Topic: slow internet connection

[luckypnut]

When I try to go to the internet, the connection is very, very slow.  Yet, my son's computer connects very quickly.  We're using the same router to connect.

Why is mine so slow?

[Simon]

Could be any number of reasons.  Do you have any programs running in the background on the computer with the slower connection?  Have you done a virus / spyware sweep?  Is your son downloading large files on his computer?  (I'm wondering if his might be dragging on your speed.)  Who is your ISP?

Sorry for all the questions, but I think we'll need something more to go on before we can start to help.

[luckypnut]

right now I'm on his computer because it's faster, so no he's not downloading any files.  my ISP is AT&T.  haven't done a virus or spyware sweep yet only because I'm the one that reloaded Windows (per a friend's recommendation) and it wiped everything out.  so I'm still downloading key software and haven't gotten to my antivirus yet because the internet is so slow.  Should I try calling AT&T?

[Simon]

It sounds more likely to be a local (to your computer) issue, than ISP related, but hold fire, and hopefully someone who knows more about this stuff will be along in a bit.  I've given him a nudge. 

[Rik]

There's no point in calling AT&T as your connection is OK, the problem is somewhere in your configuration. To be frank, you really shouldn't be trying to use the 'net at all with a machine which doesn't have effective anti virus, malware protection and firewall - are you saying they aren't installed, or that you simply haven't done a manual sweep?

Can you explain what you mean by the connection being slow, how have you attempted to measure that? Do you understand the term MTU?

[luckypnut]

I'm trying to connect to the internet so I can download my antivirus.  When I click on the Mozilla Firefox icon, I'll get a blank screen for about 1-1/2 to 2 minutes before I get my home page.  When I do the same thing on this PC (My Son's), it is almost instant. 

No, sorry I don't know what MTU means?

[Simon]

Can you download the anti-virus on your son's machine, then transfer it to your own via CD or USB stick?  I'm just wondering if your own machine may already have picked up something nasty by being unprotected online, given that you probably haven't got all of the Windows Updates yet either.

[Baz]

how are both computers connected to the router.

[Rik]

I'm trying to connect to the internet so I can download my antivirus.  When I click on the Mozilla Firefox icon, I'll get a blank screen for about 1-1/2 to 2 minutes before I get my home page.  When I do the same thing on this PC (My Son's), it is almost instant. 

It sounds like something is wrong with that machine, either configuration or it's picked up some kind of virus/malware.

No, sorry I don't know what MTU means?

OK, it stands for Maximum Transmission Unit, and controls the size of the data packets that the computer sends to the 'net. If they are larger than either those used by your router or by your ISP, they will be fragmented and cause a slowdown, but your problem sounds more significant than that. As Simon says, the best thing would be to get your AV etc via your son's machine and then run a scan to eliminate any infection. With that out of the way, we can think about any remaining problems.

[luckypnut]

Ok, I will and get back to you.