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Question

Why has my download speed dropped?

Sep 7, 2011 6:49AM PDT

For the last month, my computer's download speed has dropped to about 1-2mbps (usually 12-13mbps). All other computers connected through the same cable modem/router are getting full speed on both.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
(NT) Wired or wireless?
Sep 7, 2011 7:33AM PDT
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Tried both wired and wireless and get the same result
Sep 7, 2011 10:26PM PDT

Alienware Aurora
18GB RAM
Windows 7 64-bit with SP1 installed and auto update, so everything should be current
Broadcom GB Ethernet on the Intel motherboard
I use Norton 360, AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy and all are up
to date and I have run full scans and the system comes up clean of
viruses and malware.

Of course, I have rebooted everything countless times.
I have tried bypassing the router and plug my ethernet cable directly into the Zoom 5341 cablemodem and get the same issue.
I have disconnected the ethernet cable completely and connected through a
Netgear N300 Wireless USB adapter and get the same issue.
I have connected a laptop to the router using the same cable that I
pulled out of the problem desktop, and the laptop's connection is
perfect.
Both another Alienware desktop (my son's) and my wife's Apple MacBook Pro, both on wireless, have perfect connections.
I have booted the system into Safe Mode with Networking Enabled, and get the same issue.
I have uninstalled and re-installed the Broadcom device and get the same issue.

Now, here is where the issue gets even stranger....
If I run the speedtest.knology.net test, I get 1mbps down and 2.5mbps up.
If I go to speedtest.net and run the test, it depends on which server I
connect to.
Atlanta is always bad.
Memphis is sometimes bad, sometimes
good.
Arab, AL is always great.
These same tests on my son's desktop ALL respond with 12-13mbps down and
2.5 up.
My wife's laptop is the same.
Only MY computer has download
speed issues with SOME servers, but always reports 1mbps with Knology.

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Answer
First hit.
Sep 7, 2011 8:56AM PDT

"Norton 360, AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy"

Imagine that!

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Those programs have nothing to do with this issue.
Sep 7, 2011 10:29PM PDT

I have booted the system into Safe Mode with Networking Enabled, eliminating those three programs as potential problems, and get the same issue.

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There's a lot more to research.
Sep 8, 2011 5:28AM PDT

Sometimes you get lucky with the first tries. But you do raise a good point. Shouldn't MSFT and the makers have better diagnostics and a system recovery that does not wipe out the user?
Bob

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I agree
Sep 8, 2011 11:00PM PDT

It would be nice if there was a way to do a clean install of the system without wiping out all my data, but since all I have is the Recovery Drive to work with, I'll have to do just that to fix this problem. At this point, I can't think of any other solution.

I am pretty sure it has to do with a patch Microsoft put out sometime in the last month. The only difference between my son's system (which works) and mine (that doesn't) is that I have SP1 installed and he doesn't. Other than that, the machines are identical and have similar software loads.

Thanks for the reply!

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Nothing easier than ...
Sep 8, 2011 11:03PM PDT

uninstalling last months Microsoft updates and see which one was the culprit.

Kees

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*SMACKS SELF IN HEAD*
Sep 9, 2011 1:48AM PDT

I didn't know you could uninstall updates. Thanks for the suggestion! I'll just start uninstalling one at a time until things start working again.

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Answer
Why is my connection slowing down few ideas
Sep 10, 2011 12:07AM PDT

I am also having this problem with new notebook.Fortunately(?) I read thru the replies& along with MS ideas(thnx! I can use some to streamline)some problems/solutions I have encounted which are a bit offbeat 1.your router(really -do you think they are 100% defect free? I waster days on our 5 computer home net and ONE ethernet connection was slightly damaged)2.Get a new ethernet cord-they get kinked,etc.3.cheak your adapter card. Defect rates from Malaysia& others can run close to 25%;received a new Intel chip that,(after testing w/simple Basic program we wrote was defective.) 4.Clean up you boot/start up.Anything you can remember to start or can schedule,5.Norton is a hog= try a small footprint - personal faves are Vipre Prem,ESIT. 5. Carefully look for duplicates of programs. 6 Clean your machine.Dust kills;it also slows up. Sorry about the length and duplicates. P.S. You can repair with your Win disks rather than reformat - your files survive.

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Thanks for the suggestions!
Sep 13, 2011 9:49AM PDT

1) I tried hooking the computer directly to the cable modem and the problem persisted. That eliminated the router.
2&3) I tried two cables and a wireless adapter. That eliminated cables and the ethernet adapter.
4&5) Booting into Safe Mode should have eliminated those as problems.
6) I'll try dusting, but not sure how that would affect speed to certain nodes only.

I also tried the above poster's suggestion of uninstalling Window's updates. I uninstalled all of them back several months, to before I had problems. Again, no luck.

Thanks for trying guys! I really appreciate all the suggestions!