VDr is slow

[Welshjim]

VDr has been slow to load and slow to change from page to page for some time now. But lately it is really slow. More than ten seconds for initial load and at least eight or nine seconds for switching pages.
I used several of the Speed tests. They indicate the ISP (Comcast) is not at fault. And most other sites click right in.
I also tried IE9 without add-ons, and also unplugged and replugged the modem.

Does anyone else see this?

[SpywareDr]

On the machine I'm on right now it's taking maybe 2-3 seconds to load each new VDr page. It's running XP Pro [with ALL updates] and Firefox 4.0 with javascript disabled.

[Welshjim]

SpywareDr--I tried Firefox. Definitely faster page to page (though not as fast as you mention). But still around ten seconds for initial load.

[SpywareDr]

According to my watch's second hand, it's still taking less than three seconds to load various VDr pages this morning in Firefox 4.0. (Which ain't bad considering the pages are assembled on-the-fly and then sent clear across the U.S. to me).

Just tried http://discussions.virtualdr.com in IE 8.0.6001.18702 and it took about 2-1/2 seconds before some of the top of the page appeared and then between 5-1/2 and 6 seconds before it finished loading. I then clicked on the "General & Business Software" link and it took right at 4 seconds to finish loading that page.

Google Chrome 10.0.648.205 does get something on the screen faster, (especially if you don't flush any caches), but it still took it 5-1/2 to 6 seconds before an initial display of http://discussions.virtualdr.com was completely finished loading. I then clicked on the "General & Business Software" link and it took it less than 3 seconds.

--

BTW, this is all while being connected at 3Mbps.

[Steve R Jones]

I was here about a hour before Jim made this thread. My whopping 2.4 meg download speed at the office loaded the page normally.

This morning its doing just fine too and I'm now on 20meg+ speed.

[SuperSparks]

I haven't noticed any difference from usual, with pages loading in a couple of seconds. And the pages have to swim the Atlantic to get to me

[Welshjim]

Thanks, all.

[SpywareDr]

... And the pages have to swim the Atlantic to get to me

ROFL

[Dude111]

The loading of the site is pretty good for me (Pretty much how its always been )

[Welshjim]

Well, I found what is the cause, at least in part.
If I disable my HOSTS file (from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm ) VDr loads more than twice as fast vs. HOSTS being active, and switching from page to page within VDr is very fast.
I have no idea which of the many sites blocked by HOSTS is causing the delay.
Strange. I thought the HOSTS file would, in general, speed things up by blocking ad sites. And, of course, I do not get ads on VDr, anyway, because I am a Specialist.

[jdc2000]

It does not necessarily have to be ad sites in your HOSTS that can cause delays - any blocked IP address or site can cause a delay while the browser waits for the time out to expire. Also, if you have a really large HOSTS file, and relatively slow computer, that will also cause a delay

[Train]

HOSTS that can cause delays, why I gave up on it.

[Steve R Jones]

I quit using HOSTS files too, several years ago.... The concept is nice - the side effects stink.

[ua549]

A HOSTS file is read sequentially for every new connection.
That reduces connection speed to that of the disk i/o.

[Welshjim]

Thanks for the comments.
FWIW--VDr is the only site where the slowness is noticeable. All other sites may be slower than without HOSTS, but they are not anywhere near as slow as VDr.