Internet speed has dropped significantly

[Switzerland calling]

Literally overnight. I have a 3,500 kbps subscription (telephone company
confirmed my line can support 3,000 kbps and is working normally). It has
been running fast and perfectly - it hasn't "slowed down", it literally
became slow from one day to the next.

However, it is running so slowly - I have done a test download and calculate
it's running at about 100 kbps! Given telephone company have verified no
fault on line, what else could it be please? and where can I find the actual
speed I'm working with on the pc?

Details:
- Windows XP SP3
- pc connected by cable to modem (new - within last 3 months)
- short cable then to phone socket
- no other pcs connected or using line
- no programs running in background (e.g. updates)

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Malke]

Literally overnight. I have a 3,500 kbps subscription (telephone company
confirmed my line can support 3,000 kbps and is working normally). It has
been running fast and perfectly - it hasn't "slowed down", it literally
became slow from one day to the next.

However, it is running so slowly - I have done a test download and
calculate it's running at about 100 kbps! Given telephone company have
verified no fault on line, what else could it be please? and where can I
find the actual speed I'm working with on the pc?

Details:
- Windows XP SP3
- pc connected by cable to modem (new - within last 3 months)
- short cable then to phone socket
- no other pcs connected or using line
- no programs running in background (e.g. updates)

Have you power-cycled the modem? If not, unplug it and wait for about a
minute. Then plug it in again. If that solves the problem, fine. If not,
have a friend bring over a laptop and plug it directly into your modem. If
they experience the slowness, the modem needs to be replaced. It doesn't
matter that it's new; hardware can fail at any age and in fact will tend to
fail soon or go for years.

If the friend doesn't experience slowness, then you know the issue is on
your computer. Start with the usual scans for malware so you know you're
working from a clean base.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

If your machine is clean:

1. Look in Event Viewer for clues. Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]
2. If there are no clues, do clean-boot troubleshooting:

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

And as always, it is smart to ask yourself The First Question of
Troubleshooting: what changed between the time things worked and the time
they didn't?

Malke

 

[Switzerland calling]

Thank you very much for your guidance.

I have run a test on line and indeed it is running at less than 1,000 kbps.
I have challenged my telephone company who now agree to look into it further.

If they insist they have no problem, then I will follow all your steps below.

(Ironically "what changed between the time things worked and the time they
didn't" - nothing - it really was overnight!)

Best regards.

Literally overnight. I have a 3,500 kbps subscription (telephone company
confirmed my line can support 3,000 kbps and is working normally). It has
been running fast and perfectly - it hasn't "slowed down", it literally
became slow from one day to the next.

However, it is running so slowly - I have done a test download and
calculate it's running at about 100 kbps! Given telephone company have
verified no fault on line, what else could it be please? and where can I
find the actual speed I'm working with on the pc?

Details:
- Windows XP SP3
- pc connected by cable to modem (new - within last 3 months)
- short cable then to phone socket
- no other pcs connected or using line
- no programs running in background (e.g. updates)

Have you power-cycled the modem? If not, unplug it and wait for about a
minute. Then plug it in again. If that solves the problem, fine. If not,
have a friend bring over a laptop and plug it directly into your modem. If
they experience the slowness, the modem needs to be replaced. It doesn't
matter that it's new; hardware can fail at any age and in fact will tend to
fail soon or go for years.

If the friend doesn't experience slowness, then you know the issue is on
your computer. Start with the usual scans for malware so you know you're
working from a clean base.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

If your machine is clean:

1. Look in Event Viewer for clues. Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]
2. If there are no clues, do clean-boot troubleshooting:

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

And as always, it is smart to ask yourself The First Question of
Troubleshooting: what changed between the time things worked and the time
they didn't?

Malke

 

[Malke]

Thank you very much for your guidance.

I have run a test on line and indeed it is running at less than 1,000
kbps. I have challenged my telephone company who now agree to look into it
further.

If they insist they have no problem, then I will follow all your steps
below.

(Ironically "what changed between the time things worked and the time they
didn't" - nothing - it really was overnight!)

Then it does sound like a problem on the ISP's end or with the modem, but
only systematic troubleshooting will tell. Let me know if I can help
further and good luck.

Malke

 

[Switzerland calling]

Malke - sorry it took so long to reply - just wanted to give you feedback.

I found a way of testing speed, and indeed it was 1/3 normal.

Finally my ISP confirmed they had done something with the linie and
corrected problem overnight!

Thank you for your guidance along the way. Regards.

 

[Malke]

Malke - sorry it took so long to reply - just wanted to give you feedback.

I found a way of testing speed, and indeed it was 1/3 normal.

Finally my ISP confirmed they had done something with the linie and
corrected problem overnight!

Thank you for your guidance along the way. Regards.

Glad you got it sorted. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.

Malke