I have this desktop computer I put together. It has never been fast on the internet like my bought laptop.
I tested my laptop at cnet for internet speed and it got 42.4kbps when my desktop got a whopping 22.8kbps.

So its about half as fast as my laptop. They are both on the same phone line. What can make such a variable between the two of them? We
cant even use the desktop hardly cause its so so slow its pathetic.
I was thinking of changing the modem would that help?
Thanks

I would look for loose or damaged telephone wiring. If you have a 56K modem in the desktop it want do much good to change it unless it is damaged. If you are using the same phone jack to hook up both computers one at a time that would eliminate a lot of possibilities. Is this the case?

Only one can be on at the same time with dial up.
I use a simple splitter. One cable goes one way and they other to the pc.

In order to eliminate a bad wire from being the cause of the problem, use the exact same cable to hookup each computer--one at a time. The problem could be in the splitter or the cable from the splitter to the desktop. What size modem is in the desktop?

They are both 56k modems. I cant use my laptop cable its kinda stuck to the floor. I can however get a new one I got with a phone I got yesterday.

Hello, what security tools are on both machines, I ask, because antivirus and firewalls check packets as they come in, are both machines running the same setup?

Unplug the line going to your desktop and use it to hookup your laptop. The point of doing this is to use your laptop to find out if it is a bad cable or splitter and if not then you know it is either the female connector at the computer or the next logical conclusion would be the modem. One side of the splitter could be bad.

Well one pc is xp pro and one is xp home. I think they both have avg free on them and thats it.

I will try these steps and report back.

As I recall, there are settings in some modems for "duplex" and "halp-duplex" - and if my memory serves me correctly, the half-duplex setting may cut your speed in half.