Tutorial on checking modem speed (internal modem)

From your desktop double click on My Computer.
When the My computer window opens as shown below, double click on the Control panel folder.
The control panel window will open. Double click on the icon that says System. See lower left hand area of the picture below.
Click on the tab that says Device Manager.
Open up the display that will show which modems you have connected to your system. You can single click on the + sign next to modem. It will display which modems you have connected. We will assume that you have an internal modem. If not, and if your external modem is connected to comm port 2 you would select that. That's another story for later.
Now single click on the tab that says Modem.
Now we are to the nitty gritty. Look at the modem speed setting in the window below. Is it set to 115200? Is it set at 9600? You can change it by selecting the speed you want. Normally it is 115200.
Click ok on all the windows and you're in business. If it was already set at 115200 and you still have a slow connection you might have the phone company check the line for noise.
Also take a look at the connection rate you are connected at. When connected to the internet, look in the lower right hand corner of your screen and you will see the icon to indicate that you are connected to the internet. It will look like two little monitors connected. Place your mouse pointer over them and let it sit there for a second or two. A small window will come up to tell you what rate your are connect at. I normally connect at 49.3 to 53.6.