PC Only Has Fast Internet During Startup

[Crothus]

I hate to be the guy with a very specific problem that either no one has, or no one talks about... Yet here I am.

 

After installing a Security Update for Windows 10, my internet has begun to act oddly. The update also broke a lot of the Explorer menus, but I was able to fix that so that's likely irrelevant - though to be thorough, I'm mentioning it. Internet speeds are fine when the PC first boots, but after about 30 seconds of being on Desktop, any downloads drop to the 400-or-less kiloBYTE range. Prior to "the incident", my internet speeds were normal. I uninstalled the update and still have the same issues. I've tried about everything that I can think of that is rational.

I assumed, from the sudden drop in internet, that some app is taking up all of my bandwidth, though Task Manager reads my network at 0%, and I have killed all third-party processes that may connect to the internet. That only solved to further my frustration. I've sanity checked WiFi and Ethernet speeds on three other devices, and all other devices return "normal" theoretical and real-time speeds. The slow speeds are quarantined onto my new PC alone, and are unanimous across any and all apps that can gain internet access.

 

 

Tried: 

-Powering off and unplugging Internet Modem for at least 60 seconds

-Running Windows Troubleshooter (ha!)

-Ensuring Delivery Optimization options were set for maximum download capability

-Temporarily disabling Windows Update in case of hidden or bugged file download(s)

-Reinstalling most recent MoBo LAN driver(s)

-Reinstalling most recent Wireless Adapter driver(s)

-Backdating to a previous Mobo LAN driver

-Backdating to a previous Wireless Adapter driver

-Rebooting into Safe Mode (with Networking)

-Uninstalling suspected Windows Defender Version

-Reinstalling Windows Defender Version (and future version)

-Running Windows Security Threat Scans

-Shutting down any and all 3rd party apps

-Running DISM in elevated PowerShell/Command Prompt (primarily for Explorer issues that have since been fixed)

-Running SFC in elevated PowerShell/Command Prompt(primarily for Explorer issues that have since been fixed)

-Checking for updates repeatedly

-Updating system Firmware

-Ensuring Networking drivers are not corrupted

-Updating BIOS per manufacturer's specs

-Internal Monologue

-Profusely Swearing

 

Have Not Tried:

-Tap Dancing

-Buying Alienware

 

 

Specs:

CPU, AMD Ryzen 7 1700

Motherboard, ASRock AB350 Pro4 (came with GPU)

GPU, ASRock Radeon RX 580 8GB Phantom Gaming X 

RAM, G.Skill F4-3200C16D-16GTZB

Wireless Adapter, TP-Link AC1300

SSD, Mushkin Pilot 250GB M.2 

HDD, Western Digital WD8003FFBX

Power Supply, EVGA 210-GQ-0650-V1 

OS, Windows 10 Professional, 64bit, Version 18

[KhakiHat]

Is there a reason you prefer to use wireless rather than ethernet?

 

Also do you have the latest firmware for the device?

[superfun]

I also had this problem in my first PC build. What you have to do is download Windows Media Creation Tool, and follow the instructions to download Windows onto a USB Drive. Then, shut down your PC and then when booting up, boot into your BIOS, and select the USB to boot up from. Now, finish installing Windows, but DO NOT install any WiFi drivers, etc. Sometimes, these drivers are not coded properly, resulting in this problem. Only install the drivers if your network does not work. Also, install the latest BIOS update (by going into your motherboard's website) and then install any Windows updates available. I hope this helps.

[kingknightrider]

Have you checked to see if windows update is downloading a "BIG" update to the computer quietly in the background? -for that seems to take priority in Windows 10 but still show internet at 0.

[Crothus]

13 hours ago, KhakiHat said:

Reason you prefer wireless over Ethernet? Also, download latest firmware?

Purpose built PC that was never meant to have Ethernet cables ran to it. Too far to comfortably run a wire without having to completely cross two rooms and probably have guests trip over it. Signal strength isn't the culprit, however, because prior to the last two or three days I've had no issue. 
Firmware was updated during my investigatory process. No change.

 

12 hours ago, superfun said:

I also had this problem in my first PC build. What you have to do is download Windows Media Creation Tool, boot through USB, and finish installation without installing WiFi drivers unless your network does not work. Also update BIOS. I hope this helps.

I've tried refreshing/reinstalling through the USB, which unfortunately didn't help. The networking drivers are imperative in my instance, as the PC does not recognize it has a Wireless Adapter without the drivers (I should mention I have tried drivers sent with the Wireless Adapter, and the newest driver available, no change either way). I also have updated the BIOS, which is the most recent provided by the manufacturer, while also following the manufacturer's desired steps to correctly install the new BIOS.

 

 

7 hours ago, kingknightrider said:

Have you checked to see if windows update is downloading a "BIG" update to the computer quietly in the background? -for that seems to take priority in Windows 10 but still show internet at 0.

I have. Before I ever programmed my WiFi, I changed Windows Update settings to a "metered connection" for this very possibility, and simply check for updates every morning/evening. I have also completely disabled Windows Update during my testing. No change. 

 - - - -

 

Edit:

Random, "cool" update. After approximately 30 restarts, I had my "normal" internet...

 

Until I restarted the PC again. Now it's back to the sub-400 kiloBYTE speeds.

Edited March 28, 2019 by Crothus
Clarification/Update

[kingknightrider]

Are you using the motherboard onboard internet connection?

Have you tried rolling back the driver?

Have you tried a Network Reset?

Is there anything else that got updated when this happened?

Anything else on the WIFI?

 

[TheKent]

The weirdest part is that profusely swearing and internal monologuing didn't solve the issues.

Sounds like your card chooses to roam to 2,4 Ghz and slow things down after connecting. Do you have separate 2,4Ghz and 5Ghz SSID's? If you don't, you should. Roaming between frequencies are usually poorly handled with consumer cards and routers. How does it look like if you ping your router from the culprit computer? Is there a lot of latency or packet loss? Also, if you've installed the management tool from Asus, dump it, and use Windows' built-in WiFi management. Much problems can arise from those third-party crap tools.

 

You can try forcing AC mode on your card. This will only work if your router also supports 802.11AC. This should bump the speeds considerably. I believe this is done through the device manager, I'll come back with more info on this if you need it. 2,4 Ghz is not preferable anymore, as really anything can mess up the signals quite easily, and it should be avoided like the plague. 

 

On 3/28/2019 at 11:28 AM, kingknightrider said:

Have you checked to see if windows update is downloading a "BIG" update to the computer quietly in the background? -for that seems to take priority in Windows 10 but still show internet at 0.

The part in bold, from my experiences, isn't correct. All network activity to and from each NIC is shown unfiltered in Task Manager. But still, this could easily be checked by reading the traffic in the network router vs. the task manager's traffic data when WU is running. WU traffic does indeed seem to take precedence over other traffic on the computer.

 

Hope this was of some assistance. 

[Crothus]

6 hours ago, TheKent said:

[Redacted for Space]

I have 2.4 / 5 GHz channels set up, they've been set up for a while before I started with this PC.
Pinging the afflicted PC gives me an average of 3.997ms with a 0% packet loss, all four pings sent were received. That's with a 65k byte packet size, which is the max my modem will allow. My modem, unfortunately, does not support 802.11AC.
I only use Windows' WiFi manager tool, I don't care for bloatware for 70 companies slowing me down even more :p
 

What someone informed me is that my area was recently hit with the more powerful part of a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection, or Solar Flare), and those have been known to disrupt WiFi in my area. That may be the cause, as I started having issues the apparent day after.

 

 

14 hours ago, kingknightrider said:

[Redacted for space]

The motherboard does not have on-board Wifi, and I rolled back drivers.

I have tried a network reset, as well, and nothing else was updated for 36-48 hours prior. I have tried all devices on Wifi, and had no issue, only with the new PC.
 

[kingknightrider]

12 hours ago, TheKent said:

The part in bold, from my experiences, isn't correct. All network activity to and from each NIC is shown unfiltered in Task Manager. But still, this could easily be checked by reading the traffic in the network router vs. the task manager's traffic data when WU is running. WU traffic does indeed seem to take precedence over other traffic on the computer.

Now that makes me feel strange...

Could it be true if telemetry is disabled?

[kingknightrider]

5 hours ago, Crothus said:

I have 2.4 / 5 GHz channels set up, they've been set up for a while before I started with this PC.
Pinging the afflicted PC gives me an average of 3.997ms with a 0% packet loss, all four pings sent were received. That's with a 65k byte packet size, which is the max my modem will allow. My modem, unfortunately, does not support 802.11AC.
I only use Windows' WiFi manager tool, I don't care for bloatware for 70 companies slowing me down even more :p
 

What someone informed me is that my area was recently hit with the more powerful part of a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection, or Solar Flare), and those have been known to disrupt WiFi in my area. That may be the cause, as I started having issues the apparent day after.

 

Ok then basically time will tell.

Though if it doesn't clear up may need a new modem.

[TheKent]

15 hours ago, kingknightrider said:

Now that makes me feel strange...

Could it be true if telemetry is disabled?

Telemetry, from what I understand, is the transmission of what Microsoft calls "diagnostic data" from a Windows computer. If it's turned off, it simply sends less of that "diagnostic data". I don't believe telemetry can cough up enough data for the user to actually notice it being uploaded (unless it's dial-up). Still, the Task Manager would show the correct traffic information.

 

19 hours ago, Crothus said:

I have 2.4 / 5 GHz channels set up, they've been set up for a while before I started with this PC.
Pinging the afflicted PC gives me an average of 3.997ms with a 0% packet loss, all four pings sent were received. That's with a 65k byte packet size, which is the max my modem will allow. My modem, unfortunately, does not support 802.11AC.
I only use Windows' WiFi manager tool, I don't care for bloatware for 70 companies slowing me down even more :p
 

What someone informed me is that my area was recently hit with the more powerful part of a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection, or Solar Flare), and those have been known to disrupt WiFi in my area. That may be the cause, as I started having issues the apparent day after.

Problems with WiFi that appear out of nowhere are often caused by external interference of some kind. My landlord's quite intricate weather station seems to have effectively drowned all 2,4Ghz channels in the surrounding area, massive pain. Took a while to figure out, but it was revealed when he bragged about his new wireless station. It's really strange what stuff can act as a signal blocker or interfere with WiFi. For this reason, I loathe 2,4Ghz.

 

Wow, haven't thought of a CME as an option... Maybe you should just put on your waiting pants until the CME has calmed down, and see if that helps (as kingknightrider suggested)? Are there any online services to find out about that? I have no experience in that kind of disturbance or what impact it could have on equipment, though I imagine it would be significant.

 

If it's not CME: Are you using the modem that your ISP provided? If yes, you probably can guess what I'm going to advice you to do.

 

I hope your WiFi decides to function properly again soon!

[Crothus]

On 3/30/2019 at 5:36 PM, kingknightrider said:

Though if it doesn't clear up may need a new modem.

That's the thing, the modem works with every other device fine, CME or no. Otherwise, I would have noticed sooner and simply bought a new modem.

 

10 hours ago, TheKent said:

[Redacted for Space]

It just seems fishy that one device would have issues where no other would. I even booted my early 2008 Hackintosh and it had faster WiFi than my new PC, that's including its overheating issues and broken temperature sensors.

CME's that are powerful enough could potentially charge highly conductive materials (one in the 1800s apparently charged telegraph lines so much that they didn't need batteries to send short messages), but I long ago removed any potentially conductive material away from my PC. That would be the only interference in my area.

Checking my Router's internet access history suggests the same, no unusual activity, so I know it isn't somebody's grandma flooding my WiFi with Hallmark Channel Originals.

 

The modem, admittedly, is one my ISP provided, after making them inspect my lines every week for several years straight. At the time, it was one of the better modems released (based off of my research, not through the ISP lying through their teeth). It's 802.11n, so it should be netting 500-ish megabit. It never had an issue, until now, and didn't prior to installing Windows Defender/KB2267602 (definition 1.291.851.0).

Normally CME charges are depleted after a week or less, and this has continued for almost two weeks. At the two week mark I'm officially gonna decide that Windows can't get their updates straight, since the PC is now as stock as I can make it, bloatware games and all, being a custom built.

[TheKent]

18 hours ago, Crothus said:

The modem, admittedly, is one my ISP provided, after making them inspect my lines every week for several years straight. At the time, it was one of the better modems released (based off of my research, not through the ISP lying through their teeth). It's 802.11n, so it should be netting 500-ish megabit. It never had an issue, until now, and didn't prior to installing Windows Defender/KB2267602 (definition 1.291.851.0).

Normally CME charges are depleted after a week or less, and this has continued for almost two weeks. At the two week mark I'm officially gonna decide that Windows can't get their updates straight, since the PC is now as stock as I can make it, bloatware games and all, being a custom built.

It's not improbable or unusual for MS to release anti-functional updates...

 

I just wanted to tip, if I may, about this forum post on TP-Links pages regarding similar issues with what I believe is the same, atleast same product series, WiFi card as you have, and the fix is manually replacing the WiFi card driver selected by Windows with a TP-Link driver: https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/110302

 

Here's the driver page for the Archer T6E (PCI-E WiFi) : https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/download/archer-t6e/#Driver

 

Archer T4U V2 driver page: https://www.tp-link.com/us/download/T4U-V2.html#Driver

 

Could be nothing, just found the page and thought you could add it to your list of attempted fixes, since it's getting pretty respectable.

 

[Crothus]

On 4/1/2019 at 2:15 PM, TheKent said:

[Redacted for Space]

I never use the drivers Windows suggests, I use the ones the company suggests. I figure the company would know better for their own hardware.

 

Internet is still botched on the new PC after well over two weeks, and I've tried backdating again, which made the internet less consistently bad, but still bad. Some updates aren't removable without completely resetting the PC, which is stupid but, hey... Win10.

When I get a new external storage drive I guess I'll wipe the drives and reinstall windows (again). Right now I don't want to lose 1.2TB of data if I'm going to have to redownload it over 400kb internet all over again.