Recently someone installed a computer network in my office, meaning finally we can store all our files on a single server computer. We all use Win XP Pro SP2, and I think the server is Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 or something like that. Anyway, my computer's hardware is identical to all others on the network (10 in total), and the settings on my computer for the network are apparently identical to all other computers too (someone else checked). Also, someone checked the server settings and can see that my settings are the same once again. I've gone through Windows turning off one program at a time, but my network access is still so much slower than anyone elses. For example, for me to open a series of folders on the server (from my computer), takes 4 - 20 seconds per folder - whereas all other computers open the same folders instantaneously. I've got up-to-date virus and anti-spyware protection, and none of it has picked up any nasties. Sorry my knowledge of networking is poor - can anyone advise what else to check?

Many things can cause network slowdown. Some things to try: 1) Connect your workstation to a different port on the hub/switch. 2) Replace the network cable from your pc to the wall/cubicle jack or to wherever it goes. 3) Replace the cable from the hub/switch to the jack. 4) Verify that your network card isn't set to a network speed/duplex setting the hub doesn't support. Most of the time automatic is the best setting.

Hi ntengineer Thanks for your help. I've worke through suggestions 1-3 and they haven't helped. Unfortuantely my knowledge isn't strong enough to try #4, but I'll ask a collegue to do that sometime today. I checked and the server is Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Found a seemingly nonsensical solution. I was accessing my network via a shortcut on my desktop, that went to \\Server\folder. One day I was randomly accessing the network via "My Network Connections" (a slower process as there are more steps involved), and I noticed that network access speed was far far quicker. So I copied the address, made a new shortcut on my desktop (which, in the properties also showed \\Network\folder), and now that one works brilliantly, whilst the first is still painfully slow. Makes no sense to me, but somehow there was something wrong in the first of two seemingly identical shortcuts.

In the solution above, I meant both shortcuts showed \\Server\folder. Sorry about the confusion.