Published by

**Brink** · 27 Nov 2007

How to Change or Disable the QoS Reserved Bandwidth Limit in Vista

Information

By default, Vista can reserve up to 20 percent of the network bandwidth for QoS traffic handled by the QoS Packet Scheduler. One hundred percent of the network bandwidth is available to be shared by all programs unless a program (Ex: Windows Update) specifically requests priority bandwidth. This 20 percent reserved bandwidth is still available to other programs unless the requesting program (Ex: VoIP applications) is sending data. Vista can then restrict the best effort traffic to a minimum of 80 percent of the bandwidth to the other programs so that the high priority traffic can be accommodated. If the program that reserved the bandwidth is not sending sufficient data to use it, the unused part of the reserved bandwidth is available for other data flows on the same host.

This will show you how to change the percentage of reserved bandwidth to what you want it to be instead, or disable the reserved bandwidth.

Note

Quality of Service (QoS) is a set of technologies for managing network traffic in a cost effective manner to enhance user experiences for home and enterprise environments. QoS technologies allow you to measure bandwidth, detect changing network conditions (such as congestion or availability of bandwidth), and prioritize or throttle traffic. For example, QoS technologies can be applied to prioritize traffic for latency-sensitive applications (such as voice or video) and to control the impact of latency-insensitive traffic (such as bulk data transfers). For more about QOS, see: Microsoft TechNet: Quality of Service

Tip

This only applies if you have the Qos Packet Scheduler checked in your Local Area Connection Network properties. (See Example below). It is enabled by default in Vista.

Warning

Disabling or lowering the reserved percentage to much can cause problems with applications that rely on it. For example, with streaming media or VoIP applications.

EXAMPLE: Local Area Connection Network Properties (LACN)
NOTE: To see this, open the Control Panel (Classic View) and click on the Networking and Sharing Center icon, Manage network connections in the upper left corner, right click on the LACN, and click Properties. Click Continue for UAC Prompt.

METHOD ONE

Through the Group Policy Object Editor

NOTE: This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two or Method Three below for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Network, QoS Packet Scheduler.
(See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Limit reservable bandwidth and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. For Default Reserved Bandwidth

A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5B)
NOTE: If you disable this setting or do not configure it, the system uses the default value of 20 percent of the connection.

5. To Change the Reserved Bandwidth

A) Dot Enabled.

B) Next to Bandwidth Limit (%), type in a percentage to use from 0 to 100 and click on OK.
NOTE: If you change the percentage to 0, then this will disable the reserved bandwidth.

6. Close the Group Policy Object Editor window.

7. Restart the computer to apply changes.

METHOD TWO

Using a REG File Download

NOTE: This method will work for all Vista versions. To change the precentage to something other than 0 or 20, then see the METHOD THREE section below.

1. To Disable the Reserved Bandwidth
NOTE: This changes the reserved percentage to 0 and disables the reserved bandwidth.

A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.

Disable_Reserved.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Restore the Default Reserved Bandwidth
NOTE: The default reserved bandwidth is 20 percent.

A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.

Restore_Default_Reserved.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right on click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. Restart the computer to apply the changes.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

METHOD THREE

Manually in Registry Editor

NOTE: This method will work for all Vista versions.

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. If prompted by UAC, click on the Continue button.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

5. In the left pane, right click on Windows and click on New and Key.

6. Type Psched and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

7. In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value.

8. Type NonBestEffortLimit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

9. Right click on NonBestEffortLimit and click on Modify.

10. Type in a percentage to use from 0 to 100 to be used as the reserved bandwidth and click on OK.
NOTE: If you change the percentage to 0, then this will disable the reserved bandwidth. The default percentage is 20.

11. Close regedit.

12. Restart the computer to apply the changes.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**niGht kiD** · 07 Dec 2007

... I'm a noob in this. With full bandwith I will be able to surf faster?

**Brink** · 07 Dec 2007

niGht kiD,

If you have the Qos Packet Scheduler checked in your Local Area Connection Network properties, then you have the potential to surf faster. It's mostly a improvement for downloading.

With that option enabled, Vista will set aside 20% of the bandwith for priority programs (EX: Windows Update). If you are downloading stuff and Windows Update wants to start downloading, then the stuff you were downloading will get dropped down to a maximum of 80% of the bandwith. (back burner) If you get rid of the reserve, then everything shares 100% of the bandwith all of the time.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**niGht kiD** · 07 Dec 2007

Ohhh... thanks for your explanation. Yes, it is checked. I suppose this method work wireless connection as well?

**Brink** · 07 Dec 2007

niGht kiD,

Yes, it works on any type of connection. Think of QoS as the traffic cop that makes sure that the Important Ambulance has room to get through if it needed to.

Shawn

**sunfloweranna** · 17 Dec 2007

Hi Brink have tried to follow excellent instructions. However (i'm running on vista 32bt).Can find HKEY_LOCAL_machine. There is no windows option, but in right pane a box comes up with new, I click, and click key but a window appears saying 'cannot write key error writing to registry' Very annoying!!! have tried downloading above reg change but nothing is changing with that option so restored with above option. Hope you can help and thanks for your time. So pleased that you explain things so clearly as I am new to all this. My main problem is talking to my Dad in Miami from sunny southend in England and he can't hear me properly. have seen this might solve problem. Thanks again Sunfloweranna

**Brink** · 17 Dec 2007

Hi SunFlowerAnna,

Welcome to the forum.

Did you restart the computer after merging the REG file download? It will not take affect until then.

I do not think that this will affect your Dad from hearing you though. It may be a setting off in your microphone settings. Check this setting:
1. Open Control Panel (Classic View)
2. Click Sound icon
3. Click Recording tab
4. Double click on your default microphone (Green check) to open it's Properties.
5. Click Levels tab
6. Make sure the Microphone Boost level is at least +20.0 db
7. Make sure the Microphone volume level is at least 60.
8. If available, click the Enhancements tab.
9. Check items like DC Offset Cancellation, Noise Suppression, or Acoutic Echo Cancellation. Yours may vary from mine. It's audio driver specific.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**sunfloweranna** · 17 Dec 2007

Hi Shawn thanks for reply. Yes I have tried that but my microphone levels have a mind of their own. I have to sit with panel open and keep moving slider back up so Dad can hear me. Have tried using both options of cam mike or headphone mike or both together makes no difference to sound quality. With headphone mike option there is a boost option which I turn up full but microphone slider keeps moving back down,however none of the other things you say to try except AEC, with cam option there is only microphone, no boost. I have cam logitech fusion, have tried turning AEC option off in case that was changing mike level, but NO!! GRRR. That why I was trying the qos package server to see if that made any difference. I have checked all the drivers in device manager to see if they need updates but nothing and I have auto update on from windows.. I have found out how to get into the Qos part now but it has Hexidecimal? and decimal clicked decimal but this changed back to hexidecimal when I looked again!! Any ways thanks so much for your patience and clear explanations most of what I read is gobbledeegook. Do you think I have a gremlin (or maybe a pixie in the works). I think my comp seems to have a mind of its own.

**Brink** · 17 Dec 2007

LOL SunFlowerAnna,

Maybe a gremlin.

The decimal part is the one in the (0) area of the 0x0000000 (0).

It may be a setting on your Dad's end to. ?? If you are both using at least broadband or DSL, then the bandwith should be fine. You might try a different messenger program to see if it will work better. Just make sure that it is compatible with the service you are using. (EX: MSN Live ID for Windows Live Messenger)

http://www.chat.com/sort/3150-2150_4-0-1-4.html?operatingSystemId=8525433&rows=10&start=0&ca=&licenseTypeId=49&fileSize=&qt=

Shawn

**roniwu** · 05 Mar 2008

Hi All, does this solution work the same with Vista 64bit? can i use it in 64bit?

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