Some people have been reporting (mainly people who use Norton Internet Security) that when they run the Speed Test applet (no matter where it's located) the computer crashes and gives them a fatal error deemed a "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD error). For some reason, the program reads Java applets as security risks and agrees with it as much as you would a 9-day-old piece of pizza found under the couch.
The way around it is to just disable NIS when running a speed test. Then it runs perfectly.
Netscape users: If there is a white box with a 3-colored icon of a cone, a square and a circle, you will need to clear your browser cache then reload your web browser.
If the applet loads, but won't run, check to see if there is an error in the applet by placing your mouse over the applet box. If there is a message in the status bar like "Class: xxxxx not found," clear your browser cache, then reload your web browser.
If you've been trying to run either the site Tweak Test or the Speed Test and you're having problems, here are some tips that might help:
Almost every thread we've had recently about problems with these apps points to a third party application like Norton Internet Security and\or Zone Alarm (Pro), or any other application that may be blocking a port or the redirect (even the Windows firewall itself). The Tweak Test uses ports 8085 and 8086 (so you should not be blocking outbound access to those ports). The Speed Test doesn't use anything other than standard web requests.
Here are links to some of those threads:
/forum/remark,11021132~mode=flat /forum/remark,11044327~mode=flat /forum/remark,11151114~mode=flat »tweaktest (opening ports 8085 and 8086)
• If you're running Windows XP/SP2, try the technique below. It will reset the registry to default TCP/IP values.
Open a Command Prompt and type: netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt Reboot.
• Make sure that you have Java installed on your machine. You can download it here: »www.java.com/en/download/windows···atic.jsp Another of our users discovered this: After installing SP2, I uninstalled Sun Java, visited their site and did a manual download and install. Tweak Tester II worked fine after that.
• Keep in mind that the new DSLR Speed Test applets will NOT work with the MS JVM. Since Speakeasy and Optimum OnLine license their speed test from DSLR, the Speakeasy test may be upgraded to the new one shortly as well.
• DSLR member jsaun offers this additional help: To enable speed test redirecting in Norton Internet Security 2004, do this: Choose Ad Blocking::Configure. Click "Advanced." Scroll down to www.broadbandreports.com - add it if it is not there. Select www.broadbandreports.com and click the "Global Settings" tab. Uncheck "Use Default settings" and check "Permit" for each of the 5 sections. All done.
Q: I have winxp home and ZA pro...when I use your Speed Test all seems to go well until the test finishes and then the test status says "redirecting" and I can't view my results...I've changed my privacy settings without success. Any suggestions?
A: Disable Zone Alarm pop-up stopper. It interacts badly with WinXP/SP2 for some reason. The same goes for Norton's NIS2004 Ad Blocking. Apparently, the NIS Ad Blocker doesn't play nice with the SP2 Pop-up Blocker.