the most obvious way of increasing bandwidth is to buy a better package from your ISP. For example, I have the fastest internet available in my area, which costs me a fairly heftly 69$ a month.
Another method involves various hacks to the way windows handles your network card- sometimes, in fact, a new network card can get you better speed. (again- another example being that I got a Gigabit router and gigabit card both of the same brand (D-Link).
Also: if your connected via Wireless Wifi, you can try cabled instead, and if you are cabled try a better category of cable. For example (yet again
) I use Cat6 cable to connect my cable modem to my router- I haven't a clue if this helps speed-wise but at least I'm putting the cable to use.
Another option would be to use faster wireless. Still not as fast as a Cat-5 cable but a great solution for laptops. Wireless-N connectivity is a must-have for any laptops I purchase.
As an example my Vista laptop gets:
there are various other "tweaks" and "hacks" one can perform, but since they are against the terms of Service of most ISPs I feel they have no place here.
However, google would likely bring up a number of sites. But bear in mind that if they break the TOS of your ISP they are within their rights to simply cut you off all their services without warning.
