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web accelerator advanced help

Does Web Accelerator accelerate DSL or cable?

Web Accelerator works with connections operating at speeds up to 200Kbps (kilobits per second). In addition to dial-up connections, some wireless, ISDN, or slow DSL connections qualify. If you have not downloaded Web Accelerator and you are not sure what your Internet connection speed is, click here. If you have installed Web Accelerator you can check your speed by using Web Accelerator diagnostics , available from the Web Accelerator taskbar menu. Please note: Web Accelerator is only available on dialup2 and unlimited hours accounts.

What types of Web content does Propel accelerate?

Web Accelerator accelerates Web page text (including plain text, HTML, markup and javascript) and the most common forms of graphics: Gif, animated Gif, and JPEG images, Flash and File downloads.

Web Accelerator does not accelerate other forms of Internet content, including: streaming media, such as video and audio streams; secure pages, such as those used for online banking and credit card forms.

Does Web Accelerator work with Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)?

VPNs provide remote users with secure access to corporate Intranets. VPN traffic is usually encrypted. For this reason, Web Accelerator does not speed up Web pages accessed over VPNs. However, Web Accelerator automatically allows non-accelerated surfing over VPN connections. When Web Accelerator is accessing VPN pages, a yellow triangle (similar to a yield sign) appears on the Web Accelerator icon in the taskbar to let you know that Web Accelerator is temporarily unavailable. If you experience problems using a VPN connection when Web Accelerator is active please click here to contact Customer Service.

Will deleting my browser's temporary Internet files (cache) adversely affect my browsing performance?

Yes. Deleting your browser's temporary files - often referred to as "cache," "browser's cache", or "cache files" can potentially impact browser performance, since there will initially be no static cached pages. Similarly, deleting Web Accelerator temporary files - which you can do from the Web Accelerator Options - will temporarily decrease the amount of acceleration you receive. If you are using Web Accelerator, the effect of deleting your browser's cache will be less pronounced than what would otherwise be the case. There should be no reason to delete your cache on a regular basis.

Once in a while I see a box with an X in it where I would expect an image to appear. What causes this?

Web pages frequently have broken graphic links. However, if you are seeing more than the usual number of broken links, you can confirm that Web Accelerator isn't contributing to this problem by following these steps:

  1. Click on the Web Accelerator icon in the taskbar ( blue propeller icon near the clock )
  2. Select Disable Web Accelerator from the pop-up menu.
  3. Hold down the Ctrl key and click Refresh in the Internet Explorer window. [Netscape users, just click Reload .]

If the image appears, try enabling Web Accelerator and doing a Ctrl-Refresh on the problem page. See if the problem reoccurs. Many other factors can cause or contribute to "broken" images on Web pages. Here are some of the more common ones:

  • The Web site is being updated at the same time you request the page. Try re-visiting the Web page after a couple of hours.
  • There might be a more long-term problem with the Web page.

Microsoft has confirmed a problem with Internet Explorer versions prior to Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 2 (case #Q281197). Although Web Accelerator recommends Service Pack 3, if it is inconvenient to upgrade a temporary solution to this problem is to refresh the page by clicking Refresh on the Internet Explorer toolbar, or by clicking Refresh on the IE View menu to retrieve the redirected URL and display the missing image. For additional information regarding this problem, please visit Microsoft's Product Support Services Web site located at: http://support.microsoft.com

How do I uninstall Web Accelerator?

IMPORTANT: If you are using Netscape, Mozilla, or Opera, you will need to manually reconfigure the proxy settings in the browser after uninstalling or stopping Web Accelerator in order to continue using the Internet. See below for further details.

Uninstall Web Accelerator

  1. Click on Start -> Programs-> Web Accelerator
  2. Click on Uninstall Web Accelerator

Alternatively, Web Accelerator can be uninstalled using the Add/Remove Programs in control panel. Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs .

Restoring the Browser's Proxy Address and Port Number: Netscape, Mozilla, or Opera
These instructions are for restoring Netscape's original proxy settings after uninstalling Web Accelerator. These instructions generally apply to Opera and Mozilla.

  1. Click on the Netscape Edit menu and select Preferences...
  2. Click on the mark next to the Advanced category or simply double-click on Advanced .
  3. Click on Proxies .
  4. If there was a proxy address in use prior to installing Web Accelerator, [Netscape 4.7 only: click View... first] enter that address and port number. Otherwise click Direct Connection to the Internet .

I have two computers; can I share the Web Accelerator service?

Yes. Although a Web Accelerator Service cannot be simultaneously used on multiple computers, as a dialup user your service can be available for use on both machines. Here's how to enable another PC to use your Web Accelerator Service:

  1. Sign in to access your Toolbox page, using your User Name and Password.
  2. Within Account Tools select Web Accelerator and follow the instructions to enable and download Web Accelerator

Your Web Accelerator will immediately be enabled on the new system. In addition, a message will appear on the system you were using indicating that Web Accelerator is no longer active. Once installed you can easily switch back and forth between several computers, using the same Web Accelerator account. Switching acceleration from computer A to computer B is immediate and automatic. However, if you try to switch acceleration back to A within a few minutes, you will be unable to do so due to a brief "time out" period. Additional notes: If you need to use Web Accelerator at the same time on more than one system, multiple accounts are needed.

Does Web Accelerator work in a LAN configuration?

Yes, Web Accelerator will work in a Local Area Network, Wireless Network, peer-to-peer, or with Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).

Web Accelerator needs to be installed on each PC that needs acceleration. You can share one service with other computers on the network but only one computer will receive acceleration at a time. If you need the computers accelerated at the same time, each computer needs to have its own service with us.

No special configuration is needed for Web Accelerator to work.

How can I find out what proxy port number Web Accelerator is using?

Follow these steps to check the Web Accelerator proxy port number:

  1. Click the small blue Web Accelerator icon (located in the taskbar by the system clock).
  2. Click Options...
  3. Click Advanced...
  4. Note the port number. You will need this number to configure Netscape, Opera, or Mozilla to work with Web Accelerator.
  5. Click OK .

Does Web Accelerator work with cell phones used as data modems?

Yes. Web Accelerator will work with most 2.5G and 3G Wireless Data-enabled phones connected to a laptop. Acceleration up to 12X has been measured.

How can I further improve Acceleration performance?

Note: This FAQ is also useful if you are simply interested in figuring out exactly how much acceleration you are getting.

With Web Accelerator in place you should be seeing a very noticable increase in surfing speed -- an average of 3X acceleration, with some pages appearing up to 5 times faster. To get a better idea of the types of speed improvements you should expect to receive, see the Web Accelerator Settings Information. It contains a table showing typical speed improvements accessing several popular Web sites such as news.com.au , over dial-up modems.

In our studies Web page performance can be significantly influenced by a number of factors including:

  • Amount of data required to display a Web page. If you haven't already done so, try a higher Graphics Acceleration setting such as Level 4 or 5. For complete details on graphics acceleration options click here.
  • Connection speed, which can vary significantly even when you are using the same ISP and dialing in to the same phone number.
  • Available memory (RAM), which can vary depending on the number of applications you are running. Even though Web Accelerator can run with very little available RAM, acceleration benefits can be further optimized if you have plenty of free RAM available.

If you are not seeing a very noticeable increase in surfing speed with Web Accelerator (or perhaps no improvement at all), please take the following steps:

1. First you need to make sure that Web Accelerator is working properly. When you browse a typical Web site you should see arrows moving over the Web Accelerator icon (blue propeller in the Windows taskbar, near the clock). If you are not seeing the arrows or are getting little to no acceleration click here for important Troubleshooting Tips. It only takes a few minutes to make sure that Web Accelerator is working for you.

If Web Accelerator is working properly, the next step is to measure the performance increase you are getting:

  • The mouse-over - The quickest/fastest way to determine the amount of acceleration you are getting is to move your mouse over the Web Accelerator icon. A small pop-up will appear telling you that Web Accelerator is enabled and will report the average speed up you are getting.
  • Performance meter-Click on the Web Accelerator menu and choose Performance Meter and Test Page... In addition to displaying your average speed-up, you'll also see your effective speed in kbps (kilobits/second) based on Web Accelerator's compression of text and graphics.
  • Enable/Disable Web Accelerator-You can use the Disable Web Accelerator menu command to turn off Web Accelerator for an hour or two of surfing, then turn it back on and use it for a similar amount of time.
  • Independent verification. Numion provides a "stopwatch" for timing page loads as well as many other interesting timing tools:
    To use the Numion stopwatch to test Web Accelerator:
    1. Choose Disable Web Accelerator from the Web Accelerator menu
    2. Go to the Numion StopWatch page
    3. Enter the URL of your choice to be measured
    4. Click Start StopWatch
    5. Write down the results
    6. Enable Web Accelerator
    7. Time the same URL
    8. Compare the results.

Try the test several times. You can also experiment with clearing your browser cache and the Web Accelerator cache.

  • Numion has another interesting test involving popular Web sites:
    1. First, disable Web Accelerator
    2. Go to the Numion home page
    3. Click on the Yourspeed button
    4. Choose a location (or the world)
    5. Click Start !
    6. Write down your results
    7. Enable Web Accelerator
    8. Run through steps 2-6
    9. Compare the results

Just a reminder: If you aren't seeing the acceleration you expect, please click here for Troubleshooting Tips.

Is Web Accelerator properly installed?
If Web Accelerator is installed on your computer a small blue propeller-like icon will appear in the Windows taskbar area (near the system clock).

Is Web Accelerator active?
If Web Accelerator is active while you are surfing the Internet, the Web Accelerator icon will appear as opposing white arrows flashing over the propeller. Try accessing a Web site. You should see the icon arrows flash as Web pages load.

How do I see the original graphic quality of specific image or Web page?

If you are using Internet Explorer, simply move your mouse over an image on a Web page and right-click. You'll see that two new options are available:

  • Refresh Page with Full Quality
  • Refresh Picture with Full Quality

If you select one of these options, Web Accelerator will replace the compressed graphic image with an original quality version. When the Web Accelerator icon arrows stop moving, the new image is in place.

The right-click options are not available in Outlook, Netscape, Opera or Mozilla. Please follow these steps.

  1. Click once on the small blue propeller icon located near your system clock. Select Disable Web Accelerator
  2. Hold down the Ctrl key and click on the refresh icon on the browser toolbar. The compressed graphic image will be replaced with an original quality version.

In Outlook use the Save As command to save the file in HTML format to your desktop, then double click it to view in your browser. Once in your browser, you can use the Refresh With Full Quality right-click commands.

Note:

  • When you first install Web Accelerator, it is necessary to close and then restart IE in order to have the Refresh Page and Refresh Picture right-click menu options available.
  • If you want to save the original quality of an image to your hard drive you will first need to refresh the original quality.
  • If you wish to change the graphics quality setting, click on the small blue propeller icon located near your system clock and select options .
  • If you uninstalled Web Accelerator and you want to remove the degraded images, click here for details.

If you have specific Web pages you do not want accelerated and therefore always see original image quality, follow these instructions.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

  1. Go to the specific Web page. Right-click on the Web URL in the browser address bar and select copy .
  2. From Internet Explorer select Tools -> Internet Options . Then click on the Connections tab. Select the connection you are using. Click Settings...
  3. Click the Advanced... button.
  4. Click in the Exceptions box, right-click and select paste.
  5. Click OK
  6. Clear your Browser and Web Accelerator Cache.

For complete details on graphics acceleration options click here.

Why are images still degraded after I uninstall Web Accelerator?

In order to speed up web browsing, web browsers are designed to download parts of web pages and store them locally on your machine in an area called "cache" also known as temporary files. When you visit the same page for a second time, the browser speeds up display time by loading the parts of the page locally from your cache instead of downloading from the Web site. As a result it will use degraded images from your cache. To remove these degraded images so the browser will load new ones from the Web site simply delete your browser cache.

If you are still using Web Accelerator you will also need to delete the Web Accelerator cache. You can do so by clicking on the small blue propeller icon near your system clock, click on Options , click on Temporary Files , click on the Delete Files button.

Internet Explorer

  1. Select Tools > Internet Options... from the main menu
  2. You should be on the General tab
  3. Click on Delete Files button

Netscape

  1. Select Edit > Preferences... from the main menu
  2. Change to the Advanced > Cache section
  3. Click on Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk Cache buttons to clear memory and disk cache

Why do I get the error: Page Not Found?

Browser Configuration

As part of the acceleration process, Web Accelerator uses a "proxy server" on your computer. A proxy server is a local program that manages Web traffic to and from your browser. The proxy server is configured in your browser. If this is not configured correctly in your browser you may receive this error.

Click here if you received this error after uninstalling Web Accelerator

Cannot surf after installing Web Accelerator?

Internet Explorer

  1. Click on the small blue propeller icon and select Options , then click on the Advanced... button write down the port number. Click Cancel .
  2. From Internet Explorer select Tools > Internet Options . Then click on the Connections tab. Select the connection you are using. Click Settings...
  3. Make sure that the "Use a proxy server for this connection" checkbox is checked. If not, do so. Then click the Advanced... button.
  4. Make sure that the proxy address for HTTP port address is set to "localhost" (no quotes) and the port is set to the port number found in step one. Click OK . Now test.
  5. You can verify that Web Accelerator is working when the Web Accelerator icon (blue propeller near the system clock) shows moving arrows when you browse the Internet.

Netscape

  1. Click on the small blue propeller icon and select Options , then click on the Advanced... button write down the port number. Click Cancel .
  2. Click on the Netscape Edit menu and select Preferences...
  3. Double click on the Advanced category.
  4. Click on Proxies .
  5. Click View [Netscape 4.7 only]
  6. Make sure that the "Manual proxy configuration" radio button is selected.
  7. Click in the HTTP Proxy area and enter the word "localhost" without the quotes.
  8. Click in the HTTP Port area and enter the Web Accelerator port number (by default 8080, but you should verify this as described above).
  9. Click OK . Try accessing your favorite Web sites; your Internet experience should be accelerated.

Software Applications

MacAfee Privacy Service

There is a bug in earlier versions of MacAfee Privacy Service that can interfere with applications using proxy settings causing Web pages to not load. Please update to MacAfee Privacy Service version 4.0.1.24 and above or Security Center 6.0 and above.

Zone Alarm Pro

Zone Alarm Pro is a product from Zone Labs. This will result in pages only partially loading and then stopping ("timing out"). This issue has been fixed by Zone Labs. Please upgrade to Zone Alarm Pro version 4.5.xxx.xxx or later.

Norton Internet Securities

If you're running Norton Internet Securities 2004 , you will need to make a change.

  1. Click on the NIS 2004 system tray icon and choose Norton Internet Security from the top of the list.
  2. Click on Options at the very top
  3. Click on the Firewall tab
  4. Under "HTTP port list" find the number "8080" in the list, highlight it and click on the remove button.
  5. Click Ok

This is a bug with Norton Internet Security 2004, early versions of Norton Internet Security 2003 works with no problems.

Cannot surf after uninstalling Web Accelerator?

Internet Explorer

  1. From Internet Explorer select Tools > Internet Options . Then click on the Connections tab. Select the connection you are using. Click Settings...
  2. Make sure that the "Use a proxy server for this connection" checkbox is not checked.

Netscape

  1. Click on the Netscape Edit menu and select Preferences...
  2. Double click on the Advanced category.
  3. Click on Proxies .
  4. Click View [Netscape 4.7 only]

Make sure that the "Manual proxy configuration" radio button is not selected.

How do I check for an update of Web Accelerator?

To update or checking for an update of Web Accelerator, simply click on the Web Accelerator icon near your system clock. Click on About Web Accelerator and click on the Check for Update button.

Does Web Accelerator speed up online games and reduce ping and lag time for Interactive games?

Web Accelerator will speed up your Web surfing, but not your online games. Click here for complete list of items that are accelerated.

Does Norton Internet Securities work with Web Accelerator?

Yes, however if you're running Norton Internet Securities 2004 , you will need to make a change.

  1. Click on the NIS 2004 system tray icon and choose Norton Internet Security from the top of the list.
  2. Click on Options at the very top
  3. Click on the Firewall tab
  4. Under "HTTP port list" find the number "8080" in the list, highlight it and click on the Remove button.
  5. Click OK

This is a bug with Norton Internet Security 2004. Norton Internet Security 2003 works with no problems.

Are ad blockers, popup stoppers, personal firewalls and other utilities compatible with Propel Accelerator?

Web Accelerator is compatible with most ad blockers, popup stoppers, personal firewalls, and other utilities. In some cases, minor configuration either of Web Accelerator or other products is needed. If you do not see your product on the list, don't worry, in most cases it will work with no special configuration required.

Product Compatible Notes
Ad-aware (Lavasoft) Yes  
AdSubtract Yes Click here for information
American Family Filter Yes  
Cookie CrusherCookie Crusher Yes Click here for information
Download Accelerator Plus Yes  
Earthlink pop-up stopper Yes  
Freedom Websecure No  
Ghost Surf No  
GoZilla Yes  
Instant messenger Yes  
MacAfee Personal Firewall Yes  
MacAfee Privacy Service Yes Version 4.0.1.24 and above or Security Center 6.0 and above.
Netscape SmartDownload Yes  
Norton Internet Security Yes Click here if you're using 2004
Norton Personal Firewall Yes  
Optimal Desktop Yes  
OrangeBox Web Filter (Cobion) Yes  
PC-cillin 2004 Internet Security Yes  
Pop-Up Stopper (Panicware) Yes  
Proxomitron Yes Click here for information
Puresight No  
RealOne Player Yes Click here for information
S4F filter software Yes  
Smart Explorer Yes  
SpyBlocker No  
Spybot Search and Destroy Yes  
Weatherbug Yes  
We-Blocker Yes Click here for information
WebWasher Yes Click here for information
ZoneAlarm and ZoneAlarm Pro Yes Click here for information

Why do I get an error "could not open install.log file" when I uninstall Web Accelerator?

It appears that one or more files were removed from the Web Accelerator directory. To correct this problem, reinstall Web Accelerator. You can try to locate the file on your system and open it or you can download it again from your toolbox.

To uninstall Web Accelerator, click Start > Programs > Web Accelerator > Uninstall Web Accelerator .

If you need to know how to download Web Accelerator, click here.

Why do I get an error "Invalid win32 application" when I try to install Web Accelerator?

If you get an "Invalid win32 application" error when you try to open the file, you need to delete the file and download it again. The file was not completely downloaded, which caused the file size to be smaller than the original source file.

Other helpful information: