Fast Internet, Slow on Inspiron 15 5000

Apparently on some systems, Dell is installing a utility called SmartByte.  Theoretically it's supposed to prioritize important traffic like Netflix and minimize bandwidth to background tasks like Windows Update, but there have been several threads here reporting slow Internet performance that was resolved by uninstalling SmartByte.  Try that if you find it installed on your system.  Otherwise, yes testing with wired Ethernet (assuming your system has that) would be useful, otherwise let us know what router you use and what WiFi card you have installed in that system.  The latter can be determined under Device Manager > Network adapters.

Thank you for your reply.

I've had this laptop since the summer of last year and this has just randomly started happening, but I connect wirelessly to my network. My provider is Virgin Media.

I've used the Intel Driver and Support Assistant, which said that all of my drivers are up-to-date. Before this, I had just downloaded a new driver for the Qualcomm wireless card in the laptop, but this has not helped.

I am guessing that the problem is with wifi.

How is it if you directly connect to the laptop to your router by Ethernet cable?

I would install new chipset driver if there is any.

I would install new wifi driver if there is any.

Windows 10 updates can wreck havoc.

Thanks for your reply!

I checked add or remove programs and couldn't find SmartByte. I connected via ethernet and from the 5 minutes I've tested it, it seems to be working fine. It's a Virgin Media Superhub 2 and the wireless card is a Qualcomm QCA9377.

Not sure what else there is to do.

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@rossb22 wrote:

Thanks for your reply!

I checked add or remove programs and couldn't find SmartByte. I connected via ethernet and from the 5 minutes I've tested it, it seems to be working fine. It's a Virgin Media Superhub 2 and the wireless card is a Qualcomm QCA9377.

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I am not familiar with the Virgin Media Superhub 2.

You may want to post on the VM forum. And see if there is a setting that can be optimized.

I really don't think this is a problem with my Internet. As I said in my original post, it works fine on all other devices.

Hi,

We have the same issue on 2 x Dell Inspiron 5000 2in1's - Dell ended up sending a brand new replacement and now both don't work! We uninstalled the Smartbyte and it worked great for a day or two and now the problem is back and worse as ever. It's extremely frustrating as a service provider having to spend almost a full engineers time with troubleshooting to be sent an equally faulty product.

I'm absolutely convinced this is a software related error however the Smartbyte 'fix' was not a permanent resolution!

Hope fully Dell can assist!

Firstly, I tried to turn off fire wall or antivirus. But it did not work anymore. It took me around 3 hr to find the way out.

I've just successfully resolved this problem. The wifi speed was significant better with charging status. And this gave me a chance to access the Dell website through wifi. I updated the lastest wifi driver from Dell website. After  installing and restarting my computer, the wifi speed--as it had to be--improved obviously.

Look under Rivet Networks.  That's where I found Smartbyte Diagnostics.  It was installed recently (7/6/18) on my Dell Inspiron computer.  I uninstalled it and OMG, FINALLY got my internet speed back. 

I wish those buttheads would check compatibility a bit more thoroughly before they dump that stuff on everyone's computer. I've been reading everything I could find on the internet and working on configuration changes, etc. all freakin day.

1) Type msconfig, then under “system configuration” click on services. Find smartbyte network service and uncheck it, then restart your computer.

2) go to device manager, find network adapters, expand it, then right click on your intel dual band wireless and go to properties. Click on advanced, find throughput booster then enable it on the window to its right. Next go to transmit power and make sure it is set to the highest. Then go to roaming aggressiveness and set it to lowest.

you should then have rocket speed!

I had the same problem: 100mb service slowed down to 5-10mb. I updated the Smartbyte app and got back to 100mb. Stable at 100mb now for 4 days.