Computer Help and Support

Skittles

(153,174 posts) Thu Jun 15, 2017, 05:40 PM Jun 2017

Please advise

I have AT&T DSL - not super high speed - I'm strictly a surfer. I'm having an issue that is driving me nuts....my internet connects, I can watch Netflix just fine and I can use my tablet with no problem (doing that now) but my laptop - it connects to the Internet, I can surf for about five minutes and then it's PAGE NOT FOUND, SERVER NOT FOUND. When I run a speed test in that first five minutes it comes back as very slow indeed (download 0.30 upload 0.10)

My upstairs neighbor has Frontier FIOS, super high speed....I connected to her Internet and I get the SAME results.

I don't understand what is wrong here - I had the AT&T guys come here last week and they say the connection is fine. They called someone to "rebuild the red back router" but same result.

What do I do to find out what is wrong? I HATE doing all my internet needs on a freaking TABLET. None of it makes sense to me. If the Internet really was that slow, wouldn't Netflix be buffering? I can use my work laptop to log into work just fine. If it's my personal laptop that is the problem, what exactly would be the culprit on the laptop?

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

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Please advise (Original Post) Skittles Jun 2017 OP

How old is your laptop? n/t discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2017 #1

1.5 years, still under warranty for 6 months Skittles Jun 2017 #3

Have you tried connecting to other WiFi networks? discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2017 #6

Check to see if your laptop network Lindsay Jun 2017 #2

checked, not in airline mode Skittles Jun 2017 #4

From what you've written canetoad Jun 2017 #5

Sounds like an infection or bad adware Egnever Jun 2017 #7

malware bytes came back clean (although it took me 20 minutes to download) Skittles Jun 2017 #8

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,481 posts)

1. How old is your laptop? n/t

Reply to Skittles (Original post)

Thu Jun 15, 2017, 05:42 PM

Jun 2017

Skittles

(153,174 posts)

3. 1.5 years, still under warranty for 6 months

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Reply #1)

Thu Jun 15, 2017, 06:27 PM

Jun 2017

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,481 posts)

6. Have you tried connecting to other WiFi networks?

Reply to Skittles (Reply #3)

Thu Jun 15, 2017, 07:13 PM

Jun 2017

Is the problem only with your WiFi at home?

Lindsay

(3,276 posts)

2. Check to see if your laptop network

Reply to Skittles (Original post)

Thu Jun 15, 2017, 05:59 PM

Jun 2017

shows that you're in airplane mode. I've accidentally switched that on by hitting a function key, and that's exactly what happened - very short connection time, and then you're disconnected.

On my windows 8.1, I can click on the network icon on the taskbar and it'll show me a list of network options, and whether airplane mode is off or on. Dunno if that will work on your system.

Skittles

(153,174 posts)

4. checked, not in airline mode

Reply to Lindsay (Reply #2)

Thu Jun 15, 2017, 06:56 PM

Jun 2017

am on laptop right now....I guess this is my five minute window

it's so difficult because I have no idea what exactly is wrong

canetoad

(17,175 posts)

5. From what you've written

Reply to Skittles (Original post)

Thu Jun 15, 2017, 07:05 PM

Jun 2017

My call would be a failing network adapter.

Have you tried using the laptop with both wireless and ethernet connections (not at same time) and seeing if the results are the same? You didn't say whether you were wired or wireless.

If this is the case, take heart, a new wireless card won't cost much at all or you could get an USB wireless adaptor.

Egnever

(21,506 posts)

7. Sounds like an infection or bad adware

Reply to Skittles (Original post)

Thu Jun 15, 2017, 08:21 PM

Jun 2017

The fact that you connect to your friends router and get the same results screams adware to me.

Have you tried running malwarebytes? https://www.malwarebytes.com/

Its a free download and one of the best tools out there to check for possible infections. My first step would be to run a full scan with that and have it remove everything it finds then test again.

after thinking about canetoads answer it might be a bad network card as well. you can pick up a usb network adapter for less than $20

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-N150-Wireless-Adapter-TL-WN722N/dp/B002SZEOLG

I would try running the malwarebytes first and if it comes back clean look into one of those adapters.

Skittles

(153,174 posts)

8. malware bytes came back clean (although it took me 20 minutes to download)

Reply to Egnever (Reply #7)

Fri Jun 16, 2017, 04:29 AM

Jun 2017

I will request a network adapter USB under the warranty, thanks

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