JUST A TECHNICAL TIP TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR SET-UP.

When you get BROADBAND [from whatever source or supplier], you will be given the choice of connecting either via your USB port [or any USB port on your USB expansion break-out box] or via an Ethernet Card.  USB [Universal Serial Bus] is very common:  all modern computer have them fitted by the manufacturer just like serial and parallel ports, and for all practical purposes they are much better than the 'old' type ports.  Nevertheless, as you will see, there is a down-side to them.  Ethernet [a hard wired port [RJ45 telephone-type socket] on your computer or a plug-in PCI card [usually into a Laptop computer] with Ethernet facilities], is much less common in the home, but the primary means of connecting in the office.

Since USB is widely fitted in the home and office, your Broadband supplier will suggest that you connect using your USB port.  However, if you do so, your aspiration of having a high speed connection may not be met!

If you connect using USB you will require a MINIMUM of 80% system resources to be able to achieve OPTIMUM browsing and download speeds. [It may be quicker than your old dial-up modem, but not as quick as the adverts tell you!].  To check your available SYSTEM RESOURCES, right click on MY COMPUTER, select PROPERTIES, then select PERFORMANCE.  There you will see your AVAILABLE RESOURCES expressed as a percentage.  If it is less than 80%, your speed will be restricted.  If it is very much lower, say at 60%, you will be back to dial-up modem speeds.

System resource availability is dependent upon a number of tasks the computer is being asked to perform at any one time.  Certain non-essential programs load as soon as the PC starts and will consume your precious resources WITHOUT your knowledge.  You can aid this by CLOSING down all unnecessary applications.

This lack of resources very rarely affects an Ethernet connection.

Thus, using USB you can expect a GREATER FLUCTUATION in speed vis a vis the same machine connected via Ethernet.

If you do decide to use an Ethernet card [I use an Xircom] and to connect using it, remember that your NETWORK ADAPTER folder can ONLY have either a USB or a Ethernet device - not both!  To get rid of the one you do not want, do the following.  Right click on MY COMPUTER and go to PROPERTIES. Click on DEVICE MANAGERS and scroll down to NETWORK ADAPTERS - click on them to open.  Click on the device not required and then on REMOVE.  Reboot [re start] your computer on completion for the changes to take effect.

One last thing on this subject.  If you UPLOAD things to distant servers e.g., photographs/graphics to Microsoft Communities Group etc., you may find that a USB connection corrupts the picture.  The same applies if you have a website of your own, when data published in an upload may be rejected.

Happy hunting.