Problem: Member needs Appletalk set to Ethernet to make the connection, but also needs it set to the printer port in order to print using AppleTalk.
This is a limitation of the Mac OS AppleTalk driver and occurs when 2 NIC's are installed, one for the DSL, and one for the Ethernet based printer. Once the DSL connection is established AppleTalk can be changed to the desired port or completely inactivated with no interference to the DSL connection.

Windows:
Perform the first 2 solutions and check for throughput again. If these do not help, check items 3 and 4. 
1 Disable any firewall software. (completely remove it from memory)
  • Disconnect from the Internet and close the browser.
  • Check the Systray icons and close everything running (except video card utilities).
  • Press Control-Alt-Delete and end task on everything but Explorer and Systray. Some firewalls and anti-virus apps refuse to end task and may lock up the machine in the process. In this case, run msconfig and look under the Startup tab. Uncheck everything except Systray and reboot.
2 Make sure that proxy settings are not enabled in the browser, and empty the cache:
  • For IE5.x, click Tools - Internet Options, click the Delete Files button, and click OK to the confirmation.
    Click the Settings button, and set the cache size down to 10 MB
    Click the Connections tab, then the LAN settings button. Uncheck all options.
    Click OK twice to return to the browser window.
  • For Netscape 4.x and 6.x, Click Edit - Preferences - Advanced - Cache
    Click the "Clear Disk Cache" button, and click OK to the confirmation.
    Netscape usually has a low cache specified, such as 7680 KBytes, which is fine.
    Click the Proxies category, the dot should be next to "Direct connection to the Internet".
    Click OK once to return to the browser window.
3 Check for Host files:
  • Click Start - Find - Files or Folders
    Search for "hosts" (no extension)
  • You should find 2 files, hosts.sam and lmhosts.sam
    These are sample host files and are ok to leave, any others must be deleted.
4 Check the 2 Winsock files:
    Delete any winsocks except those listed below, and check file sizes.
    Replace any missing or incorrect files.
  • Click Start - Find - Files or Folders
    Search for "winsock.dll wsock32.dll" (space between and no quotes)
  • Windows 95:
    Winsock.dll is 42k and located in C:\Windows
    Wsock32.dll is 65k and located in C:\Windows\System
  • Windows 98/98se:
    Winsock.dll is 21k and located in C:\Windows
    Wsock32.dll is 40k and located in C:\Windows\System
  • Windows NT:
    Winsock.dll is 3k and located in C:\WinNT\System32
    Wsock32.dll is 21k and located in C:\WinNT\System32
  • Windows 2000:
    Winsock.dll is 3k and located in C:\WinNT\System32
    Wsock32.dll is 21k and located in C:\WinNT\System32
5 Remove and reinstall Comunications:
  • Remove all network components, except the NIC and Client for Microsoft Networks. Do not reboot.
  • Uncheck Communications in Add/Remove - Windows Setup, click Ok. Do not reboot.
  • Double-click Communications and check only Dial-up Networking, click OK. Do not reboot.
  • Check Network Control Panel for correct components, and reboot.
6 Remove and re-install the PPPoE software.
  • See the appropriate software page for instructions.
7 Remove and reinstall the Ethernet card drivers.

Mac:
1 Disable any firewall software. (completely remove it from memory)
  • Disconnect from the Internet and close the browser.
  • Press Apple + Option + Escape to force quit all programs (except Finder!)
    This works like Control-Alt-Delete in Windows, except only one app at a time is displayed.
    Finder will be the last app listed, and the only one if nothing else is running.
2 Make sure that proxy settings are not enabled in the browser, and empty the cache:
  • For IE5.x, click Edit - Preferences - Advanced, and click the Empty Now button.
    Set the cache size down to 10 MB
    Scroll down and click on Proxies, nothing should be checked.
    Click OK to return to the browser window.
  • For Netscape 4.x, Click Edit - Preferences - Advanced - Cache
    Click the "Clear Disk Cache Now" button, and click OK to the confirmation.
    Netscape usually has a low cache specified, such as 7680 KBytes, which is fine.
    Click the Proxies category, the dot should be next to "Direct connection to the Internet".
    Click OK once to return to the browser window.
3 Trash the TCP/IP Preference file(s)
  • Click File - Find, and search for "tcp/ip preferences"
  • Delete all copies (unless they have multiple Internet providers)
  • Set up a fresh copy of TCP/IP preferences
  • Reconnect and check for throughput.

  • Disclaimer - Line quality as well as length will determine the users's speed, and these are factors beyond the ISP's control.

Windows:
1 Make sure that proxy settings are not enabled in the browser, and empty the cache:
  • For IE5.x, click Tools - Internet Options, click the Delete Files button, and click OK to the confirmation.
    Click the Settings button, and set the cache size down to 10 MB
    Click the Connections tab, then the LAN settings button. Uncheck all options.
    Click OK twice to return to the browser window.
  • For Netscape 4.x and 6.x, Click Edit - Preferences - Advanced - Cache
    Click the "Clear Disk Cache" button, and click OK to the confirmation.
    Netscape usually has a low cache specified, such as 7680 KBytes, which is fine.
    Click the Proxies category, the dot should be next to "Direct connection to the Internet".
    Click OK once to return to the browser window.
2 Apply a speed tweak to optimize the registry settings.
This is a good one - http://www.speedguide.net/files/sguide_tweak_98_pppoe.zip   (for '98 only)
(unzip and right-click the .inf file, chose Install, and reboot)
For Windows NT and Windows 2000, apply the registry changes manually. (See the Tips page)
Windows Me is already optimized for high speed connections and does not require any tweaks.
Mac's generally don't need speed tweaks and really have no way to implement them either.
For Windows machines, check the Network Control Panel settings, as well as applying the tweak.
For Mac's check the TCP/IP Control Panel Settings or trash and rebuild them.
(search for the word "preferences" and trash all copies of TCP/IP Preferences, reboot and re-enter the settings)
3 In some cases, having the vendor re-provision the line will help. Keep in mind that Covad only guarantees 128kbps.
4 Overclocking the CPU, if done incorrectly, can cause a slowdown in throughput.
Turning down the PCI bus multiplier from 1/3 to 1/4 has fixed this. (user is on their own doing this)
5 Using a RJ-11 cable in a RJ-45 jack will also degrade throughput.
6 If the user is experiencing a sudden and major drop in throughput, contact the ISP for a line check.

Mac:
1 Disable any firewall software. (completely remove it from memory)
  • Disconnect from the Internet and close the browser.
  • Press Apple + Option + Escape to force quit all programs (except Finder!)
    This works like Control-Alt-Delete in Windows, except only one app at a time is displayed.
    Finder will be the last app listed, and the only one if nothing else is running.
2 Make sure that proxy settings are not enabled in the browser, and empty the cache:
  • For IE5.x, click Edit - Preferences - Advanced, and click the Empty Now button.
    Set the cache size down to 10 MB
    Scroll down and click on Proxies, nothing should be checked.
    Click OK to return to the browser window.
  • For Netscape 4.x, Click Edit - Preferences - Advanced - Cache
    Click the "Clear Disk Cache Now" button, and click OK to the confirmation.
    Netscape usually has a low cache specified, such as 7680 KBytes, which is fine.
    Click the Proxies category, the dot should be next to "Direct connection to the Internet".
    Click OK once to return to the browser window.
3 Trash the TCP/IP Preference file(s)
  • Click File - Find, and search for "tcp/ip preferences"
  • Delete all copies (unless they have multiple Internet providers)
  • Set up a fresh copy of TCP/IP preferences
  • Reconnect and check the throughput.