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Question

Why is my internet so slow?

May 14, 2015 5:16PM PDT

We have an xfinity cable modem, and everyone in our home uses the wifi. We are using the router they gave us. I have windows 8.1 on a laptop that is about 2 years old if that matters.

When I am on my laptop my internet is like using dial up. It is awful, but nobody else seems to be having this problem. It is like this even in the middle of the night when nobody else in the house is one as well.

But what is weirder than that, is if I do a speed test, I am getting 15mbps or higher speeds on downloads and like 7mbps or something for uploads. Yet, I can't get a page to load in under a minute and half.

Why would the test show good results but my pages not load?

Also, downloading things sometimes stalls, or using netflix etc.

I often turn my connection off and on again just to reconnect and see if that gets it to load. I can't tell if this really helps or not, but sometimes I think it does a little.

I have no idea even where to begin on understanding this problem. I am hoping so much that someone on here will know what is going on. Or can help me figure it out.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Are you using any torrent sites?
May 14, 2015 7:07PM PDT

Also, check what's running at startup via msconfig.
Dafydd.

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Reply
May 15, 2015 7:54AM PDT

No torrents. I don't even know how to do that. I don't think anyone else is, but I will check.

I put msconfig in the "run" box, and a box opened with several tabs. I didn't see anything which clearly listed what my start up items are. I don't think much is starting though.

I took a screencap of my task manager start up list if that helps. The only thing on the bottom that doesn't show up is Windows Stickies which is enabled.

http://s8.postimg.org/hud2sm9at/startup.jpg

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Answer
I would check your
May 14, 2015 10:54PM PDT

PC maker's website and see if they have a updated driver for you wireless card.

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Reply
May 15, 2015 7:59AM PDT

Thank you. I already checked for driver updates by going into it's properties and using the option available to do so. It said no updates were available. Is there a reason I should go to the site to check instead though?

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Answer
Re: slow
May 14, 2015 11:12PM PDT

Just for a test: is a wired connection (Ethernet cable) just as slow as wireless on your laptop? Or is it as fast or faster than wireless on all those other devices?

Kees

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Reply
May 15, 2015 8:07AM PDT

A wired connection is still slow sometimes. I think we have problems with our connection sometimes too. But it is a separate issue because even when everyone else in the house connects fine, if I am not wired, I have a slow connection.

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Answer
And ..
May 14, 2015 11:16PM PDT

Just for a test also: you didn't tell what browser you use. Are all three major browsers (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox) just as slow as the one you're using now (you didn't tell which one)?

About the speed of loading a page. Go to http://www.google.com. If that takes 90 seconds (that's a minute and a half) to fully display something is very wrong indeed. How long does it take?

Kees

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Reply
May 15, 2015 8:11AM PDT

I am using firefox. Sometimes I try IE just to see if my browser is the issue. It never seems to make a difference. Right now google loads in about 3 seconds. But at other times it has taken up to a minute.

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Answer
Bad internet provider?
Oct 29, 2015 11:41AM PDT