Java????
 

dear friends,
I have been trying to measure the speed of my local fiber internet connection.
I am supposed to be able to run a "speed test" to determine if it is running at 10 that is what level we bought. It seems to be running slower than normal. They said we had to have java on our computer to run the speed test.
What is java?
We use fox fire, got rid of internet explorer.
Is it ok if I just down load the java program?
Will it change the way our computer runs?
thanks for your input.
bizi

Java / Firefox
 

Dear Bizi

Java is an internet program execution framework. some sites use it, others don't.

Is it the "speed test" site, that is telling you you need Java? or are you still in the process of installing Firefox?

Are you being prompted for a download?

If so, can you tell me the URL (http://the-stuff-here) that it says the download will take place from?

i'll be here for about a half hour (then it's dinner time). We can go into chat if you prefer...

~ waves ~

sorry just getting back on line, thanks waves.
fox fire is already up and running has been for about a year or so ...I think.
the speed test site told me that I needed to have java...but did not offer me to install it. I posted this on the comp tech forum here and they said that I could safely install java with out affecting my computers running.
So I will install java and then go back to see if I can run the speed test.
thanks again for your response, hope you had a nice dinner.
bizi

Bizi,

Java is a programing language.

I do not know how it will affect the speed of your computer. You could post on the computers and technology forum here.

M

I tried to install it and was unable to , I am not the administrator, jeff is so have to wait till he is home....this is really becoming annoying, I have been trying to do a speed check for a week it seems, first they did not tell me to not use a www. before the web adress so I had to call back now the java thing after a nother call. now can't install the java...I think I give upand jsut accept the fact that our computer is running more slowly.
bizi

Mari

While Java is also a programming language, it is much more - it is a runtime environment too - a framework. For Bizi's purposes, that's what it is, she won't be downloading the compiler, or writing programs, she will be running a tool that requires the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) also sometimes called the Java Virtual Machine (VM).

Bizi

yes you do need to be administrator to install any programs on windows. the runtime environment (JRE) which you need to install, is a program to all effects. don't worry yourself until Jeff gets back.

would you give me the url to the "speed checker" site, please? i'd like to check it out.

frankly, i do not think that using a Java utility for benchmarking your PC is particularly useful. A native compiled program (a .exe utility) would be better. This is because the performance of the actual benchmark tool itself will vary, depending on the version of the JRE a person has installed.

~ waves ~

speedtest.lus.net

it is specific to our local fiber internet service.
do you have a better site for me to test my speed?
thanks!
bizi

can't get there from here
 

i can't access the url... it must resolve locally (through your internet provider only).

globally it resolves to a "domain for sale" page, so i have no way to see what you see.

i am not aware of profilers, benchmarker etc, but someone else on the computer forum might... just make sure if you download an .exe it is from a well-known maker, even if it is freeware. if nothing else, the java one should be safe since your provider recommended it... it's not a huge deal - might tell you where your computer is "spending" more of its time... not sure exactly what you are testing.

are you wanting to figure out why the computer is running slower in general, or are you needing to test/verify your internet connection speed?

~ waves ~ sorry can't be of more help. sigh.

Thank you for your attention.
I am going to drop it. we have an old computer and I am sure that is why it runs slowly.
bizi

Dear Waves,

My posting was strange.
Somehow I posted without seeing your post.
I thought that Bizi had no replies so I went ahead and said something that I did not know anything about as a way of sending general support. It is weird, but this is not the first time --- I think I am the first reply when others have already in fact posted.

M

Dear Bizi,

I wish you luck with your speed issue. One of my friends was paying for a certain speed through her provider. Later she found out that her neighborhood was not connected for that speed/price range.
After some phone calls and emails she got some money back and then switched providers.

M

I answered you, Bizi, on the computer thread.;)

Dear Mari,

No worries. I understood your intent to be supportive. I somehow suspected you had missed my post too. I answered because i wanted to make sure Bizi didn't get confused - and wonder why she might have to install a programming language ;) when that wasn't the "piece" of Java she would be installing. I should have addressed that section of the post to both of you. I saw that afterwards and didn't edit - figured Bizi would read it anyway.

:heartthrob:

~ waves ~

Dear Bizi,

I am afraid i may have discouraged you unnecessarily before. :( My doubts as to the effectiveness of the java tool were in regards to overall benchmarking (measuring pure computational speed). Thinking about it you are more likely concerned with issues such as slowness in booting, shutting down, opening programs - Word, Excel, etc)... or internet speed. :o

Computers do not inherently become slow because they are old. Computers can become slower in time due to usage - stuff installed/uninstalled etc can produce a variety of issues, such as:
-- disk fragmentation (very common)
-- too many services running (comes from installation of lots of programs)
-- change in antivirus (the service takes more CPU time than the old one)
-- low disk space => fragmented pagefile
-- dirty registry (many superfluous entries)

i am not sure that your provider's tester does this kind of checking (i was unable to read the page :o) but there is no problem with it being a Java program insofar as effectiveness for this.

--------------------------

Similarly a Java app can measure connection speed accurately, if that is your concern, i.e.....

if the slowness is specific to internet-related activity...
-- opening a new page
-- refreshing a page
-- pressing submit to a post or even just
-- hitting thanks and waiting for it to "show up"

-------------------------

Chances are that either way the problem can be resolved. If internet speed is the problem, then you should certainly make sure you are getting the speed you are paying for. ;)

For the rest, one just needs to find the issue(s)... and act accordingly, eg. removing/disabling unused components/services, cleaning up a hard drive (if it has many "bad" areas," replacing it)... etc.

------------------------------

I'd say let Jeff have a look at that tool, and see if it corresponds to your needs. if so, have him install Java and proceed.

Ball is in your court. you sounded tired of this after the hassles you described, so i figure you'll take a break at least. just know you have my support if you need it - holler if you have other questions/issues.

~ waves ~

i am a dolt
 

Dear Bizi

:Ponder:

my dog ate this part of your post before i could read it :o ...
i don't have a dog, but that's the best excuse i could think of. :Dunno:

Get Jeff to install java and run that test. report results to your ISP. good luck.

i am tempted to delete my last post but since you suggest the computer might be "slow because it's old" i'll leave it, fyi, in case you have concerns besides the internet connection speed.

:Crazy 2: ~ waves ~ :Crazy 2:

We scanned the computer for old versions of java and there were not any. Then we installed java which was easy after disabling the firewall.
I then ran the speed test and it says it is running at almost 10 which is what we pay for so that is right.
thank you for your assistance and patience with me. Fortunately it was easy to do and not hard at all.
bizi