Internet speed fluctuates, drop very fast, up and down all day

AOTS · Aug 15, 2012

Hello, I apologize for my terrible English, thank you for reading and help me.

I am using Window Vista, DSL Internet.
My internet for the past week is not good. Throughout the whole day my internet fluctuates, up and down fluctuates speed all day. My DSL download speed always been good, I always get 300KB/sec stable speed, until last week suddenly it start to drop from 300KB/sec down to 6KB/sec, :eek: This is a big change, something is definately wrong.

I call my Verizon DSL, they do a line test on their side and they say my Modemn recieve good signal, also the DSL light on my modemn is always solid, so I am sure it recieve good signal.
So if nothing is wrong on their side, maybe it my computer hardware?
I also do a Safe Mode Networking with Verizon, I run my computer in Safe Mode Networking, and the internet speed still drop dramatically starting from 300KB/s down to 6KB/s . Since I am on Safe Mode Networking and this problem still exist, it is definately not any software conflict.
I also scan my computer with numerous of anti-virus from Norton, mcAfee, Kaspersky, Housecall, Esset, including Malwarebyte and lavasoft, and found Nothing!!!!! No virus, no spyware, Nothing!!!

So all that has rules out, now the only option left I can think of is something wrong with my Vista hardware. How can I know if something is wrong with my hardware? Can anyone please hlep me. Something is wrong, I just cannot figure out what it is.
Thank you so much!!

windows8 · Aug 15, 2012

Hi, I'm pretty sure that vista is not the cause of this problem. Try updating the drivers for your modem/ internet drivers. Have you done the basic unplugging of modem and after 10 seconds going back?

AOTS · Aug 15, 2012

I have try update all the drives (it say all your drive to up to date) and I try unplugging modemn for like 2 hours and plug it back in. The Verizon DSL also reset my whole modemn, and the problem still persist. (so it definately not modemn issue)
Something is going on in my computer. It is not software issue since I have try Safe Mode networking many times, and my internet speed still fluctuates, so this rule out the software conflict problem.
I scan my computer with all of these: Norton, mcAfee, Kaspersky, Housecall, Esset, including Malwarebyte and lavasoft, and found Nothing!! If there is a virus in my computer, then it super powerful then since All of these anti-virus cannot even detect them. (Unlikely it is virus issue)

My computer is very hot though, and it have some sound like something is running inside. Maybe my computer is overheated? How to know if the NIC or network card inside my computer is not working correctly?

My internet is so slow right now, I am so frusterated, Thank you for helping me.

windows8 · Aug 15, 2012

I'm unsure of why its running slow.

What internet browser do you use?

There are many tools that can adjust your settings for quicker internet.

There is a high chance that some settings in your browser have gone wrong and that is causing you this slow internet.

AOTS · Aug 15, 2012

I have try many different browser and all the same, very slow download speed. I also do a Pingtest.net and I have a F+ grade, it is something wrong
I have try IE, Chrome and Mozilla, all download speed are very slow.

Also, for example, when I go to a voice chat room, I also get the message say internet is not stable, please check your internet connection.

So from this, I don't think is the browser, seem like it something from inside the computer.

Cytherian · Aug 15, 2012

FYI, there's no such thing as "Vista hardware"... Vista is the operating system, which is software. So, I think you meant to say "computer hardware".

If you didn't install anything new on your computer and virus checks turn up negative, it's not likely that the problem is with your computer hardware or operating system. Your internal network card would be the first thing to consider if it was a hardware problem, but if it's a relatively new computer then it's built into the motherboard and it's not something modular that can be replaced. In any case, a hardware failure usually means NO function at all, not reduced functionality.

Are you directly wired to the cable modem, or are you using it with wireless? If wireless, does your cable modem have built-in WiFi, or do you use a separate wireless router? Can you get access to another computer to try using your DSL connection and see if the same performance results?

AOTS · Aug 16, 2012

Hello, sorry I don't know a lot about computer.
My window Vista this year is year 3 , so I think it is not very old.

My modemn is wire to a computer, I do not have wireless. It is always plug in the computer.
When I call Verizon, they have already reset my modemn, but this problem still occur. The DSL light on my modemn is Solid green color, so I am sure I am getting full signal from Verizon. As they also told me they do a Test on their side and they say my Modemn is getting full signal.

I always get 300 KB/sec on my download, right now I am download and I only get 8.7 KB/sec , cannot even download anymore, very slow. I also do not get any reception when I go into voice chat room, I cannot even hear people voice chat because the sound keep breaking up, and I get message say "Please check your internet connection"

What strange is when I do a speedtest, speedtest come out normal. But when I do a pingtest, I get like a very high ping and a F+ grade.

Before this problem occur I have download and use a Kaspersky Security Scan (It is just a Online virus scan), I have use this for about 5 days on my system before my internet went downhill. It is possible for it to be conflict with my Norton Antivirus? But if it is the Kaspersky problem then it would occur at the first day when I instal already, why wait till 5 days later?
After my internet went slow, I immediately uninstal the Kaspersky online scan, and my internet still not get any better. But I don't think this is the problem, since many people are using online scan as a additional virus check up on their computer.

Beside this, I did not make any changes on my computer. It is possible for the Kaspersky online scan mess up my system?

Cytherian · Aug 16, 2012

If you had two different anti-virus programs installed, this could cause the problem. But, the Kaspersky Security Scan provided on-line is a one-shot deal. There's nothing that Kaspersky does that would mess up your system--it just looks for potential virus threats.

It's possible that your network connection profile has been damaged/compromised. If you're having issues with pinging connections, perhaps you need to flush your DNS resolver cache. I'd also check your Auto Tuning TCP/IP receive levels.

Just to rule out any contributing issues at the system level, I also suggest you run SFC scannow (start from "Here's How" and proceed).

AOTS · Aug 16, 2012

Thank you, you are so helpful. I will try all your recommendation.
How to know if my network connection profile have been damage? Is there any way I can reset the network profile setting? I have try open firewall advance setting and no error message show.
Currently my computer window firewall is Off, because my Norton firewall is On, so it turn off my window firewall.
Just wondering have you ever try the Kaspersky online scan before? I worried this is why my internet is slow now.

The Kapersky online scan does require installation of their .exe in order to scan, after I have this problem, I have uninstal it from my system. Since Kaspersky is not a Real Time protection though, so I don't think it conflict with Norton.

I use window Vista Home Professional edition in x32, Vistax64 and vistax32 is similar? I can try follow the clear DNS steps ? Since the link you give me is vista64

I success flush the DNS, but no luck, my speed start out from 200KB/sec now down to 16KB/sec

I have try check Auto Tunning TCP, I show the screenshot below:
Does it look OK? Sorry I am not good with computer

Cytherian · Aug 16, 2012

My Auto Tuning TCP settings match yours exactly. So, I think you're fine there. The tutorials apply to both 32 and 64 bit systems.

So you're using the Norton Internet Security firewall. Hmmm... Well, just to help narrow down the problem, try seeing if you can rule out Norton. Disable the firewall and anti-virus, then open up your browser and visit only highly trusted websites. See if there's any performance difference.

AOTS · Aug 16, 2012

Thank you,
I have try disable both Window Firewall and Norton Firewall, and my download internet speed still fluctuates, right now I only have 15KB/sec , very very slow.
I don't think is Norton Firewall problem because eversince I buy this Vista computer 3 years ago, I always use Norton and I renew subcription yearly, and no problem with my speed for the past 3 days, except since the past one week.
I don't know what is going on with my computer, I pretty much check everything. It is too late for me to do a system restore now because this Vista restore point of one week ago, have been delete it. I have check my system restore.
Only option left is do a whole computer restore back to brand new manufacture, I do not want to do this.
If this is not a problem in my computer, then it is possible for the problem to be with Verizon DSL? When I call them they say no problem on their side.

Cytherian · Aug 16, 2012

OK, well at least you can rule out Norton then.

Do you have a friend, relative, or neighbor with a laptop? If so, it would be very useful to have them come over and use your DSL connection to see if they experience the lag as well. This would help isolate it to your computer, or to the Internet provider service.

AOTS · Aug 16, 2012

Thank you sir,

But I don't understand how can I get a friend laptop and plug in my Verizon modemn can get them online?
My Internet is high speed internet, it is not cable, it is not wireless too.
When I instal Verizon DSL, it come with a verizon CD to instal, and then I go to 192.168.1.1 to configure the modemn.

So if I just plug this Verizon modemn to a friend laptop, I don't think they can connect to the internet, unless they configure their online network to my Verizon DSL.

I'm kind of confuse, would it work just plug in anyone laptop? I thought they have to do some configuration.

Cytherian · Aug 17, 2012

With cable modems, you don't need to install any special software on the client (laptop/PC). You just plug in the wire and the computer should see an active "local area connection". With a DSL modem, you might need to have a Windows installation CD handy for various drivers. The Verizon CD might have some of that on it. In any case, it shouldn't be hard to do and uninstalling it afterward should be very easy.

Internet speed fluctuates, drop very fast, up and down all day

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