. If you use a modem (or any other adapter that performs hardware-based compression), unmark the 'Enable software compression' box (If you use an adapter that does not perform hardware-based compression (certain ISDN adapters), leave the 'Enable software compression' box enabled).
11. Leave the 'Enable PPP LCP extensions' option enabled.
12. Click on the 'TCP/IP Settings' box.
13. If your ISP allows automatic IP addressing and DNS determination, mark 'Server assigned IP address' and 'Server assigned name server address' (If your ISP requires a specific IP address and/or DNS setting, mark 'Specify an IP address' and/or 'Specify name server addresses' and complete as required by your ISP) .
14. Unmark the 'Use IP header compression' box.
15. Confirm that the 'Use default gateway on remote network' box is marked.
16. Select Ok from the 'PPP TCP/IP Settings' window.
17. Select Ok from the 'Edit Phonebook Entry' window.

Network Setup

1. Select the 'Network' control panel.
2. Under the 'Services' tab, select the Remote Access Service properties.
3. Select 'Configure' for each device you wish to optimize.
4. Mark the 'Dial out only' option.
5. Select Ok from the 'Configure Port Usage' window.
6. Select 'Network' for the device you wish to optimize.
7. Mark 'TCP/IP', unmark 'NetBEUI' and 'IPX'.
8. Select Ok from the 'Network Configuration' window.
9. Select Continue from the 'Remote Access Setup' window.
10. Under the 'Protocols' tab, select the properties for the TCP/IP protocol.
11. Under the 'Routing' tab, unmark 'Enable IP Forwarding'.
12. Select Ok from the 'Microsoft TCP/IP Properties' window.
13. Under the 'Bindings' tab, select the 'all adapters' listing from the 'Show bindings for' field.
14. Click the plus sign next to the 'Remote Access WAN Wrapper'.
15. Select the 'WINS Client (TCP/IP)' and click 'Disable'.
16. Select Ok from the 'Network' properties window.
17. Allow the computer to reboot.

MTU, MSS, RWIN, TTL Values

Windows NT/2000/XP automatically configures these values and it does a damn good job of it so don't waste your time with them.

Other Stuff

For this section we need to alter settings in the windows registry, if you make mistakes in here you can potentially cripple your system. If you're not comfortable with using the registry you should just skip this section.

- Disable Browser Web Check -

1. Select 'Run' from the 'Start' menu, type REGEDT32 and click 'Ok'.
   
2. In the left hand side of the 'Regedt32' window click the plus next to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE'.
   
3. Click the plus next to 'SOFTWARE'.
   
4. Click the plus next to 'Microsoft'.
   
5. Click the plus next to 'Windows'
   
6. Click the plus next to 'Current Version'.
   
7. Click on 'Run'.
   
8. In the right hand side of the 'Regedt32' window right-click 'BrowserWebCheck' and select 'Delete'.
   
9. Select 'Exit' from the 'File' menu.
   
10. Restart the computer.

Always unplug all other devices connected to your phone line (phones, fax machines etc) while you're using the net because even if they're not in use they can affect performance.

If you have trouble connecting or keep getting cut off, phone your phone company (eg. BT, Cable & Wireless) and ask them to increase your line gain to 4 (this won't cost anything).

End

Well done, your Windows setup has now been optimized for TCP/IP connections. If you were optimizing for Quake 2 (and since you're on this site you probably were) you can now go to the Quake 2 Connection Optimization Guide.

If you have a question about anything in this guide or any suggestions about improving connections please don't hesitate to contact me.

[TNN][8]