, for networks with both Windows 7 and Windows Vista computers

Faster File Transfer Speeds In Networks With Windows 7 & Vista

This method consists of two main parts, and assumes that your network is otherwise functioning properly. That is, each computer can access the others, except that the file transfer speeds are considerably slower than expected. This may be especially noticeable if you have just recently upgraded one or more computers on your network to Windows 7, from Windows XP or Vista for example.

Credit goes to the post at this link, which specifically discusses Windows Vista networks (parts of which are quoted below). A detailed description of the method is given there, along with some of the reasoning behind it. But this method also can be adapted for use on mixed networks with Windows 7 and Vista systems, as described here.

Part 1: Before Making Changes

It’s recommended to check your settings and your transfer speeds before starting, but if you just want to go ahead and perform the changes to your computers, then skip ahead to Part 2.

Otherwise, to test that this method works for you and your network, you may want to copy a single large file over your network (i.e. a video file over 100 MB), both before and after performing the steps below, then comparing the transfer times.

Then check your current TCP settings on each of your Windows 7 and Windows Vista systems, by performing the following:

1. Open an elevated command prompt, in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, with administrator rights. You can do this by right-clicking on the link for "Command Prompt" in the Start Menu, then selecting "Run as administrator".

2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following and press Enter:

netsh interface tcp show global

Make note of the settings for "Receive Side Scaling State" and "Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level", in case you want to undo your changes later.

Part 2: Disable TCP “Receive Window Auto-Tuning” and/or “Receive Side Scaling”

Repeat the steps below for each of your Windows 7 and Windows Vista systems to change TCP settings to disable "Receive Window Auto-Tuning" and to disable "Receive Side Scaling".

1. Open an elevated command prompt, in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, with administrator rights. You can do this by right-clicking on the link for "Command Prompt" in the Start Menu, then selecting "Run as administrator".

2. To disable "Receive Window Auto-Tuning", in the Command Prompt window type the following and press Enter:
   
   

   netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

   Your system should confirm the command was entered correctly by showing "OK" in the Command Prompt window.

3. To disable "Receive Side Scaling", in the Command Prompt window type the following and press Enter (this step is optional, so you may choose to skip this step for now and restart your computer first, to see if the transfer speed has improved):
   
   

    netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled

   Your system should confirm the command was entered correctly by showing "OK" in the Command Prompt window.

4. Restart your computer.

Part 3: Disable "Remote Differential Compression (RDC)" in Vista

If after performing the steps in Part 2 above, file transfer speeds on your network are still slower than expected, then disable "Remote Differential Compression (RDC)" on your Windows Vista computers only, by performing the following:

1. In Windows Vista, open the Control Panel, then click on "Programs".

2. Under "Programs and Features", click on "Turn Windows features on or off".

3. In the window that appears, uncheck the checkbox for "Remote Differential Compression", then click OK. You may need to wait several minutes for the changes to be applied.

4. Restart your computer, after the changes have been applied.

Undo Changes If Needed

To reverse the changes of Part 2, open an elevated Command Prompt as in Part 2, then type the following and press Enter after each line (then restart your computer):

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal

netsh interface tcp set global rss=default

To reverse the changes of Part 3, repeat all the steps of Part 3 except make sure to check the checkbox for "Remote Differential Compression" (then restart your computer).

Check your TCP settings for each system as in Part 1, to make sure that your changes have been undone.

More Information

How To: Fix Slow File Transfer Problem In Windows Vista
Vista TCP settings and tweaks
Microsoft Answers: Why Is Windows 7 Still As Slow As Vista With File Copy?

Remove ZoneAlarm With The ZoneAlarm Removal Tool

One option to safely and completely remove ZoneAlarm from your Windows 7 system, is to download and run the free ZoneAlarm Removal Tool.

From ZoneAlarm technical support at the ZoneAlarm forum:

Try Removing Zone Alarm and see if Windows 7 stabilizes?

use the new ZoneAlarm Removal Tool: Click here http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/support/cpes_clean.exe

Save to desktop, right click and "run as administrator" This tool will remove all ZoneAlarm products from your system.

Please just download and run the tool, following the instructions. (you can un-install without net connections)

Click to download the free ZoneAlarm Removal Tool from ZoneAlarm

The ZoneAlarm Removal Tool may require you to restart your computer after it runs, to complete the uninstall.

Remove ZoneAlarm With Revo Uninstaller

If the ZoneAlarm Removal Tool does not work for you, then another option to totally uninstall the ZoneAlarm firewall from a Windows 7 computer, is to download and run the free portable version of Revo Uninstaller.

Click to download the free portable version of Revo Uninstaller

The link above will download the portable version of Revo Uninstaller as a ".zip" file. Just copy the contents of the ".zip" file to any location you like (i.e. your desktop, a USB drive, etc.), and run the program from there.

In Revo Uninstaller, choose to uninstall ZoneAlarm, and follow the instructions on the screen to completely remove ZoneAlarm.

More Information

ZoneAlarm User Community (Forum)
Revo Uninstaller Features

CrossLoop is an easy-to-use alternative to the Remote Assistance tool in Windows, because it requires no additional work on by either user, other than for both sides to start the CrossLoop program and for the Needy-User to giving an Access Code to the Helper (likely through phone or email). The Access Code ensures a secure connection. Neither modifying firewall settings, or changing router settings, is needed as CrossLoop is able to establish a connection on its own, saving a lot of time and trouble, since the Needy-User is likely not an expert on firewall or router settings.

Overview of How CrossLoop Works

Both the Helper and the Needy-User will need to have CrossLoop installed on their computers to proceed.

Signing up for an account is not necessary, but it is free to sign up for an account if you do.

The Needy-User will need to pass along an Access Code to the Helper, in order for the two computers to be connected. Once connected, the Helper can control the Needy-User’s mouse movements, and thus control the Needy-User’s computer, until one of the sides ends the session.

Detailed Step-By-Step Instructions for CrossLoop

The same procedure can be followed every time you need to help another person via CrossLoop.

1. Both users start the CrossLoop remote assistance software program.
    
2. Users then can either login with their CrossLoop account email and password, or they can skip the login if they don’t have a CrossLoop account. You don’t need an account to use CrossLoop.
    
3. Both users will then need to connect using CrossLoop.
    
   a. The Needy-User will need to click on the grey “Share” tab. There will be a 12-digit “Access Code” there that will need to be passed along to the Helper, for example, by phone, email, Skype, or instant-message.
    
   b. The Helper will need to click on the green “Access” tab, if it is not already displayed. The 12-digit “Access Code” from the Needy-User will need to be entered here, in the “Access Code” blank space.
    
4. When the Helper has the Access Code and is ready, then both users can click on the green “Connect” button in the bottom right corner of the CrossLoop program.
    
5. For the Needy-User, CrossLoop will then ask if they want to allow the Helper to be able to control the mouse on their computer. Once the Needy-User clicks to allow this, then the two computers will be connected and the Helper will be able to control the Needy-User’s computer. The Helper can then proceed to fix whatever problems the Needy-User is having with their computer.
    
6. When finished, in the CrossLoop software window, either user can click disconnect to end the session, then close the program.

Why CrossLoop Is Useful

CrossLoop can be a free, quick, and simple way to help fix the computer problems of a parent, friend, or relative who is not very knowledgeable with computers, and may be in another city or country. Or they simply have a computer issue that you know how to solve, but it would take too much time or trouble to walk another person through the instructions to fix it.

Used in combination with a service such as Skype, which you can use to exchange the Access Code or to exchange information on the issue to speed up the process, CrossLoop can be a hassle-free way to help someone else with their computer problems.

Download CrossLoop

More Information

Skype “Pay As You Go” Credit vs Monthly Subscription
CrossLoop Website

Assuming that your Vista system enters “Hibernate” mode correctly, the following are a few basic quick steps to solve the problem of your computer waking up itself, based on the most likely causes of this issue.

Stop Vista Hibernation Mode from Waking Up On Its Own

Basically, what needs to be done is:

• Disable the ability of the mouse to wake up the system.
• Disable the ability of the network card to wake up the system.

Here are the steps needed to prevent Vista from exiting hibernation at random and unexpected times.

1. First, prevent the network card from waking up the system from hibernation. In Vista, go to Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center. Then click “View Status.”

   

   Or right-click on the network icon in the taskbar, then click Network and Sharing Center.

2. In the Status window that opens up, click on Properties.

   

3. In the Properties window that opens up, click on Configure, to change your network card settings.

   

4. In the Configure window that opens up for the network card, go to the Power Management tab. Make sure that “Allow this device to wake the computer” is unchecked for the network card.

   

5. Next, prevent the mouse from waking up the system. From the Control Panel, open the Mouse Properties. From the Hardware tab, click on Properties.

   

6. In the window that opens up, click on Change Settings.

   

7. Then, in the Power Management tab, make sure that “Allow this device to wake the computer” is unchecked for the mouse.

These are the basic steps often required to prevent a Windows Vista system from unexpectedly waking up from hibernation, where the user has not performed any action to wake up the system. For further troubleshooting if this issue persists, see the links below.

More Information

Vista’s Automatic “Wake Up” While In Hibernate Or Sleep Mode
How to troubleshoot hibernation and standby issues in Windows XP