Do I need to erase my harddrive?

Hi!
I hope you can help me with this problem.
I've been having some trouble with internet speeds. The computer itself is working fine and fast but the internet starting acting up a few weeks ago - became very slow - I will get messages like 'the connection has timed out' or 'server not found' - sometimes takes 3 or 4 tries to open a page.
I use Optimum and I called to report the problem to them. At first they said that they noticed the speeds were off and told me to pick up a new modem at their center. So I hooked up the new modem, still had problems. They sent a few guys out - they replaced the modem once again - different brand - and the internet was still slow. They told me I must have a virus.
I came to your site - went through your 'Read me firsts' and I tried going through the steps of 'understanding, cleaning and preventing spyware' and also 'malware removal, cleaning procedure'. There were a few trojans found and I removed them. Later rescanned and everything came back clean... computer was running ok for a few days - then I was online and avast found a virus that kept repeating itself faster than I could close the box - sort of froze up - so I went into safe mode tried another series of tests (panda virus pro, pocket killbox, super anti-spyware, malwarebytes, cccleaner) and the tests came back clean - no virus or threats found - internet was ok for a day then slowed down again.
I called Dell and after 3 hours on the phone they had me remove all the tests I had just used, had me run ginfix.exe and a bunch of other tests. They were coming back clean... the last thing he suggested was that I have them wipe my hardrive completely and start over and said they would send me an external hard drive for $79 so I could move everything off my computer (pictures, ect) and that I should get rid of Avast and purchase Norton 360 Premium version....
I came back to your site - retested and posted the results in the malware forums section - they told me that my logs were clean, the issues are not malware related and that I should try the software and networking forums.
I will do what I have to to fix the problem I just want to be sure it's really necessary and its not the cable company.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

You really need to read through the info on the malware forum on here, before doing anything.

 

Nothing really stands out. If Malware released you as clean, that's about as good as it gets. You did all of their after cleaning cliean up? Removed anything that overlapped and stayed with only one recommended anti-virus program, only one firewall, only one filter, only one of anything active on your system?

How are you connected to the network? What operating system are you using? It doesn't sound physical but you might have had two issues going on. Did Dell have you update your driver and check your hardware? Or were they stuck on your history of having malware?

 

I did everything that was recommended after the malware removal section.
I have windows Vista and use Optimum Online - the modem is connected directly to my computer (I have one computer, 2 phones) The main phone is connected to the modem as well. I have two televisions with cable service and I do notice the upstairs one has slower response times.
The dell guy seemed to be checking for virus's mostly - but yesterday out of nowhere my internet started working again. The speeds are back to normal. I wasn't doing anything at the time so I have no idea whats up - I'm just hoping it stays this way. Thanks so much for your input!

 

The Dell dude is smoking something. If the Internet is not working, but then starts working properly, either modem or router. when things go wonky, I usually will either test with another device (ie iphone or nook, or another computer), to see if it is a issue with just one machine, or the whole system. Now, if you are just using wired, you could roll your own router, and use either smoothwall, which allows you to track modem stats, or pfsense.

The very first thing that I do, before looking at speeds, or computer issues, is go and look at the router stats, to see what the power levels, etc are at, and try to compare to previous stat's, or with the info at the FAQ for optimum at another site to not be named on here.