OS8/OS9 Internet Slowdown... things to look for?

[FlishFun Veteran]

Okay... I'll start by saying I've never user OS8 or OS9... only OSX, and that was only a little (I worked for a company that had software for OSX). Now then, on to my question. Last night before I left work (I run the IT Dept for a Law Firm), I got this E-mail from one of the attorneys:

Our IMac machine at home is acting real slow on the Internet.  You know, it takes too long to pull stuff up.  It used to be much faster.  Knology ran tests from their end (we have Knology cable Internet access at home), and everything they are doing looks fine.  The guy said it might be a software problem, or maybe we needed to be "defragged".  I do not know what to do, so I'd like you to come over and check it out.  We have OS8 or 9, I don't know which one.  Thanks.

So tonight I'm going over there (I kinda have to), but unfortunately I don't know what to look for, etc. So if possible, could you guys post some suggestions of things I can check/do? It would be very much appreciated. :D

[frod]

you might want to check hard drive space? it could be that as they used more and more space over the years the paging file has had to become smaller and smaller.

unfortunately i was never a user of os8/9 either. waste of time in my opinion ;P os x is the way to go.

maybe it's time they upgrade? :p

[FlishFun Veteran]

you might want to check hard drive space? it could be that as they used more and more space over the years the paging file has had to become smaller and smaller.

unfortunately i was never a user of os8/9 either. waste of time in my opinion ;P os x is the way to go.

maybe it's time they upgrade? :p

I'd probably suggest that myself... mainly because I can use OSX. :laugh: But that is a good point, I'll have to check that. Know what the sad thing is? He tells me he wants a PC (the iMac doesn't allow them to work from home and use the programs he does here in the office... he's the only attorney that shows up everyday... cause he can't work from home), but his wife likes the Mac and won't let him get one.

So any other suggestions? Tips, tricks, instructions?

[uniacidz]

Why do you 'have' to go over?

Do you have a contract saying to help maintain home users computers?

You getting paid overtime for this?

Is it a work computer at home?

[FlishFun Veteran]

Why do you 'have' to go over?

Do you have a contract saying to help maintain home users computers?

You getting paid overtime for this?

Is it a work computer at home?

I *have* to go over because it's one of the Founding members of the law firm and it looks bad if I, the ne "computer guy" (been here for just 5 months), tells him I don't know what to do. It adds to the "Why do you work here again?" and the "Why do you need a raise?" factor in his mind. lol Yes, I am being paid for it, though other than that, I don't have to go.

[uniacidz]

Ok, just windering if you being pressured into going thats all, but good that you being paid for it.

There is some defrag software, a recent thread about it not long ago on the forums for Mac.

I guess make sure things like Safari setup correctly, if installed, and maybe install it and the internet connection running fine and sending/recieving fine.

[FlishFun Veteran]

I guess make sure things like Safari setup correctly, if installed, and maybe install it and the internet connection running fine and sending/recieving fine.

Okay... so, um... how would I do that, exactly? Could you give me some steps? Please forgive me if this is common knowlege, as I said... I've never worked on this OS before.

[uniacidz]

Okay... so, um... how would I do that, exactly?  Could you give me some steps?  Please forgive me if this is common knowlege, as I said... I've never worked on this OS before.

Man, thats where my support ends im sorry. I havent worked on it in a long long time and even when i did, i knew jack ****.

Safari is downloaded from the Apple site if i remember correctly.

Im just a bit disappointed no more Mac users have replied in this thread to help you.

Sorry i cannot help further.

EDIT

Disk Defrag in Mac

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...2&hl=defrag+mac

Safari Site

http://www.apple.com.au/safari/

Edited December 10, 2003 by Davey

[FlishFun Veteran]

Man, thats where my support ends im sorry. I havent worked on it in a long long time and even when i did, i knew jack ****.

Safari is downloaded from the Apple site if i remember correctly.

Im just a bit disappointed no more Mac users have replied in this thread to help you.

Sorry i cannot help further.

That's okay man... thanks for the info you did give me. And hopefully others that have worked with these will show up soon enough. :D

[NeoMayhem]

Safari is OS X only :(

I really dont know much about Classic OS for macs, but they are pretty simple, you might be able to fix it ;)

[FlishFun Veteran]

Safari is OS X only :(

I really dont know much about Classic OS for macs, but they are pretty simple, you might be able to fix it ;)

Well I'll try my best... just have no experience in it and wanted anyone who did to give me some advice. Thanks anyway. :D

[FlishFun Veteran]

Okay guys, quick update (and hope you can give me some new ideas). I'm currently at his house and here's the new info and specifics on the problem:

The OS is OS 9.1. The sysem itself works quite fast (for it's age) and the internet is fast... but ONLY when you've already connected to the site. Example:

It takes about 1 min to connect to Neowin, but once I'm here, I can get from page to page in less than 2 seconds.

It's like this with every site (also every browser, IE, Netscape, etc). I've checked all the settings, HDD space, etc. Everything seems to be fine, so I'm completely at a loss here. :wacko:

If anyone has any ideas of what would be doing this (now that I've supplied more info) please post. I'd like to be able to fix this. :D

[FlishFun Veteran]

<Bump> There's got to be a OS9 Guru out here somewhere that has some idea of what could be causing this/what to look for. :)

[Fred Derf Veteran]

The OS is OS 9.1. The sysem itself works quite fast (for it's age) and the internet is fast... but ONLY when you've already connected to the site. Example:

It takes about 1 min to connect to Neowin, but once I'm here, I can get from page to page in less than 2 seconds.

When you first go to a site it used DNS to resolve the address. But once you have arrived there is no need for DNS anymore.

I suspect that you have manually configured DNS servers listed in you TCP/IP control panel and that one (or more) of them is no longer valid.

Check with your ISP and get the current IPs for their DNS servers and stick them in your TCP/IP control panel.

[FlishFun Veteran]

When you first go to a site it used DNS to resolve the address.  But once you have arrived there is no need for DNS anymore.

I suspect that you have manually configured DNS servers listed in you TCP/IP control panel and that one (or more) of them is no longer valid.

Check with your ISP and get the current IPs for their DNS servers and stick them in your TCP/IP control panel.

Hmmm... I'll have to give that a shot. I figured whatever it was it had to be a global setting, but I couldn't find one I thought would do that (cause the slowdown). Thanks! (Y) Do you think anything else could be causing that, other than the TCP/IP settings?

[Fred Derf Veteran]

Hmmm... I'll have to give that a shot. I figured whatever it was it had to be a global setting, but I couldn't find one I thought would do that (cause the slowdown). Thanks! (Y) Do you think anything else could be causing that, other than the TCP/IP settings?

It does sound like a DNS problem to me.

If you want to test this then try accessing sites via the IP number directly.

How quickly does this site come up: http://192.75.156.250 or this http://198.103.238.30

If they come up quickly then DNS is the problem.

You can often use DNS settings from another provider, in case you suspect your ISP has really slow DNS servers.

[FlishFun Veteran]

It does sound like a DNS problem to me.

If you want to test this then try accessing sites via the IP number directly.

How quickly does this site come up: http://192.75.156.250 or this http://198.103.238.30

If they come up quickly then DNS is the problem.

You can often use DNS settings from another provider, in case you suspect your ISP has really slow DNS servers.

Thanks! I'll try to have him test that out and let me know. :)

[FlishFun Veteran]

Okay, this should be my last question. Turns out it was DNS (thanks fred666!!!), and after spending time on the phone, they were able to get 2 new DNS Server addresses. But, and this is the big but, I have no idea how to walk them through adding a new DNS server. As it is now, everything is set to Automatic DHCP (like Knology said it needed to be), so I have no idea how to change the DNS... and Knology doesn't know either (not one person we talked to there knows OS).

So, does anyone here know OS9 enough to walk me through changing the DNS Servers on a Cable connection (I can do it on a Dial-up connection, but it's different on Cable)? Thanks in advance! :)