[AttilioVassallob12v]

Hey all! I have a bit of a problem which I can't seem to solve. The research I did through Google hasn't helped so I turn to all of you. I have a wireless network set up in my house and for some reason when one PC connects it slows down the internet for all other PCs. I'm assuming it is sending or receiving a lot of packets but I'm not sure why. Its a custom built PC with a Linksys wireless card and running Win 7 32 bit. The router has WPA encryption so I'm fairly sure no one else is using my network. I haven't connected any new hardware to any PC. The only piece of new software is on the problem computer is a Virtual Machine which I don't even have running all the time. All drivers and software are up to date. If you need more info just let me know. I hope someone can help me out.

This post has been edited by AttilioVassallob12v: 27 June 2011 - 01:51 PM

[smax013]

AttilioVassallob12v, on 27 June 2011 - 01:50 PM, said:

Hey all! I have a bit of a problem which I can't seem to solve. The research I did through Google hasn't helped so I turn to all of you. I have a wireless network set up in my house and for some reason when one PC connects it slows down the internet for all other PCs. I'm assuming it is sending or receiving a lot of packets but I'm not sure why. Its a custom built PC with a Linksys wireless card and running Win 7 32 bit. The router has WPA encryption so I'm fairly sure no one else is using my network. I haven't connected any new hardware to any PC. The only piece of new software is on the problem computer is a Virtual Machine which I don't even have running all the time. All drivers and software are up to date. If you need more info just let me know. I hope someone can help me out.

What kind of wireless network? 802.11n? 802.11g?

And what kind of wireless adapter on the desktop? 802.11n? 802.11g?

I ask because putting an 802.11g device onto an 802.11n network will cause the whole network to shift to 802.11g speeds. If you want an 802.11n network to maintain its full speeds, then only use 802.11n devices on that network.

[AttilioVassallob12v]

smax013, on 28 June 2011 - 01:49 AM, said:

What kind of wireless network? 802.11n? 802.11g?

And what kind of wireless adapter on the desktop? 802.11n? 802.11g?

I ask because putting an 802.11g device onto an 802.11n network will cause the whole network to shift to 802.11g speeds. If you want an 802.11n network to maintain its full speeds, then only use 802.11n devices on that network.

Its a b/g/n router and all the comps are b/g.

[LincolnSpector]

AttilioVassallob12v, on 27 June 2011 - 01:50 PM, said:

Hey all! I have a bit of a problem which I can't seem to solve. The research I did through Google hasn't helped so I turn to all of you. I have a wireless network set up in my house and for some reason when one PC connects it slows down the internet for all other PCs. I'm assuming it is sending or receiving a lot of packets but I'm not sure why. Its a custom built PC with a Linksys wireless card and running Win 7 32 bit. The router has WPA encryption so I'm fairly sure no one else is using my network. I haven't connected any new hardware to any PC. The only piece of new software is on the problem computer is a Virtual Machine which I don't even have running all the time. All drivers and software are up to date. If you need more info just let me know. I hope someone can help me out.

Hi, Attilio, and welcome to the forums.

Do all of your PCs use wireless connections, or are some of them wired with Ethernet? If they're all wireless, would it be possible to move one to the same room as the router and connect it physically. I'd like to know if this problem effects an Ethernet connection. Both ways: Does a wireless PC accessing the Internet slow down a wired one, and does a wired one accessing the Internet slow down a wireless one?

Also, how fast is your Internet connection?

Lincoln

[AttilioVassallob12v]

LincolnSpector, on 28 June 2011 - 07:45 AM, said:

Hi, Attilio, and welcome to the forums.

Do all of your PCs use wireless connections, or are some of them wired with Ethernet? If they're all wireless, would it be possible to move one to the same room as the router and connect it physically. I'd like to know if this problem effects an Ethernet connection. Both ways: Does a wireless PC accessing the Internet slow down a wired one, and does a wired one accessing the Internet slow down a wireless one?

Also, how fast is your Internet connection?

Lincoln

Thanks. The wired connection is working fine and reads a speed of 100 Mbps. The wireless reads 54 Mbps. So far only one PC slows down the internet. I should let you know that right now it seems like the problem has solved. I've been playing around with everything trying to figure out the problem and I met have accidentally solved; however I would still like some suggestions just in case. If you need more info just ask.

[smax013]

AttilioVassallob12v, on 28 June 2011 - 04:08 AM, said:

Its a b/g/n router and all the comps are b/g.

Then what I was originally thinking is not going to be an issue.

The other possibility is that it is just "normal" slow down from more than one computer using the Internet connection. Your Internet connection has "fixed" bandwidth ("fixed" as in that you don't get more bandwidth for more computers...all computers connecting through your connection share that bandwidth...it is likely "variable" in that you won't always get the same bandwidth from your ISP). If you have say a 10 Mbps connection at some point in time, then all computers on and sharing that connection will use that 10 Mbps. That is NOT 10 Mbps per computer, but rather 10 Mbps that gets divided between the computers. Thus, if you have two computers on and accessing the Internet (i.e. say both are downloading SP1 for Windows 7 for example), then nominally speaking each computer will have 5 Mbps (that is somewhat overly simplistic...it will really depend on how your router directs the traffic). If you had 4 computers doing the SP1 download, then nominally each will have 2.5 Mbps.

So, depending on what you are doing, you may or may not notice this effect. For typical browsing and email type stuff, you should not generally notice that effect. You would definitely notice it if you where trying to download files.

So, when you were noticing the problem before, what specifically where you doing? Just browsing the Internet? Or were you downloading stuff?

[AttilioVassallob12v]

smax013, on 28 June 2011 - 08:29 AM, said:

Then what I was originally thinking is not going to be an issue.

The other possibility is that it is just "normal" slow down from more than one computer using the Internet connection. Your Internet connection has "fixed" bandwidth ("fixed" as in that you don't get more bandwidth for more computers...all computers connecting through your connection share that bandwidth...it is likely "variable" in that you won't always get the same bandwidth from your ISP). If you have say a 10 Mbps connection at some point in time, then all computers on and sharing that connection will use that 10 Mbps. That is NOT 10 Mbps per computer, but rather 10 Mbps that gets divided between the computers. Thus, if you have two computers on and accessing the Internet (i.e. say both are downloading SP1 for Windows 7 for example), then nominally speaking each computer will have 5 Mbps (that is somewhat overly simplistic...it will really depend on how your router directs the traffic). If you had 4 computers doing the SP1 download, then nominally each will have 2.5 Mbps.

So, depending on what you are doing, you may or may not notice this effect. For typical browsing and email type stuff, you should not generally notice that effect. You would definitely notice it if you where trying to download files.

So, when you were noticing the problem before, what specifically where you doing? Just browsing the Internet? Or were you downloading stuff?

That's the thing, I'm not doing anything. My mom was on her laptop which is about 2 - 3 feet away from the Router and just browsing the internet. I think she went on facebook as well. Then I went into my room and turned my computer on. My room is about 15 - 20 feet away going through walls. As soon as windows was up (I had it in sleep mode before) she noticed it slowed down. I put my comp back into sleep and it was running fast for her. I didn't have any downloads or anything running on my PC which would access the internet and cause it to slow down.

Also, when I'm on my computer and no other computer is turned on I notice the internet is a lot slower then normally. This is leading me to believe that something is going on with my comp that is causing it to slow down the internet. I remember having at least 3 computers connected wirelessly doing different things without any noticeable drop in speed and this was only a month or two ago.

I read on a few other sites that maybe my wireless card is going bad and that's causing it to send a lot of packets to the router which obviously would slow down the internet. If anyone has thoughts on this or any idea on how I could check that would be great.

This post has been edited by AttilioVassallob12v: 28 June 2011 - 08:39 AM

[smax013]

AttilioVassallob12v, on 28 June 2011 - 08:38 AM, said:

That's the thing, I'm not doing anything. My mom was on her laptop which is about 2 - 3 feet away from the Router and just browsing the internet. I think she went on facebook as well. Then I went into my room and turned my computer on. My room is about 15 - 20 feet away going through walls. As soon as windows was up (I had it in sleep mode before) she noticed it slowed down. I put my comp back into sleep and it was running fast for her. I didn't have any downloads or anything running on my PC which would access the internet and cause it to slow down.

Also, when I'm on my computer and no other computer is turned on I notice the internet is a lot slower then normally. This is leading me to believe that something is going on with my comp that is causing it to slow down the internet. I remember having at least 3 computers connected wirelessly doing different things without any noticeable drop in speed and this was only a month or two ago.

I read on a few other sites that maybe my wireless card is going bad and that's causing it to send a lot of packets to the router which obviously would slow down the internet. If anyone has thoughts on this or any idea on how I could check that would be great.

Do you have Windows set to automatically download any updates? What about any virus program...is it set to automatically download updates? It is possible that you computer was trying to download something in the background.

Now, if this has been happening a lot of the time, then that would not likely be the case. But, it if has happened just a time or two, then that could be it.

As to checking if the wireless card is dying, there are three basic possible checks...

1) As Lincoln suggested, try connecting that computer with an ethernet cable and making sure the wireless connection is de-activated (or the card removed). If the same thing happens with the wired connection, then you KNOW it is not the WiFi adapter. If it does NOT happen with the wired connection, then that does not necessarily tell you anything.

2) Try the wireless adapter with another computer if you can. If it is a PCI WiFi adapter, then this might be tough. If it is a USB WiFi adapter, then it might be do able. If the same problem happens on another computer, then that is a pretty good indication that it is something the adapter is doing.

3) Try a new wireless adapter. This, of course, costs money...and if the same problem happens again, then it was not the adapter and you just wasted some money.

I would suggest starting with #1. It is generally the easiest thing to do (no need to mess with drivers, etc, which would be case with #2), but you will need to either get a long ethernet cable since you said it was about 20 ft from the router or need to temporarily move your computer into the other room.

[mjd420nova]

You have accidentally solved the problem. A bad or intermittent CAT5 cable or connector on the machine or router will give all kinds of problems that seem unrelated. WAIT, it'll happen again. Try a new CATcable on the PC, if it happens again, replace the NIC card, if it's part of the MOBO, hope you're handy with a soldering iron.

[AttilioVassallob12v]

smax013, on 28 June 2011 - 08:51 AM, said:

Do you have Windows set to automatically download any updates? What about any virus program...is it set to automatically download updates? It is possible that you computer was trying to download something in the background.

Now, if this has been happening a lot of the time, then that would not likely be the case. But, it if has happened just a time or two, then that could be it.

As to checking if the wireless card is dying, there are three basic possible checks...

1) As Lincoln suggested, try connecting that computer with an ethernet cable and making sure the wireless connection is de-activated (or the card removed). If the same thing happens with the wired connection, then you KNOW it is not the WiFi adapter. If it does NOT happen with the wired connection, then that does not necessarily tell you anything.

2) Try the wireless adapter with another computer if you can. If it is a PCI WiFi adapter, then this might be tough. If it is a USB WiFi adapter, then it might be do able. If the same problem happens on another computer, then that is a pretty good indication that it is something the adapter is doing.

3) Try a new wireless adapter. This, of course, costs money...and if the same problem happens again, then it was not the adapter and you just wasted some money.

I would suggest starting with #1. It is generally the easiest thing to do (no need to mess with drivers, etc, which would be case with #2), but you will need to either get a long ethernet cable since you said it was about 20 ft from the router or need to temporarily move your computer into the other room.

Lately it has been happening a little too often and I've always had updates for both windows and an antivirus turned so I really can't see that being the problem. Though I'm wondering if the weather could have affected this. I guess I need to see what happens. As per your suggestions

1) I may do this last, I don't think I have a long enough cable and I really don't feel like moving this PC lol
2) That's not a problem, as I said its a custom built PC. I put it together so I know how to take the card out.
3) I have a USB adapter on another PC I could try so I don't have to buy a new one (yay!)

Thanks for the tips. I'll see what happens.

Any other ideas are welcome as well.

mjd420nova, on 28 June 2011 - 09:43 AM, said:

You have accidentally solved the problem. A bad or intermittent CAT5 cable or connector on the machine or router will give all kinds of problems that seem unrelated. WAIT, it'll happen again. Try a new CATcable on the PC, if it happens again, replace the NIC card, if it's part of the MOBO, hope you're handy with a soldering iron.

Well that's the thing, its not a wired connection, its wireless. There is no cable that could be causing a problem. Though the wireless card could be the culprit. Also, why would I need to use a soldering iron? Its much easier to just disable the on board LAN through windows and install a PCI card. Thanks for suggestions though.

[smax013]

AttilioVassallob12v, on 28 June 2011 - 11:12 AM, said:

Lately it has been happening a little too often and I've always had updates for both windows and an antivirus turned so I really can't see that being the problem. Though I'm wondering if the weather could have affected this. I guess I need to see what happens. As per your suggestions

Yeah...if it has been happening a lot, then it is not likely something that is downloading in the background on the machine unless some Windows update is "stuck", but that is highly unlikely. So, it is most likely something else.

Quote

1) I may do this last, I don't think I have a long enough cable and I really don't feel like moving this PC lol

I understand.

Quote

2) That's not a problem, as I said its a custom built PC. I put it together so I know how to take the card out.

The tough part I was referring to was not really removing the card...I knew that more than likely you had to install the card (most desktops don't come with a WiFi adapter) whether it was a custom built or manufactured PC. The tough part could be finding another computer to test it in...i.e. if you don't have another desktop, then testing a PCI adapter is kind of tough.

Quote

3) I have a USB adapter on another PC I could try so I don't have to buy a new one (yay!)

With that being the case, then this is likely the easiest/best option to try first. The only hassle is messing with the drivers.

[mjd420nova]

AttilioVassallob12v, on 28 June 2011 - 11:12 AM, said:

smax013, on 28 June 2011 - 08:51 AM, said:

Do you have Windows set to automatically download any updates? What about any virus program...is it set to automatically download updates? It is possible that you computer was trying to download something in the background.

Now, if this has been happening a lot of the time, then that would not likely be the case. But, it if has happened just a time or two, then that could be it.

As to checking if the wireless card is dying, there are three basic possible checks...

1) As Lincoln suggested, try connecting that computer with an ethernet cable and making sure the wireless connection is de-activated (or the card removed). If the same thing happens with the wired connection, then you KNOW it is not the WiFi adapter. If it does NOT happen with the wired connection, then that does not necessarily tell you anything.

2) Try the wireless adapter with another computer if you can. If it is a PCI WiFi adapter, then this might be tough. If it is a USB WiFi adapter, then it might be do able. If the same problem happens on another computer, then that is a pretty good indication that it is something the adapter is doing.

3) Try a new wireless adapter. This, of course, costs money...and if the same problem happens again, then it was not the adapter and you just wasted some money.

I would suggest starting with #1. It is generally the easiest thing to do (no need to mess with drivers, etc, which would be case with #2), but you will need to either get a long ethernet cable since you said it was about 20 ft from the router or need to temporarily move your computer into the other room.

Lately it has been happening a little too often and I've always had updates for both windows and an antivirus turned so I really can't see that being the problem. Though I'm wondering if the weather could have affected this. I guess I need to see what happens. As per your suggestions

1) I may do this last, I don't think I have a long enough cable and I really don't feel like moving this PC lol
2) That's not a problem, as I said its a custom built PC. I put it together so I know how to take the card out.
3) I have a USB adapter on another PC I could try so I don't have to buy a new one (yay!)

Thanks for the tips. I'll see what happens.

Any other ideas are welcome as well.

mjd420nova, on 28 June 2011 - 09:43 AM, said:

You have accidentally solved the problem. A bad or intermittent CAT5 cable or connector on the machine or router will give all kinds of problems that seem unrelated. WAIT, it'll happen again. Try a new CATcable on the PC, if it happens again, replace the NIC card, if it's part of the MOBO, hope you're handy with a soldering iron.

Well that's the thing, its not a wired connection, its wireless. There is no cable that could be causing a problem. Though the wireless card could be the culprit. Also, why would I need to use a soldering iron? Its much easier to just disable the on board LAN through windows and install a PCI card. Thanks for suggestions though.

When it comes to onboard NIC ethernet ports on the MOBO, cables get yanked, jerked and otherwise pushed and pulled in directions not intended. Sometimes the connector on the board just needs replacing. WIFI has a whole different boat of interference causing and environmentally vulnerable to signal reduction and even more susceptable to other devices causing interference. Sometimes just moving a piece of furniture or a display (TV) can change a whole propogation pattern.

[AttilioVassallob12v]

smax013, on 29 June 2011 - 05:48 PM, said:

I understand.

The tough part I was referring to was not really removing the card...I knew that more than likely you had to install the card (most desktops don't come with a WiFi adapter) whether it was a custom built or manufactured PC. The tough part could be finding another computer to test it in...i.e. if you don't have another desktop, then testing a PCI adapter is kind of tough.

With that being the case, then this is likely the easiest/best option to try first. The only hassle is messing with the drivers.

I guess all I have to do now is try it out and see what happens then go from there. Again, thank you for your help.

mjd420nova, on 29 June 2011 - 06:45 PM, said:

When it comes to onboard NIC ethernet ports on the MOBO, cables get yanked, jerked and otherwise pushed and pulled in directions not intended. Sometimes the connector on the board just needs replacing. WIFI has a whole different boat of interference causing and environmentally vulnerable to signal reduction and even more susceptable to other devices causing interference. Sometimes just moving a piece of furniture or a display (TV) can change a whole propogation pattern.

I know, wireless can be tricky; however I don't think moving anything would solve my problem. Nothing in the house as changed for the past few years so I really can't say "that's causing the problem". This is starting to seem like one of those problems where I need to keep trying different solutions until something seems to work. All this technology is nice, but there can be tons of causes for a single problem which makes it hard to find a solution sometimes.

[AttilioVassallob12v]

Just a quick update. I've just tried the USB wireless adapter and the internet is still going very slow. I also contacted my ISP and they informed me that they detected a problem in the line. So hopefully once it is resolved my internet will be back to normal. I'd like to thank everyone for their help and hopefully this will work out.

[Tunz]

Fixing the line may increase your bandwidth, but it would be good to know why that particular computer puts such a load on the network. I use an app called BitMeter for monitoring how much my machine is uploading and/or downloading at any given time, in a simple visual way. I can tell at a glance if something is amiss.

[AttilioVassallob12v]

Tunz, on 30 June 2011 - 07:45 PM, said:

Fixing the line may increase your bandwidth, but it would be good to know why that particular computer puts such a load on the network. I use an app called BitMeter for monitoring how much my machine is uploading and/or downloading at any given time, in a simple visual way. I can tell at a glance if something is amiss.

I could give it a try, does it also tell you what programs are uploading/downloading?

[AttilioVassallob12v]

AttilioVassallob12v, on 01 July 2011 - 04:17 AM, said:

Tunz, on 30 June 2011 - 07:45 PM, said:

Fixing the line may increase your bandwidth, but it would be good to know why that particular computer puts such a load on the network. I use an app called BitMeter for monitoring how much my machine is uploading and/or downloading at any given time, in a simple visual way. I can tell at a glance if something is amiss.

I could give it a try, does it also tell you what programs are uploading/downloading?

Another update. I looked into BitMeter and found a program called TCPView. I found out that a program called stdrt.exe seemed to continuously send packages. Some research said it was malware so I ran a few scans under safe mode and now that its removed the internet speed seems to be better, though still not exactly like it was.

[Tunz]

AttilioVassallob12v, on 01 July 2011 - 06:31 AM, said:

AttilioVassallob12v, on 01 July 2011 - 04:17 AM, said:

Tunz, on 30 June 2011 - 07:45 PM, said:

Fixing the line may increase your bandwidth, but it would be good to know why that particular computer puts such a load on the network. I use an app called BitMeter for monitoring how much my machine is uploading and/or downloading at any given time, in a simple visual way. I can tell at a glance if something is amiss.

I could give it a try, does it also tell you what programs are uploading/downloading?

Another update. I looked into BitMeter and found a program called TCPView. I found out that a program called stdrt.exe seemed to continuously send packages. Some research said it was malware so I ran a few scans under safe mode and now that its removed the internet speed seems to be better, though still not exactly like it was.

There we go, that's what we were looking for. It sounds like your computer was a part of a botnet. Now would be a good time to download and run MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware if you have not done so already. What are you currently using for anti-virus?

[AttilioVassallob12v]

Tunz, on 01 July 2011 - 10:52 AM, said:

There we go, that's what we were looking for. It sounds like your computer was a part of a botnet. Now would be a good time to download and run MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware if you have not done so already. What are you currently using for anti-virus?

I'm using Avast, and I do the occasional scans with Spybot Search & Destroy and RemoveIT.

Hopefully after running the two programs you just mentioned my internet speeds will boost some more because as I mentioned in my previous post, its still not perfect.