Internet gradually slows down

Anonymous

I am using a desktop computer with Windows 7. I am connected to the internet via a Netgear wireless router, and recently I have been experiencing a problem where my internet speed gradually slows down and ultimately I am unable to load webpages/internet content through any browser/other software (eg skype calls, dropbox).

When I initially boot the computer, internet speeds are fine, but the longer I use it the slower my connection gets.

I have many other devices on this network that have no problem with internet speeds - a Mac laptop, a Playstation 3, a 3DS, a Playstation Vita, an iPhone, etc. this problem is isolated to my Windows PC. I assume it is a software or configuration issue as my signal strength is strong (literally three metres away from the router, my computer is relatively new (less than a year), and the problem seems to 'fix' itself when I reboot my computer each time, until the connection starts to slow down again.

What might be the cause of this problem? I'm happy to respond with configuration info on my computer and router if you let me know what is relevant to post.

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46 answers

Anonymous

2014-02-20T08:43:04+00:00

Your System Information file reveals these [Problem Devices]

Device PNP Device ID Error Code

Photosmart C309a series         ROOT\MULTIFUNCTION\0000              This device is disabled.

USB20 Camera              USB\VID_045E&PID_00F4&MI_00\6&2EE93250&0&0000    The drivers for this device are not installed.

Lexmark X422 ROOT\IMAGE\0000     This device cannot start.

Photosmart C309a series         ROOT\IMAGE\0001     This device is disabled.

Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter        {5D624F94-8850-40C3-A3FA-A4FD2080BAF3}\VWIFIMP\5&E229281&0&01           This device is disabled.

Please comment.

It appears from your System Information file and Event Viewer that you have a problem with Windows Update. Please comment.

What is your computer make and model? If not a branded computer what is your motherboard make and model?
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Anonymous

2014-03-05T13:17:49+00:00

Sorry for the slow response, it is difficult to find time to deal with this issue on top of work.

Photosmart C309a series is a device I no longer have, so I guess the software is still working with no printer to connect to? I will uninstall everything involved with that printer.

I disabled the Virtual Wifi miniport adapter myself when I was looking for network/wifi settings to change to try and fix the issue. It seemed unecessary so I disabled it, but I can turn it back on (this seems to have made no difference)

The USB camera is also a device that broke have and I thought I uninstalled the software for. I'll look into that.

I haven't run windows update in a long time. I had to install Windows Movie Maker to do some quick editing, which apparently turned windows update on, and downloaded a huge number of updates. However somewhere in the 100+ updates it downloaded, when it tried to install them it would fail halfway through, and the next time I turned off my computer it would start again from the beginning to try to install them, and inevitably fail. As this took an incredibly long time and I sleep in the same room as my computer and tend to use it right up until I go to sleep, this was intolerable, so I turned off windows update and stopped it installing updates.

My motherboard is an Asus p8Z77-V I think.

Ratandeep I will attempt your suggestions tomorrow.
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Anonymous

2014-03-05T15:15:32+00:00

Let's sort out your problem with windows update.

Select Start, All Programs, Windows Update, Change Settings. Under Important Updates is a box showing the current setting. Click on the Arrow down to the right and change the selection to “Check for Updates but let me choose whether to download and install them” and click on OK.

That will put you in charge and enables you to download in batches. You may get problematic updates failing to install. If that happens leave the update to later and we can look for a solution for those when the vast majority of updates are installed.

You should manually update by selecting Start, All Programs, Windows Update, Check for Updates. Check the boxes before the updates you want to install, click on Install and click again on Install in the next window and the process of installing starts. You should let the process proceed without interruption. Multi-tasking at the time updating is in progress is unwise. The progress window will tell you what is going on. You need to be patient.

You may have a single update that causes all in the batch to fail to install. If this occurs you should install one at a time so that you can find out which update is causing the problem. Manually installing and restarting your computer also allows you find out more quickly whether the problem is resolved. Automatic updating is a scheduled operation, which may execute up to 24 hours later.

Notes on using Windows Update:

http://www.gerryscomputertips.co.uk/WinUpdate1.htm
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Anonymous

2014-03-06T04:23:07+00:00

Hello Echidnite,

Thank you for your response.

I hope that suggestions help you.

Please keep us updated on the status of the issue.

Thank you
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Anonymous

2014-03-25T03:36:01+00:00

Thanks for your help. I went through with Windows Update and got my computer up to date, it was time consuming! After that I tried Ratandeep's reset TCP/IP solution and it seems like it might have worked - its an intermittent problem so it's hard to say for sure, but for the last couple of days my internet connection has been behaving. If it occurs again, I'll try the DHCP broadcast flag solution.
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