Slow internet off and on

Forums › Microsoft Windows › Slow internet off and on

PhilANZ

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

Topic # 230768 12-Mar-2018 14:48

Some time ago I complained to my ISP as I was only getting 1/2 speed (approx). They suggested I test another machine - and presto - the problem was my machine. Spent some time trying to solve why it slowed, and would usually come right after stopping everything I could think of via the task manager and rebooting (occasionally one or other would fix it but usually both).
Recently we had a speed issue which was diagnoised and fixed by the ISP. It even sped up normal speedtest results from high 95's to more often over 100.
Today I was back to half speed (roughly). Did the usual stopping everything and rebooting and I was back over 100. Checked my wife's machine, and this time hers was also slow.
She had problems with the last lovely major windows update, and had to do a clean install of Windows 10. Until then her system was an upgrade from Windows 8, and did not have these slowdowns (apart from the one our ISP fixed when the connection speed did have issues).
So this is the first time we've both had speed issues apart from the general issue our ISP fixed.
My question is: does the fact that this issue now affects my wife's system which did not apply with her Win 10 upgraded over Win 8 suggest anything?

rscole86

4305 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1973271 12-Mar-2018 14:52

It might pay to let us know a little more?
Fibre or xDSL(assuming fibre)? Wifi or wired? Where/when are you doing the speed tests? Have you checked for driver updates?

PhilANZ

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 1973278 12-Mar-2018 14:58

Fibre. Both wifi or wired, but usually wired (especially since my WIFI doesn't work. Speed tests are Ookla? Because of the WIFI issue I've recently been through and updated all drivers,

G4m3r

77 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 4

Reply # 1973430 12-Mar-2018 17:03

Next time this happens try restarting the modem rather than the computer and see if there is any differences in speeds then.
If the ISP can fix it points to something on their end or the modem.

PhilANZ

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 1973439 12-Mar-2018 17:39

Rebooting my wife's machine fixed it (50 before went to 100 after). Rebooting the router (before rebooting my wife's machne) doid not change anything on hers - got 50 after that.
Just to be clear the ISP fixed a problem that affected us both. That was recently - rebooting etc did not fix either machine.

rscole86

4305 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1973454 12-Mar-2018 18:33

Have you tried rolling back your network drivers to an older version?

PhilANZ

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 1973460 12-Mar-2018 18:51

My wife's ASUS is four year's old. Two years ago I (for reasons that made sense at the time) bought an HP (after years of satisfaction with ASUS). Never again. However I recently updated ALL the drivers on the HP while trying (unsuccessfully) to get my WIFI working (it's fine under Linux but that's a different issue).

My wife's four year old ASUS never had this problem earlier. It's only become an issue for her since thet last big update failed badly and required a complete re-installation. Before that Windows 10 was installed over Windows 8. Always worked fine - when I had problems she never did.

PhilANZ

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 2001784 24-Apr-2018 16:59

It's over a month since I last looked at this - end of financial year pressures, Today my laptop internet was slow (about 35 rather than 105 down). It's only my machine - my wife's laptop is fine. I used task manager to check for unusual things - and stopped some background processes - but no joy. I rebooted - and back over 100. Generally, a reboot alone doesn't fix it - I have to do both.

We didn't notice problems prior to fibre - why would we at ADSL speeds. But something is causing big slow-downs and the only thing I can think of doing is trying to stop one thing at next time it's slow. Reboot. Test. Stop another ...

The problem is I really can't see that happening (the prospect is overwhelming). And even if it did "fix" it, it may not stay fixed. There seems no pattern on when it returns - or what activities prompt it. However, I had a thought - a slight hint that may give a clue.

While I was puzzling over the 2/3 drop in speed, I wondered if YouTube might affect it. I don't spend time on YouTube regularly - and these problems are not regular. I can't think of other activities that might match the problem. So I watched a couple of YouTube videos and then ran a speed test. I got a 75 level of performance (twice), so it wasn't as bad but was still significant.

After using Task Manager I still could pick up any issues, but stopped some processes. Speed went up to over 85. Thought I might be getting somewhere - so I closed speedtest.net. Went back in - back to 65.

So now I'm more confused than ever - but I had success in slowing it down significantly (but not as much as often happens) using YouTube. If this suggests anything to anyone, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
9067 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1993

Trusted

Spark

Subscriber

Reply # 2001791 24-Apr-2018 17:08

Sounds to me as the issue is on the device itself, It's nothing todo with the move from ADSL to fibre and just happens to have appeared.

is it possible your machine has a mechanical drive, and your issue is pure IO load causing waits?

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

amiga500

1140 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 280

Reply # 2001814 24-Apr-2018 17:36

Are you able to get hold of a Linux Live CD/DVD/USB such as Linux Mint & see how your speed is with that? Quick way of establishing whether it's a Windows problem...

PhilANZ

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 2001817 24-Apr-2018 17:43

That's not something I'd ever considered. Then again I'm not very technical. We'd never have noticed with ADSL - that's still only 1/3 the speed of our slowest speeds now.

The drive is mechanical - 1GB Toshiba. I did notice a box not ticked for it - Windows write buffer caching. I assume that won't make a difference?

Look like I have yet more to learn. I'll see what I can do. It certainly suggests something which might make more sense that so far tried.

Thanks

gehenna

5096 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1213

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 2001818 24-Apr-2018 17:47

I think your best bet is going to be to take your device to an IT shop for them to assess it for any problems. Most of the suggestions you'll get here require some technical experience, especially for the sorts of issues you're describing.

PhilANZ

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 2001859 24-Apr-2018 18:15

I got my first taste of a Linux boot USB drive to test a WIFI problem (works under Linux as it turns out - and these are all connected via cable). Never thought of trying that out - although it might still be hard to test since it can work better after a reboot. But definitely worth a look. Otherwise, I might indeed have to see if I can find someone good to see if they can fix this - without losing my laptop for days.