ok what kind of icon is it an icon to open a program that is on your computer if so that has absolutely nothing to do with your internet provider it has to do with your pc and the program only.(unless the program tries to connect to get updates)

If the icon is to something that is online like a website or like ebay, online email, browser with a set homepage or something then that would require it to connect to the internet to open said site so if it is slow that could possibly be due to slow speeds from your provider.

tells us more please

I started clicking on all of them to see which were fast and which were slow. The fast ones were to My Computer, Olympus Master, Microsoft Word and Windows Explorer. These are on my computer?
The slow ones are Facebook, Bestlawn's, Yahoo.com, The Kitchen Table, Vics Signatures, etc. These all require internet connections.

I had the same problem on my Vista computer after a windows update a couple of months ago. It really gets annoying after awhile. I had another problem after an update before that one. I don't update anymore.

To confirm this problem try going online with your browser and then go to the URL that one of the slow icons points to. You should be able to find the URL by right clicking on one of the "slow" icons and choosing Properties, and then read/copy the URL line.

How fast is your Internet connection? If you don't know, test it and report back.

Here is a link that might be useful: SpeedTest

Think you will find hughes net slows you down with unchangeable priority dns & their own caching proxy servers & slow you down further when you exceed your quota on bandwidth usage. Not many speak well of Hughes Net anymore

0.21 mbs on downloads and uploads
Ping 783
Hope this helps!!

First, is it really 30 seconds or is it a frustrating delay that feels like 30 seconds?

Along the lines of a prior suggestion, to narrow down the concern connect to the Internet via a browser and maintain the connection. Now using the icon by the START button return to the Desktop. Now open the icons of concern. Results?

Also, if you have the target sites in your Favorites/Bookmarks do you still have this extended delay when pointing from there?

DA

Yes, it really is 30 seconds and confirmed by a Dell tech.

If I open an internet browser then click on the icons they open immediately like they should.

I lost all my bookmarks, they were not transferred properly to this computer...grrrr

well you could still get them from your other computer if it is available? do you have access to it? The best way to try to move bookmarks is to set up xmarks and use it, that way you always have access to them on the website and once you have the new pc you just install xmarks on it and sync it to your account and all your bookmarks will move to the new pc so if you have the old pc and can do that you can easily have your bookmarks. Let me know if you have access to that pc with your bookmarks on it we can get them if you do.

You need to try another speed test because that is really slow. When it shows that gold star be sure you are selecting the one that is closest to you to run the test from and also try this one
speed-test page.

I don't have access to the computer, but I erased everything on it before I gave it to my grandson. But those are the least of my worries right now.

I tried the speed test, it only ask me what state I was in.
The download speed is 0.655 Mbps
upload speed is 2.669 Mbps

What should it be and what do you suggest I do? I really hate to spend $l25, like I said I don't see any obstruction.

I did another test on the first link you posted using another state about the same distance from me.
Download speed 0.79
upload speed 0.23

If I open an internet browser then click on the icons they open immediately like they should.
Since you are clicking a shortcut from your desktop, the delay is for the browser to open. I don't know of any browser that opens instantly, at least not with my computer connection.

If you go to "All Programs" and open your browser from there, I'm guessing that it too would be about 30 seconds to open.

Please try it and report back.

I tried the speed test, it only ask me what state I was in.
The download speed is 0.655 Mbps
upload speed is 2.669 Mbps

What should it be and what do you suggest I do?

Based on your plan with Hughes, what speed are you supposed to be getting. What ever it is, you won't 'actually' get that, but will be getting speeds 'up to' that speed.

Example...for what I pay (local broadband wireless) I should be getting speeds up to 512 kbps. My actual speeds range from maybe 250kbps to 500 kbps.

Taken from the link below:
"What connection speeds will I typically get with HughesNet?
With the HughesNet Basic plan, connect to the Internet with maximum download speeds of up to 1 Mbps and maximum upload speeds of up to 200 Kbps"
I'd say your 0.655 is probably average for that plan and that your speed will vary throughout the day and night.

Here is a link that might be useful: HughesNet FAQ

according to your provider what are the speeds you are supposed to get that you are paying for?

arosegirl-
Thanks for running the speed tests. While there is variation, that's normal. The download speed is the one that's most important to you as that tells you how quickly stuff gets from the Internet to your computer, which is what happens when you are browsing. I'm of the opinion that running at roughly 1/2 Mbps, which you typically are doing, should be fast enough to not be the bottleneck causing those delays. Please clarify something for me, though: Is the delay only when you initially open the browser, or does it also occur afterwards each time you click to go to a different web site?

I do not know Raven, I have looked all over my documentation and even at their web site and I can't find the speeds I should be receiving.

I called Hughes, I am paying for 200mb of downloads and uploads with no charges during 2am and 7am.

My upload speed is supposed to be 700. I did a test and it averaged 450. That is about half of what it should be. He did a test and it shows that I have damage to the cables coming into my house. I will have to have them check on this later and pay their fee but we are experiencing an ice storm right now and I need to get through that. Thanks for all your help.

Arosegirl, have you checked with your neighbors to see if they are having the same problem. I have been there, done that years ago with our cable company and they blamed everything but their equipment. After several frustrating visits and a tech downtown telling me, I can see the signal go down and I don't understand how you are still on line. When the next guy came out, I got the usual run around. I suggested they go to my neighbor's house and see if he was having the same problem. The guy, said, "oh, I can hook it directly from my truck to our line on the pole." Problem solved, I even got a call from the local manager apologizing.

Just as a test take one of the sites of concern and make it your browser's homepage. Close the browser. Then click on the icon located on the Desktop. My thought is along with CC. When you are activating from the Desktop the action is browser>homepage>site from the Desktop.

If we are correct and you are using FF with ABP a delay could also be caused by ABP as it reads both sites and takes proper action when each is active.

Also, do you have your browser set to delete everything every time it is closed? If so, that could slow things down as the homepage will be loading cookies until the browser is redirected, and then the ensuing site will be loading its own cookies.

Or, a combination of all things.

DA

I don't have any neighbors for 2 miles in every direction.
Kudzu, it happens when I click on an icon on my desktop to open a program such as Facebook, The Kitchen Table, anything that would require internet access.
It does not happen when I click on the icons that opens something in my computer such as Olympus Master.

I called Hughes, I am paying for 200mb of downloads and uploads with no charges during 2am and 7am.

My upload speed is supposed to be 700. I did a test and it averaged 450.
I'm sorry, but something doesn't sound right here. Could it be that Hughes doesn't know what they are talking about regarding the plan you are paying for. See the link below. Do you maybe have the Power 200 plan?

If so you are paying for
'up to' 2 Mbps Download
and
'up to'300 Kbps Upload

I wonder if that 700 you are 'supposed to be getting is actually for the upload between 2Am to 7 AM.

He did a test and it shows that I have damage to the cables coming into my house. I will have to have them check on this later and pay their fee but we are experiencing an ice storm right now and I need to get through that.
The ice storm itself would most probably slow your speed, as would a storm of any kind. There 'could' even be ice build up on the dish and other outside equipment slowing your speed.

I wouldn't be lining up a $125 repairman anytime soon. I'd wait and see what you get on a clear day, and also what you get on a clear night. I also would not count on a $125 repair call even improving your speed.

Taken from This thread discussing Hughes "What I did not expect was a reduction in download speeds to 10-20% of the advertised "up to" speeds during peak times."

Here is a link that might be useful: Hughes plans and 'up to' speeds

"If I open an internet browser then click on the icons they open immediately like they should. "

Why not open a browser the first thing and then not worry about the slow speed if it weren't open?

I have never liked using desktop icons for online locations, to me it is simpler to open the browser and then on the browser faves/bookmark bar have your sites you would have put on desktop icons, that way open the browser click on that fave item on the browser bar and you are there.
If using firefox to add sites to your faves/bookmark bar you can just grab the address url and drag it onto the bookmark bar or the little icon that is with that addy at the address url, it will create a link on the bookmark bar to that site, to change how it is named on the bar just right click and choose properties.

for IE
Show or hide the Favorites bar in Internet Explorer 8
Customize your Favorites bar
Get Bookmarks Toolbar Like Firefox by activating Links bar in ie7

Firefox Help - Tutorials: Bookmarks
has the info for the bookmark toolbar

what I do is create folders on the bookmark bar and in that folder I put for example all my sites I want to view in the morning so then all I have to do is right click that folder and select open all in tabs and voila there are all my sites I want open with one click. I have one folder for mail which has all my various email accounts I can either look in it and open one or I can click it and open all at once, makes it a lot faster and easier.

With a good high speed connection and a capable system along with a need to have regular access to a site(s), i.e. stock market, perhaps an instant access is beneficial. However, I have to agree with RC all-in-all the Bookmark Bar is simpler and more efficient for the general user.

On my FF the bar reflects all my financial sites and Hotmail individually, a folder with all the forums I visit, a folder containing all my computer references, a folder with weather sites, and a folder with my medical insurance sites. That's arguably most of what I visit. All the occasional sites are on the Bookmarks menu.

DA