Slow webpage load one computer only

I've currently got four computers on a LAN, three through a KVM switch (1 keyboard, 1 monitor, 1 mouse), one separate. The 6 operating systems are 3 32-bit XP and 3 64-bit W7. The only affected operating system is the W7 Ultimate one on my main (dual boot) computer - the XP Pro one on the same computer is just as good as all the other computers/opsys combinations! I've tried both wifi N and wired ("homeplug") connections through my Billion BiPac 7800N - makes no difference at all. I've done lots of bandwidth tests - fairly good results for where I am. I've done the full test at the malware forum - no malware. I'm beginning to have thoughts of a flatten-and-rebuild operation, but obviously I'd really appreciate any ideas that could help me avoid that.

 

you have 3 identical win7 computers and only one has this issue? Or they aren't identical and this is the only one with ultimate? Ultimate has a lot of extra networking abilities -- that's really the difference between pro and ultimate -- but there is a lot of tweeking to do to it too. It's not going to be in the speed tests but rather in the settings of the system itself. If you have another identical one, that would help find the settings that are affecting you.

I've found some issues with ultimate 64-bit and the supposedly compatible applications and drivers. Have you updated all of your drivers and applications?

 

One other Ultimate, one Home Premium. I can't see any difference between the two Ultimates, and I've now tried doing a selective startup with nothing at all running, and it makes no real difference. I'm really beginning to think about a flatten-and-rebuild, and since there are two operating systems involved, I'm less than thrilled at the prospect. I'm obviously also worried that after doing it the problem will come back and bite me. But I can't think of anything else to try, at least anything that could possibly apply to only this one installation.

 

Try booting into Safe Mode with Networking and check.
Also try ipconfig /flushdns from command line.

 

Thanks. I've previously tried ipconfig displaydns followed by ipconfig /flushdns, but found, as I seem to usually find, the cache full of junk which returned within seconds (milliseconds?) of clearing the cache. There didn't seem to be any improvement in any case in performance. I'll now try Safe Mode as you suggest.

 

I'm now in Safe Mode, and that seems to have solved the problem. I've no idea what Safe Mode does that selective startup (via msconfig) with all services and startups turned off doesn't, so I'd much appreciate your further help on this, as somehow spending my life in Safe Mode lacks appeal. Many thanks for this successful suggestion, and many more in advance for any further help you can give me!

 

Disabling all the startups seemed to have little effect - possibly none at all. While I was at it I also tried msconfig 'Diagnostic Mode', and that had possibly a bit more effect. What I don't understand is what Safe Mode does that these other modes don't do, because Safe Mode seems to cure the problem completely.

 

I would have suggested the same procedure as TimW for diagnosis.
The only thing else would be to check your running processes under both normal boot with all start up items disabled and Safe Mode with Networking to see what additional items are running in normal boot.
Also what browser are you using? Possibly in Safe Mode there is a difference in the browser setting itself? (Not sure on that.)

 

Thanks for that suggestion - I'll try it, as SOMETHING must be different as between Safe Mode (everything fine) and selective startup with - theoretically - no startups running (everything crawls). As far as browsers go, I use firefox as my default, but the problem has persisted throughout with all of: firefox; ie9; chrome; firefox (safe mode); and ie9 (all add-ons disabled).

 

Many thanks for all your help, but so far it's no use - after hours analyzing three different states of the computer, I can't find anything that makes it reasonably fast loading web pages in Normal Mode. I'm going to give it a rest, then see if I feel up to a flatten-and-rebuild operation (with a dual boot!!!). By the way, in the course of this post I discovered a possible problem with msconfig on Windows 7, and I might post in another forum about it. I don't think it's serious, but it's annoying.

 

SF IE Restorator - Troubleshooting general issues with IE might be worth a try.

 

Greetings, apolodorus.

Just to touch on your questions about Safe Mode:

# Safe Mode does not run the autoexec.bat or config.sys files.
# Most device drivers are not loaded. A device driver is the software that Windows uses to interact with a piece of hardware, such as a printer or scanner.
# Instead of the normal graphics device driver, Safe Mode uses standard VGA graphics mode. This mode is supported by all Windows-compatible video cards.
# Himem.sys, which is normally loaded as part of the config.sys script, is loaded with the /testmemn switch. This switch tells the computer to test the extended memory before continuing.
# Safe Mode checks the msdos.sys file for information on where to find the rest of the Windows files. If it finds the files, it proceeds to load Windows in Safe Mode with the command win /d:m. If it does not find the Windows files, it will run command.com to bring up a C: prompt.
# Windows boots using a batch file called system.cb instead of the standard system.ini file. This file loads the Virtual Device Drivers (VxDs) that Windows uses to communicate with the standard parts of the computer.
# Windows now loads the regular system.ini file plus win.ini and Registry settings. It skips the [Boot] (except for the shell and device lines) and [386Enh] sections of system.ini and does not load or run any programs listed in win.ini.

 

Thanks for the info, Caliban. Any thoughts on why that should do the trick while a selective startup (using msconfig) with ALL services and ALL startups de-selected doesn't improve things even one little bit?

 

Satrow, I had a look at the SF IE Restorator page. Am I right that it only deals with IE problems? If so, is it worth looking into considering that my problems affects three browsers equally?

 

Looking at the Restorator page, the Winsock Fix is a possibility.
Also, resetting the TCP/IP stack - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357.

Any software updates or additions that immediately preceded this problem?
Possible System Restore if a definite date for start of problem is established.

 

I think it's Online Armor. This never crossed my mind, because (a) I've used it since it first came out; (b) it's never caused any problems before; and (c) it's running at this moment on the other computers without any problems at all. Anyhow, in desperation I stopped it, and that seemed to do it. Of course I'll keep testing it, and if I'm right that it caused the problem I'll try the Online Armor forum to see what can be done. In the meantime I'm relying on the Windows firewall, which I understand is not bad. In any case, many thanks to everybody for all their help and suggestions.

 

I'd imagine a lot more goes on than meets the eye when you invoke Safe Mode. Take another look at those last two lines: that loading of a "batch file called system.cb instead of the standard system.ini file" is crucial. All sorts of Registry switches are run from that file (or lack thereof), actions that we normally never see and that are not necessarily affected by just disabling services and startups.

Glad you're getting it sorted - keep us posted.