Internet Speed Faster in Safe Mode, Native Ookla App

Hello, hoping someone here can help me. I have spent days trying to figure this out. I am on Win10 Version 2004, all updates done. I have gigabit from my ISP, verified at the router, modem. In fact, when I run the native app Speedtest by Ookla I consistently see 960mbps. Using a wired connection.

However, whenever I test the speed in Firefox, Chrome, or Edge, the speeds are much slower. FF is fastest, usually coming in around 600 to 700mbps when using speedtest.net. When I test on fast.com or other sites including my ISP's, it normally comes in around 300 to 500mbps.

I do not understand why I see the speeds in the native app but NOT in the regular desktop environment. Normally I would think it is just the browsers are slower BUT when I restart the computer in safe mode, all the browsers suddenly pull down the same 960 speeds!

I have tried doing a clean boot, disabling and re-enabling services. Unplugged the power supply. Updated/reverted/re-updated the NIC drivers. Tried a DNS flush and SFC scan. Tried to reset the autotune feature. Turned off and on the Defender firewalls. Looked at what is using the Network resource, found nothing. I reset Firefox and Chrome. Set up a new user. Cleared cache, all temp files. Switched between full-duplex and not. Removed the NIC adapter completely and re-installed in device manager. No matter what I do, the speeds never show up in the regular desktop environment.

Can anyone help me with this? I am at my wits end. Again, the speed is seen in the Ookla app from the MS store. Also when the computer is in safe mode. I also verified I have the latest BIOS. Running a desktop computer, HP with AMD processor. Please help!

- - - Updated - - -

Does anyone have any ideas? I have run MBAM, ADW, SAS, even Spybot and KIS Anti-rootkit. All come back clean.

- - - Updated - - -

Wow, so no ideas here huh?

Hi seeking. Welcome to TenForums @seeking

I might try using the Clean boot process to see if you can identify what is influencing speed.


Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 10 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts


(Clean boot NOT clean install)


I know Ookla recommends their app in Windows 10 on high speed links, at least they use to. Wonder if they know something they are not sharing.


It would be interesting to see on the the clean boot if speeds are maintained.


Ken

Well you could compare services in safe mode against services running normal mode.

One thing for is different is in safe mode you are using basic video drivers.

Might also look under the network devices to see what is being enable in safe VS normal.

From a SevenForums post by Samuria

Start your system normally

Get a command prompt. I would then suggest changing the directory to the root making the text files easier to find.

cd\

then the command

net start > norm.txt

This will list all services running in normal mode.

Start in Safe mode

Command prompt

cd\

then

net start > safe.txt

You can then compare these two lists. ( I might copy and paste text into a spreadsheet for comaprison purposes). I've google several articles and they all come back to an AV running in normal mode. I would check the list of services in normal mode. Could be an old AV that you removed but some component remains.

The original SevenForums thread

Safe Mode makes internet speed 50Mb/s faster Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums