ItsGeekToMe.co

Q: Since a recent Windows 8.1 update, I’ve experienced extremely slow web page loading. I use both Google Chrome and IE 11, and Chrome is almost unusable. IE is better but still very slow loading pages. Some Cox speed check and Google connectivity diagnostic results are attached. I also included results from a Toshiba laptop using the same ISP and wi-fi network. Even though the Sony IE speeds look reasonable compared to the Toshiba, web page loading is noticeably lower. That Toshiba laptop and 2 tablets on the same network don’t seem to be affected. I’ve tried some suggested remedies that I found on the web (resetting all Chrome settings, clean boot, disabling a Windows function through the registry, etc) to no avail. I also have reset my cable modem and wireless router, and that had no effect. I’ve also hardwired the Sony to the router with no change in performance. Any ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated.

– Frank S.
Niceville, Florida

A: First let me say that I think the update to Win8.1 is merely coincidental to the occurrence of your problem, rather than being its cause. It sounds to me like either you have a very unstable Internet connection, or something on your computer is using a whole lot of bandwidth in the background. If the problem lies in with your ISP, no advice I can give you is going to fix that. So, I’d start with a call to Cox Customer Service and tell them that you’re just not getting the performance that you’re paying for, and see what they’re willing to do for you.

Before you make that call, I want to perhaps reset your expectations just a little bit. You mentioned in the description of your computer the “expected 100 MB/s speed” of your Internet service. I can almost guarantee you that this is a number that was provided by Cox’s marketing department, and not by the engineers and technicians that actually operate the service. The phrase Cox uses is actually “up to 100 Mbps”. In other words, some unspecified speed that will never be any faster than 100 Mbps. I assure you, while the lines and equipment may be rated at 100 Mbps, you’ll never actually see that speed outside of carefully controlled laboratory conditions, and with no other customers sharing the cable trunk with you. I’m not saying that you don’t have a problem, because the speed test results you showed me were rather poor. But don’t realistically expect to achieve the full 100 Mbps either.

When you get done calling Cox out on the effective data rate you’re achieving, you should take a look at what is consuming bandwidth on your device. It could be that you have a malware infection, spam bot, or something that has taken up residence in your system and is happily munching away at your bandwidth. To view your network usage, I’m going to point you toward Microsoft’s Sysinternals Networking Utilities at tinyurl.com/IGTM-0428a; specifically TCPView, which you’ll find on that page. This little utility will show you every active connection on your PC, and how much data it is using. If something is surreptitiously sucking down your bandwidth, you should see it easily. How you solve that problem will depend on what you find. Good luck!

 

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Q: I read your column both online, and in our local paper. Every now and then I’ll see a very mean-spirited comment on one of the online articles, and I just wanted to write in and tell you not to pay any attention to those guys. Your articles do help people. I know because I’m one of them. Keep doing what you do, and thanks!

– Benjamin C.
Niceville, Florida

A: What a nice letter, Benjamin. Thanks for taking the time to write. I do occasionally get “hate mail”, but that’s to be expected when you put yourself out there for the general public to see. I also get quite a few complimentary letters from appreciative readers who have found value in my answers. I think I know which comment you’re talking about, and it’s not worth wasting any of my time or energy to even respond to people like that. Suffice it to say that I “do what I do” to at least try and help people. I wonder what that person has done for his fellow humans besides try and make someone else feel bad? As for me, don’t sweat the “mean-spirited comments” when you see them – I sure don’t.