Internet slow, but fast in safe mode - reinstall Windows?
July 7, 2013 7:28 AM   Subscribe

I'm having a problem with my fairly new laptop where it seems to be using more Internet bandwidth than it should. In Safe Mode with networking, it works fine. I'm considering reinstalling Windows but wondering if that's the best option and if so, how to go about it.

My laptop runs Windows 7 and when it's in normal mode, connected our wireless Internet connection, it seems to slow the connection down considerably for the other two devices on the network (my phone and my flatmate's laptop). We've just been testing it in various combinations and the connection works normally when my laptop is off, but it also works fine and at a good speed when my laptop is in Safe Mode with networking. I'm not sure what's slowing it down - I have Norton and have run a scan as well as the Power Eraser tool, and neither of them picked up anything, but I'm concerned I might have a virus.

I'm not really sure what to do next, but I guess I might have to try reinstalling Windows.

I'd be really grateful for any suggestions of what the problem might be - and if you think I should reinstall Windows, if you have any suggestions for guides to doing that. I haven't reinstalled Windows before, so I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing and was planning to just Google 'windows 7 reinstall' or what have you.

Thanks for your help.
posted by Put the kettle on to Computers & Internet (9 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Hopefully someone better versed in networking and whatnot will weigh in, but my initial thought is that there's some bloatware program using your bandwidth in the background. And when in safe mode, this non-essential program is disabled. Like my last Gateway laptop that came with some Verizon program preinstalled and always slowing things down. I'd use the task manager (or a network traffic equivalent) to look through the processes running while in normal mode (googling the .exe filenames or processes as needed) and uninstall things you don't need. You may have to reinstall Windows to get rid of some things (I think) - and some programs could be set to not run on startup if you can't get rid of them.
posted by youngergirl44 at 8:17 AM on July 7, 2013


You can download Wireshark and run it for a few minutes to capture traffic. You should be able to see everything it's doing.
posted by empath at 8:30 AM on July 7, 2013 [1 favorite]


I'd download the latest drivers for your wireless device, uninstall all software and drivers related to the wireless device, reboot and install that latest software.
posted by starscream at 8:37 AM on July 7, 2013


There could be a gazillion programs slowing you down, from the antivirus to Dropbox to Spotify to more malicious software. You could run "msconfig" and take a look at the things under the Startup or Services tabs, or find a teenager to come over and take a close look. If you reformat, remember to make sure you have your original disks and license key handy, because there is often a point of no return...
posted by tintexas at 8:51 AM on July 7, 2013


Do you use iTunes / iCloud? Is it possible that there's a significant amount of syncing going on one way or the other when you boot into normal mode? Or some other cloud-based service?
posted by SquidLips at 9:26 AM on July 7, 2013


While Wireshark is great, its somewhat complicated to interpret its results. I'd only turn to it as a last resort. Or have someone very technical interpret its result.

I would start with task manager(right click the taskbar, start task manager), and look at the networking tab. It should have a graph for each adapter, showing what the current traffic is. The % is a % of your network adapter, not of your internet connection. If that shows a difference between safe mode & a normal login, then you may have something running.

Next i would look at Process Explorer. After you run process explorer, go to the file menu->show details for all processes. Confirm the security dialog. Then go to the View Menu, select columns, then process network tab. Check the network send bytes, receive bytes, other bytes. Exit the column chooser. Wait a few minutes while it seems sluggish. Find the columns you just added, look for the one thats counting up highest, or what has unexpected traffic. Right click the process -> properties to see some info on it, but you may have to google the process name.

If that doesnt help. You can look into wireshark, but it logs every single packet going in and out of your computer at programmer level detail.

Memail me if you have questions.
posted by TheAdamist at 9:59 AM on July 7, 2013


If you create a new user, and login as that not in safe mode, how fast is the Internet?
posted by devnull at 11:36 AM on July 7, 2013


I'm not sure what's slowing it down - I have Norton

I'm not sure what's making me itchy - I have hives :-)

If you go to "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel, take a screenshot, scroll the list of programs down to the next lot, take another screenshot and so on, then upload the resulting screenshots to imgur.com and link them here, there's a fair chance that somebody will recognize whatever notorious bandwidth hog is causing you grief.
posted by flabdablet at 6:51 PM on July 7, 2013


Since you are on windows 7, you can use "Resource Monitor" to see whats using your internet by going to Task Manager - Performance tab and click on the "Resource Monitor" button. This is a separate tool that will pop up. Click on the "Network" tab and it will show all the processes using network resources and what they are accessing among other things.

This link gives a bit of info.
posted by Admira at 8:49 PM on July 7, 2013


« Older Who defined the 8 definitive reasons cats are...   |   What to expect when you're expecting...bankruptcy Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.