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I‘ve seen mentioned in a few places that applications that use multiple network threads (BitTorrent clients, download managers, etc) don’t download files as quickly in Vista as they do in Windows XP. Most seem to attribute the difference to the new AutoTuning function in the TCP/IP stack.
You can test if this is the culprit in your case by disabling autotuning, as suggested at the Actkid blog:
- Click on the Start menu and type
cmdin the search box. Type CTR+SHIFT+ENTER to tell the command prompt to open with elevated privileges.
- In the command prompt window, type
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disableand hit Enter
- After getting the OK returned in the command prompt window, restart to activate the change.
If the change doesn’t help, you can always revert by going though the same process, but instead, use the command:
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal
Don’t forget to reboot!
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Comments
30 Tips for Getting More (or Less) Out of Windows Vista | ITsVISTA
Jan 31, 2007 at 9:27 am
[...] Speed up Threaded Network Downloads in Vista [...]
ITsVISTA Tip 37: Why Certain Web sites are Slow in Vista | ITsVISTA
Feb 20, 2007 at 1:01 am
[...] that another possible setting, mentioned in my post about slow threaded network downloads disables autotuning all-together with this [...]
Vejay
Mar 15, 2007 at 6:28 am
SUper cool this worked out!!
Joe
Mar 15, 2007 at 8:22 am
Glad to hear it!
ITsVISTA Tip 47: Improve Wireless Connectivity in Vista | ITsVISTA
Mar 22, 2007 at 1:01 am
[...] such as at a hotel. The fix is to disable autotuning, which happens to be the same fix from tip 25 which dealt with threaded network [...]
Deborah
Aug 16, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Thank you, thank you! I was blaming my router and was about to forward a port when I saw your advice and thought I’d give it a shot. I’m so glad I did - downloads are twice as fast now!
Bob
Sep 17, 2007 at 12:43 am
Autotuning is a red herring.
Vista is simply activating TCP Window Scaling (tcp large windows option).
This has been around since the mid 90s. Its use will become increasingly essential, if one is to obtain any benefit from the increases in Internet access speeds which are (finally!) becoming available (e.g. FIOS).
If window scaling is not functioning correctly, then fixing that should be your priority (not making Vista revert back to 1980’s TCP). Most of the literature points the finger at older firewall units that were overly draconian in their packet processing.
I’d look close to home first. I’ve been using TCP large windows for many years without issue. I’ve not seen an issue with the providers or web sites I frequent. If window scaling is killing your throughput, you might consider donating your router to the artificial reef project.
As for the benefit of TCP Large Windows, I can pull large files at 27.5Mbps of payload goodput from the UK to Wash, D.C. (Hardly Gigabit speeds, but my FIOS connection is only rated at 30Mbps.)
Philip Waever
Oct 16, 2007 at 1:41 pm
I did this and i would not suggest anyone to do it, it totally crashed my computer. after reboot my computer was in safemode and i couldnt do anything to exit it. i solved this problem by using system restore ofcourse and everything works fine now. so i wouldnt recommend doing this.
Brian
Dec 5, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Absolutley Amazing. Worked Instantly… Been trying to use portfoward.com for two days opening ports(failed). Once I figured out how to elevate cmd level. Was a cinch. OMG went from 30kb avg to 300kb avg
Joe
Dec 6, 2007 at 10:46 am
Awesome, glad to hear it helped!
brad
Dec 21, 2007 at 11:47 pm
it keeps saying i need elevation to disable or whatever, do you know what this means
thanks in advance
peace
brad
Dec 21, 2007 at 11:48 pm
ok nvm i found it lol
Pete
Dec 22, 2007 at 9:12 am
Philip Waever, this change would have absolutely nothing to do with “totally crashing” your computer. Do not give people advice when it is clear you have no idea what you are talking about. Your computer was broken before you made the change, and you only noticed once you restarted.
That being said, I agree that this setting is not responsible for Vista sucking at transferring/downloading files.
Mike
Dec 27, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I attempted this change, unfortunately i found the same problem and had to use system restore. So Pete, i think you are in the wrong there for being so dissmissive.
Merry Christmas & a happy new year!
Mel
Jan 13, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Brad, how did you fix it, because it says I need elevation too?
Mel
Jan 13, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Lol, nevermind I fixed it
Maud
Feb 14, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I am really frusturated right now, Vista all of the sudden won’t let me download anything, the dialog box just immediately closes. It didn’t do this until just now. Someone PLEASE help!
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