Best Ways to Speed Up Internet Downloads for Free

If you're having trouble with slow Internet downloads, there are many simple ways to speed them up for free. When you're working to speed up your downloads, it's more important to look for the cause of the slow down than to look for "tricks" to get more speed. In many cases, you can solve the problem with basic troubleshooting methods, regardless of the type or speed of your Internet connection.

Update Drivers

If your Internet download speeds are very slow, the drivers for your network interface card (NIC) or other Internet device may be out of date. This may include your DSL or cable modem, wired or wireless router or LAN adapter. In Windows XP, click "Start," "Control Panel," "Performance and Maintenance" and "System." Select the "Hardware" tab, then click "Device Manager." In Windows Vista, click the "Start" button, select "Control Panel" and then "System and Maintenance." Click "System" and "Device Manager." In Windows 7, the method to get to Device Manager is the same as in Windows Vista, except that "System" is under "System and Security."

Click the "+" sign next to "Network Adapters." Right-click the entry that corresponds to the device that you use to connect to the Internet. Select "Update Driver Software." Select the option to search for updated driver software automatically or to browse your computer manually for the driver software. If Windows can't find the driver update or if you can't find it on your computer, navigate to the device manufacturer's website to download and install the driver update.

Prevent Unneeded Applications from Loading

When your Internet speeds are slow, the problem is often caused by background applications that are using too much processor speed, memory and bandwidth. You can prevent these applications from loading at startup.

Look for the "Startup" folder on your computer. This is usually located under "All Programs" in Windows. Delete any shortcuts to programs that you don't want to automatically run at startup.

Then run the Microsoft Configuration Utility. In Windows XP, click "Start" and "Run." Type "msconfig" and press "Enter." In Windows Vista and 7, type "msconfig" in the search box and select the program from the list. Click the "Startup" tab. Carefully review each entry in under "Startup Item." Find the name of the process under "Command." Navigate to the Uniblue Process Library to look up any file you don't recognize. Clear the check mark beside any startup item you don't want to load when you start your computer. Click "OK" and then "Restart."

Make Changes to Your Internet Browser

Switching to a faster Internet browser can greatly improve your Internet download speeds. Some of the fastest free Internet browsers include Opera, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. There is also a text-based browser called Lynx that you can download for free.

You can also clear your web browser history to increase download speeds. In Internet Explorer, click "Tools" and "Internet Options." Under "Browsing History," click "Delete..." Select "Delete Files..." next to "Temporary Internet Files" and "Cookies." You may also need to change the size of your browser cache if it's too large. In "Internet Options," click "Settings" under "Browsing History." Beside "Disk space to use," type "50." Click "OK" twice.

If you're using Internet Explorer to browse the Internet, your settings may be causing it to run slowly. Select "Tools," "Internet Options" and click the "Programs" tab. Click "Manage Add-ons" to find plugins and toolbars that may be causing the slow down. Disable any problem add-ons and click "OK." You can also run Internet Explorer without add-ons by clicking "Start" in Windows XP (click the "Start" button in Windows Vista and 7,) "All Programs," "Accessories" and "System Tools." Then select "Internet Explorer (no add-ons.)

Use a Download Manager

A download manager can speed up your downloads by making more efficient use of your bandwidth. Many free download managers are capable of downloading multiple files at once and resuming interrupted downloads. This can cut down on time wasted on trying to download files one at a time and on failed downloads. Free Download Manager, Gigaget Download Manager and Orbit Downloader are among the fastest and most useful and efficient download managers available online.

Run an Anti-Virus and Spyware Scan

Malware such as viruses, adware and spyware can slow down your computer significantly. Malware can take over your bandwidth for its own purposes or cause your web browser to malfunction. There are several free anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-adware programs that will remove malware from your computer permanently. Avast! Anti-Virus and AVG Anti-Virus are free for personal use, and Comodo Anti-Virus is free for both personal and commercial use. You can also scan your computer for viruses online. To remove spyware and adware for free, you can use Spybot Search and Destroy or Lavasoft Ad-Aware. When using these programs to remove malware from your computer, be sure to select a reversible option such as "Quarantine" or "Remove to Chest" in case the removal causes problems. You can also use System Restore to reverse any changes in Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Learn more by reading The Best Free Web Browsers for Windows and How to Troubleshoot a DSL Internet Connection.

Sources:

FTC.gov, "Minimizing the Effects of Malware on Your Computer."
Microsoft.com,"Why is my Internet connection so slow?"