Slow internet speeds since installing SSD and fresh Windows 10 install

A few weeks ago I installed a SSD into my desktop and installed Windows 10 on it. I never checked my speeds at the time so I'm not sure exactly when my download speeds started to be terrible, but I assume it was then. Other computers on the network get the proper download speed (which is supposed to be anywhere from 30mbps to 50mbps on Time Warner Cable) where mine will get anywhere from 19 to .6 mbps. The upload speed however doesn't fluctuate as badly. I've reinstalled my wifi drivers, I've also tried to use my old usb wifi dongle to see if it was the card in any way, but I still had the same speeds. My card was getting the proper speeds prior to my fresh Windows install so I can only assume either I've done something wrong driver wise (which I can't seem to track down) or maybe it's a hardware issue I introduced by installing the SSD. Either way, I'm lost as to how to fix it. Any suggestions? And one suggestion I cannot do, unfortunately, is hook my computer directly to the router.

D3LL said:

Do you get 'normal' speeds when plugging the computer in via Ethernet?

I can't plug my desktop in via ethernet due to living in a multilevel home so I unfortunately don't know.

It's highly unlikely that your SSD is causing the slowdown. I would first concentrate on your drivers.

Snakeyes said:

It's highly unlikely that your SSD is causing the slowdown. I would first concentrate on your drivers.

That software gave me a list of some drivers that were obsolete so I'll be trying to hunt those down and see what effect it has. My wifi drivers are from 2013 but when I go to the official site they swear they are the newest drivers, so I'm really not too sure how to deal with that. Either way I'll update after I fiddle around some.

So I've been tinkering most of the day with no luck. I installed some drivers with no results and did a system restore to January 18th to see if it was a recent thing (also no results). I also took the USB WiFi adapter I tested against my pci adapter and plugged it into my Windows 10 laptop to test it's speeds there. The speeds were fine there so I'm very baffled by what the issue is on my desktop. Both the USB adapter and the pci adapter are by TP Link. The router is also the same brand.

I have had the suggestion to unplug my HDD to see if there's a difference. When I installed my SSD I formatted the HDD but when I boot up Windows 10 it still sees the HDD as being bootable media. I didn't feel like attempting this today but I might give it a try tomorrow.

I've also dropped an email in at the customer support for my WiFi card. I don't expect much but it's worth a try. For some reason the card only has access to 802.11b speeds despite going up to 802.11n. My router also goes up to n speeds.

If anyone has any suggestions I'm very open to them.

I do sympathise as this sounds an awful issue and of course fully re-installing windows is extremely unpalatable. I very much doubt this will help but try disabling anti-virus/cloud protection and see if speed is still slow, if that fails then try creating a new user account to see if the issue exists there. Check your router setitngs to ensure nothing changed and/or try a wifi channel change - it could be that something is interfering at the point of your desktop PC. The laptop you have is more robust and can be moved. You never know, someone nearby could of introduced something causing wifi disturbance at a similar time. As you have exhausted the driver issue I would then attempt the Ethernet test. I know it's a PITA but if you could just temporarily carry the PC / monitor near your router for a quick test. Or if that is really not an option try and get a couple of Ethernet plugs to run through the electrics. Of course the further away you are the slower the throughput it is but at least it'll be consistent (much like a standard Ethernet connection). Finally try and see if there is a BIOS update available for your motherboard. If it's still slow after all this then you can safely eliminate the card/USB dongle being the problem and blame the bug-fest that is Windows 10. After that you could try a repair install/in place upgrade of windows although tread wisely, I've never done this before but an in place upgrade should leave all your software that you have installed intact.

Scottyboy99 said:

I do sympathise as this sounds an awful issue and of course fully re-installing windows is extremely unpalatable. I very much doubt this will help but try disabling anti-virus/cloud protection and see if speed is still slow, if that fails then try creating a new user account to see if the issue exists there. Check your router setitngs to ensure nothing changed and/or try a wifi channel change - it could be that something is interfering at the point of your desktop PC. The laptop you have is more robust and can be moved. You never know, someone nearby could of introduced something causing wifi disturbance at a similar time. As you have exhausted the driver issue I would then attempt the Ethernet test. I know it's a PITA but if you could just temporarily carry the PC / monitor near your router for a quick test. Or if that is really not an option try and get a couple of Ethernet plugs to run through the electrics. Of course the further away you are the slower the throughput it is but at least it'll be consistent (much like a standard Ethernet connection). Finally try and see if there is a BIOS update available for your motherboard. If it's still slow after all this then you can safely eliminate the card/USB dongle being the problem and blame the bug-fest that is Windows 10. After that you could try a repair install/in place upgrade of windows although tread wisely, I've never done this before but an in place upgrade should leave all your software that you have installed intact.

So I've tried some of your suggestions. The user account didn't work. Changing the channel on my router also didn't work. I had already disabled my antivirus but I tried again with no luck. As far as a my mobo goes I had all the drivers installed prior to my system restore (with no luck obviously) and there was no BIOS update on the site as far as I saw.

I know the going suggestion is to try the computer on ethernet but that's going to be a very last resort. First I'd have to find a cable, nothing is directly wired to the router except I think an ancient desktop no one ever uses. I'll have to confirm that. I can't recall the last time I have an ethernet cable so that'd be a scavenger hunt in itself. The other issue of course is I'd have to take a good bit of my system down two flights of stairs piece by piece to figure out what the issue is.

What about trying powerline for Ethernet to avoid cable run?

Scottyboy99 said:

What about trying powerline for Ethernet to avoid cable run?

I'm guessing I'd need some extra tech to do that?

Also finally found the bios software on my mobo's page. It was a bit hidden. I'm going to download that on my laptop (since it doesn't have crappy speeds) and see how that works. My bios version is the one from April 2011 so maybe it's the culprit in this. Will report back if I don't blow up my computer!