Media PC is killing router/internet

Russinating · 6 Feb 2014 at 18:36

We changed over to Plusnet and along with that changed to a different router (albeit an older one). Short story is for some reason my HTPC is killing my router/connection.

Without it plugged into the router I get the expected 6-7mbps, but with it connected this drops to 0.3, if it manages to connect at all, and causes my connection to drop out at regular intervals (according to Plusnet).

What the hell could be causing this? Didn't have any problems before we switched over to Plusnet. I have Avast running on it and fully updated (or at least since it last had internet) and everything is closed. What should I be looking for and where?

Zarf · 6 Feb 2014 at 18:49

Is it running Windows 7/8 ? If so run Resmon and look at the network section, you should be able to see all the network activity by process.

Russinating · 6 Feb 2014 at 18:59

Yeah, running Windows 7.

Russinating · 6 Feb 2014 at 19:05

Only thing running after 10s is Avast, System and scvhost. On my phone now as it's completely killed the internet.

Semple · 6 Feb 2014 at 19:06

Yeah keep an eye on resource monitor for applications consuming that bandwidth. Certainly sounds strange! I'm assuming you did have your HTPC functioning in exactly the same way as with your previous provider?

Semple · 6 Feb 2014 at 19:07

Russinating said:
Only thing running after 10s is Avast, System and scvhost. On my phone now as it's completely killed the internet.

Ah is this only tied to your PC? Or do all other devices across the network experience a lag?

bremen1874 · 6 Feb 2014 at 19:37

Does it cause the same problem if you just leave it sat at its BIOS screen?

Russinating · 6 Feb 2014 at 19:38

Semple said:
Yeah keep an eye on resource monitor for applications consuming that bandwidth. Certainly sounds strange! I'm assuming you did have your HTPC functioning in exactly the same way as with your previous provider?

Yep, was exactly the same, nothing's changed. Trouble is the internet dies straight away so all the network usage does too.

Semple said:
Ah is this only tied to your PC? Or do all other devices across the network experience a lag?

No, across everything. Internet completely drops out on the router and sometimes it even takes ages to load the router page from my laptop. Almost as soon as I unplug the HTPC's ethernet everything comes back and it's all absolutely fine.

phrases · 6 Feb 2014 at 20:06

What cable are you using to connect your htpc to the router? Is it a crossover cable by chance?

Russinating · 6 Feb 2014 at 20:11

No idea, yellow ethernet one that I was using before. How do I find out?

bremen1874 · 6 Feb 2014 at 20:29

Have you tried safe mode or a Linux live cd?

You need to find out if it's a hardware or a software issue.

Russinating · 6 Feb 2014 at 20:51

Just booted into Safe Mode, enabled my LAN adapter and Speedtest.net has dropped to >0.05 (also fails to complete). Disabled the adapter (cable still plugged in), internet died shortly after, now back and it's absolutely fine.