Data transfer is too slow on Windows XP machine

[revolucioncg]

Whenever I send a file from one machine running Windows XP to another it goes very slowly! The Windows Task Manager shows that I am using only 1 - 2% of my network bandwidth to send the file. I am surely that there should be a way to improve this speed! But how?

I know about collisions and how they affects the limit of network speed, but my network activity at the moment is 0% (I am neither surfing internet nor doing any other work on computer).

Can someone explain this to me?

[Archibald]

How are the two computer's connected (via hub / switch) ? What is the NIC speed on both the computer (10, 100, 1000 Mbps) ? How is the quality of the cables (CAT5,...) ? What about the TCP stack lost packages? Which application are you using to transfer files?

[revolucioncg]

I am using Cat5e cable throughout my network. I have 100Mbps NICs on both the computer, although I have to slow one of them down to 10Mbps in the past in order to connect them reliably.

I am transferring the files through Windows Explorer (just copy and paste as normal) in network location.

Could that be the problem of Windows which is slowing me down?

[Archibald]

It sounds to me a wire problem. Probably one of the wire is bad and causing you the problem. Generally, cables and especially connectors can break over time. Just reconfirm from a professional cable tester.

You can also try using a new and tested cable. A bad network setup can also cause these problems.

[Baltazar]

Also check the collisions counter of the Ethernet stack, and especially watch it when sending over a file. If it increases incredibly, then something is really wrong. If you have a switch the collisions counter should be zero actually.

"netstat -e" command will help you achieve this.