Quoted from the discussion thread of one of the links:

Quote Originally Posted by brianhot
hehehe... this guy has me cracking up !!!!

this is the second time i busted his ass for dishing out tweaks that wont help a darn thing.

take a look: http://www.astahost.com/increase-har...03-t12331.html



here is the real deal:

QUOTE

This applies to Windows 2000 SP4, XP Professional + 2003.
Does NOT apply to Windows 2000 Pre-SP2 or XP Home.
Unfortunately this so called "bug" and its "fix" are just another urban
myth. :-(


THE MYTH:

It seems Microsoft reserves/wastes 20% of your internet/network bandwidth for
the QoS (Quality of Service) Packet Scheduler, even if this service is
disabled.
To increase your overall bandwidth do this:
1. Log in as Administrator.
2. Click the Start button -> Run -> type gpedit.msc -> hit Enter or click OK.
3. Go to Local Computer Policy -> Administrative Templates -> Network -> QoS
Packet Scheduler.
4. In the right hand pane double-click on "Limit reservable bandwidth".
5. On the Setting tab check the Enabled box.
6. Change "Bandwidth limit %" to read 0.
7. Click OK and close gpedit.msc.
8. Go to Start -> My Computer -> My Network Connections -> View Network
Connections -> right-click on your connection -> select Properties (where your
protocols are listed) -> make sure QoS Packet Scheduler is enabled.
9. Reboot for these changes to take effect.



THE TRUTH:

Microsoft does NOT reserve NOR use ANY amount/percentage of your bandwidth for
the QoS Packet Scheduler, UNLESS the QoS service is actively
transmitting/receiving ANY data/packets between your computer (which MUST use
a QoS aware program) and the QoS enabled internet/network.
This is achieved through a series of PATH and RESV refresh messages sent back
and forth over the connection.
Therefore this is NOT a "bug" and its so called "fix" above is NOT necessary!
Learn more about QoS from the "horse's mouth":
- MSKB: Windows XP QoS Enhancements and Behavior:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316666
- MSKB: QoS Traffic Control in Windows 2000:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=233203
- MSKB: Description of Reservation State in RSVP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=244910


FYI:
"This does NOT increase bandwidth whatsoever, UNLESS your network
administrator (I have yet to find any companies using QoS) is running on a QoS
enabled network, and in this case you want it enabled anyway, to allow your PC
to take advantage of this service of higher quality packets."


sorry to the author. - its not personal. but... keep it real.

regards brianhot.