IMac Internet Access Slow based on User

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Level 1

26 points

IMac Internet Access Slow based on User

I just setup my new Imac (21 inch, 2.9Ghz, 16MB RAM). When I migrated my stuff from my old Windows PC Apple created a new user ID and moved everything under this ID. So far everything worked as advertised. My plan was to delete the inital User-ID later und use the ID created by Migration Assistant. Currently I have a user "Joe Miller" and "Jmiller" for simplicity. "Joe Miller" was the initial ID when starting the computer. "Jmiller" was created by Migration Assistant. The browsing experience for "Jmiller" is pretty bad (slow, webpages take a long time to load, load half way and then stop). However if I switch user to "Joe Miller" everything is fine and speed is as expected from my ISP. I checked already all setting in Safari, Network and everything is identical for both users. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on May 7, 2013 12:58 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

May 7, 2013 2:28 PM in response to glump

Hi, this has worked for a few...

Though all of these steps may or may not be needed, I'm including them all.

Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712

10.5, 10.6, 10.7 & 10.8…

System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.

10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x instructions...

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

If using Wifi/Airport...

Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.

For 10.5/10.6/10.7/10.8, System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

(There may be better or faster DNS numbers in your area, but these should be a good test).

Click OK.

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Answer 2

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

May 7, 2013 5:57 PM in response to glump

There is no reason for you to change any of your network settings. They apply to all users, and you only have a problem in one account.

In the account with slow browsing, take the steps recommended in the following support article, under the heading "Disable DNS prefetching:"

Slow or partial webpage loading, or webpage cannot be found

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

May 7, 2013 9:51 PM in response to Linc Davis

They apply to all users, and you only have a problem in one account.

??? 😕

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Answer 4

glump Author

Level 1

26 points

May 8, 2013 5:02 PM in response to glump

After trying all the suggestions with no improvement, I drove my Imac to the next Apple store and talked to an "expert." The same issue occured in the store while connected to their WiFi/Ethernet (Error replicated - good news). After trying this or that we finally deleted the automatic location and the problem was fixed. As part of running migration assistant to transfer stuff from Microsoft, it must have corrupted the network location. Deleting the "automatic" location and creating a new one entirely solved the problem.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

May 8, 2013 5:12 PM in response to glump

Thanks for the report! 🙂

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