This question a very broad one that I get often, and often times it’s not the internet that is slow, but rather the browser that is unresponsive.  A couple of things I look for first when working on a machine.  There will be more methods to come since this question can cover so much.

The very first thing I always look for when I get this question is toolbars.  In my opinion toolbars are the worst, and I wouldn’t be hurt at all if they all just disappeared.  The first drawback is that the toolbars increase the load up time of the browser itself which to some would seem as slow internet.  Some of these toolbars also use the internet connection to collect information on the user.  This constant sending of information reduces bandwidth making the internet slower.  Generally if you ask people they don’t know how they got the bar and have NEVER used it.

Step 1:  Stop Toolbars From Loading

Depending on your browser and version the way to get to these options very.  The person who asked this of me was running Internet Explorer 8.  In Internet Explorer 8 Left-Click View and on the menu select Toolbars.  On the next menu uncheck everything except Menu Bar, Favorites Bar, Command Bar, and Status Bar.   If  the menu bar is not shown Left-Click Tools.  The Toolbars option is about halfway down.  After you uncheck a Toolbar the Disable Add-on dialog will pop-up.  Leave all the Related add-ons that will also be disabled options checked and Left-Click the Disable button.  Repeat this process until you have deactivated all the non-essential Toolbars.  

Step 2:  KILL THOSE TOOLBARS!!!

In the first step we just deactivated the toolbars, but the are still installed.  Start by Left-Clicking the Start button and Left-Clicking on Control Panel.  On Windows XP systems if your Control Panel does not look like the image below you are in the Category View.  In the Control Panel sidebar to the left Left-Click Switch to Classic View.  Next Left-Click on the Add or Remove Programs.  For Windows Vista/7  follow the above instruction till you get the Control Panel open.  From here you should see the Programs icon with a link saying Uninstall a program.  Left-Click this link or Left-Click the Programs icon and on the Programs window under Programs and Features Left-Click Uninstall a program.  In the next window find the Toolbar program in the list.  For Windows XP Left-Click the Remove button.  For Windows Vista/7 Left-Click on the program in the list then Right-Click and Left-Click Uninstall.

Step 3:  Get A Grown Up Browser

If you are still using Internet Explorer do yourself a favor and grab one of these wonderful browsers

Chrome

Firefox

Opera