Optimize Vista for BitTorrent, eMule, P2PTV

Written by enigmax on April 09, 2007 

Expert file-sharers are well aware that XP SP2 limits incomplete connection attempts, potentially slowing down transfers. This situation has been addressed with various patches on XP but until now, users of Windows Vista would experience similar problems. Follow this guide to remove the limits and reduce potential bottle-necks.

Vista Logo

After installing Service Pack 2 on a Windows XP machine a limit was introduced to stop many TCP connection attempts on the host machine. This well-intentioned modification came as an attempt by Microsoft to limit the speed at which malicious worms (such as the infamous ‘Blaster’) could spread.

However, for software that relies on many connections such as BitTorrent, eMule and P2P TV applications, this limit has the potential to cause slowdowns in certain situations. This ‘feature’ of XP SP2 introduced by Microsoft and disliked by some file-sharers was dealt with by the useful patch available from LvlLord.

With the arrival of Windows Vista, the potential problems arising from the limits put on half-open connections are back. While Vista Ultimate offers a limit of 25 half-open connections per second, the Home Basic version offers just 2, but thanks to this great tutorial a solution is now available.

1. Download patched tcpip.sys: 64-bit tcpip.sys or 32-bit tcpip.sys.
2. Open command prompt, and run the following 2 commands:

takeown /f c:\windows\system32\drivers\tcpip.sys
cacls c:\windows\system32\drivers\tcpip.sys /G “username”:F

Replace username with the actual user name that is currently being used to log on.

3. Disable the TCP/IP Auto-Tuning feature by running the following command in command prompt:

netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disable

4. For 64-bit Windows Vista (x64), the integrity checks need to be disabled as it needs all drivers to be signed. So run the following command in DOS prompt:

bcdedit.exe -set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS

5. Replace the tcpip.sys in C:\windows\system32\drivers folder with the patched tcpip.sys downloaded during step 1 (remember to use the correct x64 or x86 version. Normally this procedure can be done by simply logging into Windows Vista with an administrator account. However, if the process fails, reboot the computer and then press F8 to boot up in Safe Mode, and then copy and paste to overwrite the tcpip.sys.

6. Next, the maximum number of TCP half complete connection limit needs to be set in the registry. Open registry editor (regedit), and navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCALL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters

7. Right click on the right pane, select “New”, then select “DWORD value”. Enter the new value name as “TcpNumConnections” (without quotes).

8. Double click on TcpNumConnections registry value, and modify the value data to the desired maximum TCP/IP connection limit that you want to allow, in decimal value. For example, enter 500 as the value data for TcpNumConnections. You can use any limit that you prefer. Alternatively, download this registry registration file that when executed, will set the TCP simultaneous connection limit to 16777214 (you can always modify the value in the file or in the registry after applied).

9. Restart computer.

Good Luck!

Read more on optimizing your BitTorrent Speed.

  • Optimize Your BitTorrent Download Speed
  • How to Speed up Your torrents
  • How to Solve Slow BitTorrent Downloads
  • Previously: ShareMonkey Helps People Buy Their Pirated Content

    Next: Automate Your BitTorrent TV Downloads on OS X

    55 Responses

    Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All

    26 Aug 30, 2007 at 14:07 by Alisha

    it won’t download, no matter what i do! what the hell, my computer has never rejected a download before >_>

    any other links other than lvllord?

    27 Sep 03, 2007 at 00:12 by Sam

    can nobody help?

    any ideas would be lovely! :(

    28 Sep 14, 2007 at 00:57 by Paul

    open a cmd.exe with admin rights (right click and run as admin) type in
    ’sfc /scannow’ without ‘ that will replace your files to originals.

    29 Sep 14, 2007 at 20:44 by macca

    4getting trying this thn… just system restore

    30 Oct 01, 2007 at 16:05 by Overkill

    Yep, that tcpip.sys killed my internet too! shame :(

    31 Oct 27, 2007 at 11:01 by Madwin

    This allways worked fine for me ’till now ?! I now use the béta SP1, could it be that that’s the problem?

    32 Nov 04, 2007 at 21:05 by Anonymous

    [quote comment="148706"]Well, did exactly as it said, and my network adapter stopped working…:S…got error that network service hasn’t started. any1 got same problem??

    ps.. got vista bussines x64
    pss. if any1 knows where 2 get original tcpip.sys, i’d apreciate alot

    tnx[/quote]
    yeah same thing happened to me….glad I kept my org. file

    33 Nov 07, 2007 at 17:04 by uac

    All Vista editions have 10 half-open connections TCP/IP limit. The exceding connections attempts are not lost, but they’re put in a queue.

    34 Nov 29, 2007 at 12:00 by Anon

    I this this on vista business x86 and I ended up with a bsod and it wouldn’t boot into windows. Thank God for safe mode and I was able to put back my original file :)
    Anyone know how to get it working?

    35 Nov 30, 2007 at 16:25 by III

    This tweak gave me the blue screen of death. I almost had to reformat my PC you fucking asshole. This tweak is bullshit.

    36 Dec 15, 2007 at 01:12 by ZoEb

    After initially approving it I am taking back my comments on this patch.

    I have observed it’s behaviour. Although it DOES change the max no of open connections in TCPIP.sys, it’s a virus.

    Bit Defender kept blocking it from executing itself several times even hours after I applied the patch.

    37 Dec 23, 2007 at 15:24 by Canz.Net

    http://canz.net

    38 Jan 06, 2008 at 12:46 by Idan

    For those who got blue screen of have a slow emule with vista sp1 - Vista has a problem that causes wireless networks to get “stuck” (you cannot open any new connections). Microsoft has issued an hotfix for it, however after installing it I noticed that my emule got slow, so I ran the half open connections tweak from this page again, and got the blue screen of death. only after removing it I could start windows normally again. So, if you have applied the vista hotfix, you can not install this teak. This hotfix is a part of Vista SP1, so I imagine that anyone who has an SP1 will have a slow emule running, untill this tweak here is compatible for Vista SP1.

    39 Jan 10, 2008 at 23:29 by Corn Holio

    Vista X64 TCPip Patcher, Command Line, Batchfile and Defcon`s Autopatch.

    I have tried all three on my X64 platform. I have virtually the same error on all three versions.

    I seem to have no internat connection whatsoever after applying the `Patches`.

    My version is fully up-to-date. So obviously these `Patches` no longer work.

    40 Jan 11, 2008 at 20:07 by Google

    I Think,İt is very nice information…

    Hitchhiker Nation

    41 Jan 22, 2008 at 17:47 by nope

    V64U tried uninstalling all hotfixes then installing the automated V6 going about, everything fine until the reboot; modified tcpip.sys kills my connection, replace it with original back to working 10 :(

    42 Mar 08, 2008 at 02:42 by Ryan

    When i installed the patched 64 bit tcpip.sys onto a 64 bit windows vista OS it messed it all up and made it very unstable, even with booting useing F8.

    43 Apr 03, 2008 at 01:24 by Meshuggah

    I had the same problem. After following these instructions carefully my network adapter stopped connection to the internet altogether and my NOD32 said something about POP3 and HTML protection weren’t working. I reverted to my original settings by running Securevista.net_TCPIP_UAC_PATCH, /undopatch.bat. This is the same thing as the instructions above, since doing both gave me the same results. You can google that patch and run that .bat file to undo the above instructions. It worked for me!

    44 Apr 04, 2008 at 14:22 by Roni

    I can’t beleive this
    this messed up all my windows
    cant boot into anything
    neither safe mode or last good known config
    i also did a “repair windows” and didn’t help

    DONT DO THIS PEEPS!

    45 Jun 01, 2008 at 04:23 by elisabeth

    how do i get free bit torrent for vista download on my computer please?

    46 Jun 14, 2008 at 20:15 by mike

    Do all these steps from the DOS prompt! The steps say to do some from the “command prompt” but you cant verify if it worked or not. Run CMD as an administrator. Start, programs, accessories, RIGHT CLICK ON “Command Prompt, RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR. Enter your commands from there. When you get to this step replace “username” with the user name your using. DONT LEAVE ANY QUOTATIONS IN THAT AREA”" EITHER cacls c:\windows\system32\drivers\tcpip.sys /G “username”:F

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