Fixing µTorrent Sluggish Download Speed: Windows XP Firewall & Port Forwarding

[KC9FVV]

My bittorrent program (µTorrent) only runs at about 30 KB/s even though I have a 1.5 mbps connection.

Here are the error messages that apply to me:

What does "Error opening Windows Firewall: 0x800706D9" mean?

This means that µTorrent was unable to add itself as an exception to the Windows Firewall, using the standard Windows Firewall API. This most likely means that the firewall is disabled or not present. You can safely ignore this error. However, if you have another software firewall, you will still need to manually configure it to allow incoming and outgoing connections.

I'm running the Windows XP firewall, how would I be able to configure it to allow incoming and outgoing connections?

Here's the other error:

What does "Unable to map UPnP port to xx.xx.xx.xx:xx" mean?

This error means that µTorrent was unable to map the port with UPnP. If you have a green status light or have forwarded your port manually, you can safely ignore this error. However, if you have a yellow/red status [I have a red light] light, it may mean that you need to forward the port manually, or that your firewall is blocking incoming connections. UPnP will currently only work on Windows XP, so other OSes will need to forward manually.

So it's either that my firewall is clocking incoming connections, or I need to forward a port. Again, how would I be able to set the firewall connections? I found a site that shows you how to forward ports, and it shows a list of routers and firewalls: http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/routerindex.htm

As I said, I have the Windows XP firewall, so which would I choose if the firewall connection isn't the problem?

 

[kaos]

Are you behind a network? If so u need to enable uPnP on your router.

 

[Luminous Blob]

As I said, I have the Windows XP firewall, so which would I choose if the firewall connection isn't the problem?

By that do you mean which router should you choose out of the list on the site you linked?

 

[KC9FVV]

Well when I looked at my download today it was going at 115 KB/s, but as soon as I started to surf the net, it went back down to 20 again, and isn't going back up. It didn't go above 30 the entire day yesterday.

I think I have a direct connection to the internet, I'm not running through a router as of right now (I think I lost it ).

To luminous bob, I'm trying to decide which firewall to choose, the site says "below is a list of routers and firewalls, click on the one that applies to you and it will show you how to forward a port."

 

[Luminous Blob]

Okay, if you're not behind a router and you're using Windows Firewall, then that list isn't going to help, because they're all routers and hardware firewalls.

What brand and model of modem are you using?

 

[KC9FVV]

The brand is Westell, and the model is C90-610014-06.

 

[Luminous Blob]

Okay, well I'm pretty sure that's a router. The site you linked seems to have a page for that one, so try this and see if it helps:

http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Westell/Westell6100/Utorrent.htm

 

[KC9FVV]

It seems that it works both as a modem and a router. Everything is working fine now, thanks a lot.