Question: Internet goes down with 4th computer?

(Posted by: Jesse on 2010-02-08 13:51:32)

Have 4 desktops running off my router. all four worked fine for last 6 months. Now, whenever the desktop in the den is turned on, all the computers internet slows down or crashes. As long as the den one is off, all is fine with the other 3. running Vista on a 64 bit system. Have run updated virus scans (norton 360/ panda/ windows defender), bothunter, ccleaner and registry cleaner, but nothing helps. have replaced the lan cable just in case. nothing. any ideas?

Posted by: Bad bus driving wolf on 2010-02-08, 15:01:24

It sounds to me like there is something on the Den's computer that is hogging the internet. How's this for an idea: Download a Linux distribution e.g. Ubuntu (and yes, there is a 64 bit version), then make up a live CD and run it on that computer. If the computer still hogs the internet, then it is the actual computer that is faulty; but if the computer behaves normally, then you know there is something wrong with the Vista. At that point, there are several options, one of which is if there is enough space on the hard drive, install Ubuntu as a partition and use that for everyday use and reserve the Vista for the situations were you have to run it. Eventually Nortons will be updated to recognise the virus (or whatever it is) and then kill the thing. Until then, why waste your time trying to fix Vista when you can be surfing?