File transfer speed is a big deal. In fact, user response to Vista (pre-SP1) was negative in large part because Vista transferred files in many situations more slowly than XP, its predecessor.

The complex thing about file transfers in Windows is that they involve many factors, any one of which can present problems: which mix of operating systems you’re using; Network Interface Card (NIC) settings; layered software (such as antivirus); switch settings; whether you’re transferring one large file or lots of small ones; etc.

You wouldn’t think that a function as basic as file copying could be as complicated as it is under Windows clients and servers. Some of the factors that determine file transfer speed may not be easily modifiable: the version(s) of Windows that you’re running, for example, or the network interfaces and switches in which your organization has invested. Other factors, however, can be changed: the programs you use for copying, the specific antivirus and anti-malware tools you employ, the NETSH settings for tuning the TCP/IP stack, and so on.

Continue reading to learn more about the tricks of file copying.