Crazy Wired Issue

[scottb57]

I've had my Dell Dimension for 10 months, and have had no problems. All of the sudden I've noticed some wacky issues.

My desktop can only connect to the internet when it is connected to a router. When I try to go directly from the cable modem to my ethernet card it doesn't see a connection.

The bigger issue is that I'm only getting about 200kb download s peed, while my laptop (which is connected through the wireless router) gets about seven times that speed. This issue started a week ago, and the only thing I could possibly blame it on is an aol update.

I've gone so far as to format my hard drive and reinstall vista. The same issues remain.

At this point all I can think of is that my ethernet cables are broke, or my network card is broken.

Does anyone have any ideas whatsoever?

I've been dealing with this issue for a week, and it's been really frustrating. So I thought I'd come to the experts.

Thanks so much!

[scottb57]

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 1:07:10 PM, on 3/1/2008
Platform: Windows Vista  (WinNT 6.00.1904)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16609)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winampa.exe
C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\x86\LogMeInSystray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe
C:\Program Files\Skype\Plugin Manager\skypePM.exe
C:\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Windows\explorer.exe
C:\Program Files\SendSpace\Wizard\SendSpace Wizard.exe
C:\Program Files\SendSpace\Wizard\ssgui_app.dat
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winamp.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: Skype add-on (mastermind) - {22BF413B-C6D2-4d91-82A9-A0F997BA588C} - C:\Program Files\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\SkypeIEPlugin.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogMeIn GUI] "C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\x86\LogMeInSystray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"  -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Skype] "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-3083678624-1647878566-2338175281-1001\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LogMeInRemoteUser')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'Default user')
O9 - Extra button: Skype - {77BF5300-1474-4EC7-9980-D32B190E9B07} - C:\Program Files\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\SkypeIEPlugin.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search && Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgwlntf - C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\avgwlntf.dll
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Resident Shield Service (AvgCoreSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgrssvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: LogMeIn Maintenance Service (LMIMaint) - LogMeIn, Inc. - C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\x86\RaMaint.exe
O23 - Service: LogMeIn - LogMeIn, Inc. - C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\x86\LogMeIn.exe
O23 - Service: SBSD Security Center Service (SBSDWSCService) - Safer Networking Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDWinSec.exe

--
End of file - 5835 bytes

[scottb57]

So I started to think that maybe is was my network card or the network cables. So I went out and bought a wireless card. Installed and connected to the network with no problems, but STILL only gets about a seventh the speed of my laptop.

Now I'm completely at a loss

[Broni]

The log is clean, and I doubt, it's any malware issue.
Try...
Download, and install TCP Optimizer: http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
Open it, and put a checkmark in Optimal Settings. Click Apply changes button.
Restart computer, and see if it helped.

[scottb57]

Thanks for the advice Broni. I actually saw a thread where you had helped someone earlier, and tried TCP Optimizer. I'm still having the same issue.

Desktop connects at around 1200kb/s (120kbps)
Laptop connects at around 14000kb/s (1400kbps)

I've tried going from my cable modem straight into my machine, I've tried wirelessly connecting to my router and I've tried using an ethernet cable from my router to my computer

The problem still remains 

If you have any suggestions, Broni, please send them my way. I've spent about 40 hours trying to solve this problem.

[Broni]

Desktop connects at around 1200kb/s (120kbps)
Laptop connects at around 14000kb/s (1400kbps)

Where are these readings from?

When you connect with your desktop, is your laptop on-line at the same time?

[scottb57]

I've taken the readings from speedtest.net

I've also tried a few different tests to make sure it wasn't just that site that was an issue.

I've also noticed similar speeds when downloading on the two machines.

Most of the time when I connect to the internet both computers are on. However if I turn my laptop off, I still get the same speeds on my desktop.

Thanks again Broni.

[Broni]

I've also noticed similar speeds when downloading on the two machines.

Now, I don't understand...desktop is supposed to be slower.

[scottb57]

I've also noticed similar speeds when downloading on the two machines.

Now, I don't understand...desktop is supposed to be slower.

What I meant to say is that when I download files on my desktop I see similar speeds then when I use the speed test

No matter what I do the desktop is much slower than the laptop

[Broni]

Have you ever reset modem/router?

[scottb57]

Have you ever reset modem/router?

A number of times

and again, it's so weird because the laptop connects just fine

[Broni]

Did you try to check the speed in Safe Mode with Networking?

[scottb57]

I just booted the desktop into safe mode.

My speeds were still the same, ie. poor

[Broni]

Really weird....Did you try to call your ISP to recheck all settings?

[scottb57]

Really weird....Did you try to call your ISP to recheck all settings?

it's SO weird. I've tried everything. I called the ISP when this issue first occurred. They said everything was fine on their end. I'll try again.

Then I'm going to call Dell, and see if they can help in anyway.

[Broni]

Try couple more things...
Download, install, and run LSP-Fix: http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
Restart computer, and see, if it helped.
If not...
Download, install, and run WinSock XP Fix: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
Restart computer, and check again.

[ghrark]

ok wierd since im stepping in a bit late but here goes!

ok so you say its the same no matter which card you use, wired or wireless. so throw out the tcp issue since both cards use different tcp connections. its a program pure and simple. you installed an AOL update. try disabling the AOL and use just internet explorer and outlook for your email. my wife gets the same problem with AOL but without it, it works just fine. try that and then get back to us.

[scottb57]

So I just got home from a vacation, and I tried the two programs Broni suggested. I'm still having the same exact issue. WinsockXP fix wouldn't work because I have vista.

ghrark - I deleted AOL, and then reinstalled the operating system. Same issues. I can't believe I'm still struggling!!!

[Broni]

Reinstalled, how? Over the top, or clean install?

[Aegis]

Yes, and if it wasn't a clean install of the operating system, was AOL completely uninstalled?  I know from past experience that it can be difficult to completely remove.

[scottb57]

Clean install. I formated the hard drive.

Perhaps SP1 will help me?

[Broni]

I doubt.

Have you ever uninstalled/reinstalled ethernet card driver? Maybe ethernet card is going south...borrow a card from a friend.
Also this WinsockFix should work with Vista: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Network-Tweak/WinSockFix.shtml

[Spoiler]

Open the properties to your network card. Look for the configure button and than the Advanced tab. In the list you should see something like Media Type. Click it and than go to the drop down and pick Auto Select. The vendors name things a little differently so it maybe called something else.

What kind of network card do you have?

[scottb57]

broadcom 440x