Why is my internet browsing so slow?

I have a pretty new laptop (i7 with 6GB RAM) running Win7x64 and IE9. My ISP is Verizon and I have their FiOS 15/5 plan. Running Verizon's speed test confirms that I come close to realizing the plan's rated speeds.

The problem is that when I first open my homepage it opens quickly, but when I subsequently click on links to open other webpages the wait (which can be 5 to 15 seconds) is painfull! Verizon Support has not been able to remedy this problem so I'm hoping my fellow Wilders members can.

Wendi

 

Hi Wendi,

I think that the best approach for you to take with that issue is a 'process of elimination'.

First, I would run a complete scan with your AV to make sure that some malware isn't hogging your bandwidth.

If your system is clean, I would then temporarily disable your AV & Firewall to determine if either one of them is the culprit.

Seeing that you use SBIE and SD, you might try surfing without them (although neither one noticeably impacts my surfing).

Finally, try disabling your IE addons as one (or more) of them could very well be the culprit.

Good luck,
Cruise

 

call your ISP and have their tech d00d guide you on how to ensure you have the right DNS settings

 

Also, check the operation with different Wi-Fi networks, and try a cable (Ethernet) connection.

 

Unplugging the router for a minute can work as well. I'm not sure why, something to do with static charges & modems or something.

 

Hey guys, thanks for all of those suggestons - I'll try every one of them to see where they take me.

The really peculiar aspect of this problem is that my initial connection to my homepage is fast. It's just when I click on my linked favorites (like Wilders), or links found by searching, that it drags!!!

Wendi

 

Suggest you try Chrome browser. It's known for its speed.
When I first switched over (on a machine using XP and not too much RAM), I was quite pleased with the speed differential between IE and Chrome.
Even today, on my newer machines, with Win7 and 8 GB RAM, Chrome is faster than IE9.

The other posters have made very viable suggestions. Mine is just basic... try Chrome.

 

When my internet surfing speed becomes slow which happens only once in a great while sometimes rebooting my modem,router and PC will fix the problem.

 

If it is a matter of browser speed, how about x64 Opera on a x64 system?

 

If all the above fail, why not a nice format? Format is like sending the PC to a spa. The PC comes out of it in good shape, happy and relaxed.

 

Before you go changing browsers, messing with DNS settings, or formatting the thing, let's go for simplicity first. Answer these for me if you can:

1. How many programs do you have running in the background (so what all is down there in the system tray)?

2. What types of programs are they, security, "crapware" (the inevitable junk vendors always pile on new systems)?

3. You're running wireless..have you properly secured your network to keep outsiders/neighbors from hitching a free ride on what I imagine is your very speedy train? (FiOS isn't available where I live, I'm jealous, lol)

4. Have you done a virus/malware check yet and did it come up clean? (I realize that was suggested before, but I feel the other questions should be knocked out first, especially if this is a brand spanking new system.)

With all due respect to Page42, I don't think changing browsers would affect things here. I'm on a wired connection on this system, far far below the speed you have, I'm completely clean from malware and such, and IE9, Firefox and Chrome are just as fast.

But anyway, let's go for the simple stuff first.

 

I'm kind of surprised that no one mentioned this, but have you tried clearing your browser cache Wendi? I know it's a simple thing, but I've seen plenty of browsers slowdown due to a large cache.

 

Ok, this is what I've done so far...

I ran malware scans with both Panda and MBAM. They pronounced my system to be clean.

Disabling my AV and Firewall did not have an appreciable impact and I already knew that SBIE/SD was not the probem.

Although connecting to my router with an ethernet wire does result in relatively faster browsing than wifi, it didn't really solve my problem (and my wifi is secured).

I will pursue some of the other suggestions after returning from grocery shopping.

Wendi

 

I run CCleaner on a frequent basis, so I imagine that gets done in the process.

Wendi

 

@ Mman79 ...

Just how complicated do you think it is to install Chrome?
It probably takes 2 minutes tops.

 

I'd think to change DNS servers locally. Meaning within each PCs OS(s). NOT on Routers or Gateways. Some DNS servers to look at in no particular order: OpenDNS, SafeDNS, Norton DNS & Google DNS. It is easy to do, change & undo if necessary.

My browsing is dramatically better without my ISPs DNS servers.

 

Exactly my thoughts.With that computer specs it should be flying through web pages regardless which browser.My money is on the system is bottle necked with something and changing browsers or DNS will not solve a thing.

 

I still say rebooting the router would probably help. Every so often I get the same problem as you do. I just unplug the router, wait a minute or so, then plug the router back in. It never fails.

 

Another basic diagnostic to do: Open your task manager while browsing and see which process if any is hogging the processor.

 

I never said it was complicated, I just believe most were getting a little too far ahead in the process. What would you tell a tech who, after you described such an issue, simply told you to install another browser?

@Wendi: I'd still like to know what all is actively running on your system, as perhaps there is an ISP-provided program that is causing issues. Some ISPs will either force or "helpfully provide" their own special software, and sometimes the tech installing the connection might configure something in a goofy way or not optimally. You're clean of malware and your Wifi is secured, so those are two big issues knocked out. Try what Daveski said as well. I need to do that on my connection often too (though mostly it's because my ISP sucks, lol)

@Badkins79: Great idea

 

Well you did say let's go for the simple stuff first, and installing Chrome is pretty simple, my friend.
And what would I tell a tech who told me to install another browser? I'd tell him thanks for the suggestion, but I already tried that.

Point being, my recommendation was not an end-all, if-this-doesn't-do-it-nothing-will idea. It was one more thing to try. And simply because IE runs as fast for you as do other browsers, do not doubt me when I say that Chrome made a dramatic difference for me when I first migrated to it, and continues to this day to be faster for me than IE9.

To my thinking, installing Chrome first (before trying all the other stuff) either makes a difference or it doesn't, and if it doesn't, the OP has two minutes invested in the project and one more piece of information to carry forward.

 

How do I do that? ....or is that something my ISP should do?

Wendi

 

Daveski, I just tried that - but there is no discernible difference afterwards.

Wendi

 

Page, if I install Chrome and it does not remedy the problem is it easily uninstalled?

Wendi