Problem with slow wireless connection on laptop only!

[DSM10000]

We are having a frustrating problem with our laptop (HP Pavilion running Windows 7) when using it via a wireless connection.

The connection speed using a broadband checker is reporting around 0.2 Mb/s while other wireless devices on the same network are showing speeds of around 6Mb/s, the router (Orange Livebox) is showing a downstream speed of around 8Mb/s at the box itself.

The wireless adapter is showing a good connection and no changes have been made except for me changing the channel number on the router to see if it made any difference which it did not.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[John]

I would start by ensuring the wireless adapter drivers are up to date.

I would also try it on a different router to see what performance you get there if still an issue after that...

Conflicting channels tends to create a 'boxing match' where one knocks out the other and vice versa - rather than working but slow.

 

[DSM10000]

Thanks, the drivers are up to date. It does run faster on other routers, it is only slow on the home one!

 

[John]

Hmm, could be it is not 'compatible' with it.

Has it ever worked quickly on that router?

Have you checked for a router firmware update as well?

 

[DSM10000]

John

Thank you.

I have had the router for a number of years and the laptop has always performed well on it, I checked the router firmware earlier and it was the latest version. My Google Nexus and my Samsung 'phone and the iPhone all show connection speeds at around 6Mb/s

 

[John]

Hmm, very odd indeed.

I'd probably try switching every other wireless device off, turning the router off and on in 30 seconds and just connecting the laptop to it - see what you get then.

Might be something else is causing it.

Do you know if anything else has changed recently?

Windows 7 update applied etc.?

 

[DSM10000]

I tried the switching off and on test, still the same, as for Windows updates, yes there have been Windows updates but trying to track down which may have caused it will be interesting!

I might log in to the router, remove the laptop and re-establish it in the list of devices.

 

[John]

In Windows 7, there is a 'recent update history' to see which ones you applied and when. You know when it started running slowly. If it was running fine after you applied the last updates, it would seem unlikely.

You could try removing the 'wireless' connection and re-establishing that.

You could also try removing and re-installing the wireless drivers, in case something is up with them.

When you say re-establish it in the list of devices - do you mean you have configured restrictions based on MAC address - or are you talking about removing the wireless connection and re-connecting (re-entering the passcode etc.)?

Otherwise when you turn the router off and on, you are effectively re-establishing the connection.

 

[DSM10000]

When you say re-establish it in the list of devices - do you mean you have configured restrictions based on MAC address - or are you talking about removing the wireless connection and re-connecting (re-entering the passcode et.

The router has a list of connected devices that it has created.

 

[Benzowner]

Had similar issues over that last few days with my set up at home, I eventually disconnected the power from the router and reconnected it after about 20 seconds or so, and all now works fine. What the problem was with the rouer, I have no idea.

 

[Stratman]

Try the laptop on a wired connection to the router having switched off wireless.

That should show you if it's a network problem or a purely wireless one.

 

[Ted]

Sounds like you may have conflicting IP addresses.
Try ipconfig /renew on the lappy.

 

[DSM10000]

Just tried my work laptop running IE and XP ,with that I get a regular 7MB/s. My own laptop was similar then slowed down when using IE, with Chrome it is constant.

 

[DSM10000]

Try the laptop on a wired connection to the router having switched off wireless.

That should show you if it's a network problem or a purely wireless one.

It is not a wireless problem as other devices connected via wireless are not affected.

 

[John]

Just tried my work laptop running IE and XP ,with that I get a regular 7MB/s. My own laptop was similar then slowed down when using IE, with Chrome it is constant.

With Chrome it is constant -ly slow or constant -ly fast?

If the latter, I would consider a factory reset of the HP as something is pickled. I would say hardware but given an initial OK performance and then it drops, it seems unlikely. (Might be worth first running CMD as administrator, and running a chkdsk /r to see if it finds anything).

 

[toolman1954]

I have had a similar experience with a Dell 630, although this was an intermittent fault.The cure was to open up the bottom, disconnect the wireless, reboot, switch off, reconnect the wireless ,reboot and all was tikkety boo. I think the action of unplugging and reconnecting the wires had most effect as if there was a poor connection.

 

[Sp!ke]

Is there a port speed mismatch?

Check the router and wifi card are both set to the auto /auto. Also check that the wifi card is set to the correct setting (a,,b,g or n) to match the router and that its transmit power is set to high.

Lastly, try locating the wifi daughterboard and reseat it and ensure the aerial fly leads are connected firmly.

 

[DSM10000]

Is there a port speed mismatch?

Check the router and wifi card are both set to the auto /auto. Also check that the wifi card is set to the correct setting (a,,b,g or n) to match the router and that its transmit power is set to high.

Lastly, try locating the wifi daughterboard and reseat it and ensure the aerial fly leads are connected firmly.

Thanks

Both set to auto and power is set to high, the wireless adaptor is part of the motherboard so I cannot re-seat it, unsure what you mean by "aerial fly leads" The connections from the'phone socket to the filter and router are all good. It is only this device that is suffering the speed loss so I think a re-install of Windows may help, I might upgrade to Windows 8!

Strangley after Chrome ran appallingly slowly last night it then, after a reboot ran much better so the problem appears to be only when using IE! Why that should be I do not understand, sometimes it matches other devices (all using the same broadband test program) and other times it drops to almost nothing!

 

[davidsw]

Worked on a laptop the other day exactly the same problem .IE would not load properly Chrome worked ok .It was profile related .Try setting up a new user with admin rights .Log on using new profile and try IE again.You can then copy docs photos etc from old user account to the new one.

 

[DSM10000]

Worked on a laptop the other day exactly the same problem .IE would not load properly Chrome worked ok .It was profile related .Try setting up a new user with admin rights .Log on using new profile and try IE again.You can then copy docs photos etc from old user account to the new one.

Thanks, worth a try!

Sometimes it works other times it does not, I have rolled back to a previous version and things appear better. Is Windows 8 worth the upgrade?