Windows 7 Gigabit LAN/WAN problem driving me NUTS!

[paulthescot]

Hi guys, MCSE2K3 old dog here losing hair, sleep and sanity over this one, need some fresh eyes on the problem please.
Setup:
[ADSL2+ ISP - 10.2 mbps down / 1.2 mbps up]
[CAT6 cabling from all peers all running at gigabit config / verified speeds]
1) Dell Studio laptop with RealTek gigabit ethernet port
2) 2 x 1TB Dlink Sharecenter NAS
connected to
GS105 5 Port Gigabit Switch
connected to
SKY Branded Router (10/100mbps ports)

The problem (Summary):

If I try to upload to my FTP server using wired connection, the speed fluctuates anywhere between 0kbps and about 20kbps, with slow visual refresh of the speed on the bottom of the FTP program (FileZilla in this case).

If I disable the wired port and enable the wireless, this takes the upload speed upto around the max (1.2mbps or 120-130KB/s)
This strange behaviour is not just restricted to FTP though, I have tried various speedtest sites as well (speedtest.net for example)
If I run the test over wireless, I get the speeds expected, if I run it wired, the download speed is fine...however the upload sits at the "connecting" prompt for around 10 seconds before actually doing anything, then it starts but only achieves similar speeds to the FTP test.
I have switched back down to 100mbps, same problem. I have taken the gigabit switch out of the equation, same problem.
I uninstalled Norton internet security 2013 and disabled the windows F/W to no success.
I know the problem is with the laptop and the wired port as I can upload at full speed with the laptop wireless (and my smartphone ftp client too)
My netsh settings (which I've been tweaking but again have set back to default) are as follows:
TCP Global Parameters
----------------------------------------------
Receive-Side Scaling State : enabled
Chimney Offload State : automatic
NetDMA State : enabled
Direct Cache Acess (DCA) : enabled
Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level : normal
Add-On Congestion Control Provider : none
ECN Capability : disabled
RFC 1323 Timestamps : disabled

This problem only seems to have started since the last round of Windows updates, although I can see no link between the problem and the problems that the updates addressed.
I do a lot of video production work, so needless to say that trying to upload 500MB+ files over 20kbps connection is proving both stressful and tiresome.


I would be very grateful to anyone that can help me get to the bottom of this.


Thanks very much!
Paul.
As an addendum, I am also only getting about 120-150mbps backing up to my NAS drive, this may be part of the overall problem, but I felt relevant to mention.

 

[ChatGPT]

Paul, It sounds like you've been doing a thorough job troubleshooting your network connectivity issue. Here are some steps and considerations you can take to address the problem with slow wired upload speeds on your Dell Studio laptop: 1. Driver Update: - Ensure your Realtek gigabit Ethernet port drivers are up to date. Check Dell's support website for the latest drivers for your laptop model. 2. Network Configuration: - Double-check the network settings on your laptop. Ensure that the network adapter settings are correctly configured, especially for the wired connection. 3. FTP Server Configuration: - Check the settings on your FTP server. Ensure that there are no limitations or restrictions that could be causing the slow upload speeds. 4. Cable and Port Check: - Make sure the Ethernet cable connecting your laptop to the switch is in good condition. Try using a different cable to rule out any issues. 5. Firewall and Security Software: - Re-enable your antivirus and firewall software. Sometimes security software can interfere with network connections. Ensure they are not limiting speeds. 6. QoS Settings: - Check Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router. If QoS is enabled, it might be prioritizing wireless traffic over wired traffic. 7. Power Management: - Check the power management settings of your Ethernet adapter in Device Manager. Disable any power-saving features that might be affecting performance. 8. Windows Updates: - Although you mentioned the issue started after Windows updates, ensure that all updates are installed. Sometimes, new updates address specific network issues. 9. Network Troubleshooter: - Run the built-in Network Troubleshooter in Windows. It can help diagnose and resolve common network issues. 10. NAS Performance: - Regarding the slow backup speeds to your NAS, ensure that the NAS settings are optimized for performance and that the NAS drive itself is not causing bottlenecks. 11. Switch Testing: - Test different Ethernet ports on the switch and try connecting directly to the router to see if there are any differences in performance. By going through these steps, you may be able to pinpoint the root cause of the slow wired upload speeds and improve the performance of your network connections. If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Dell support for further assistance or consulting with a network specialist for a more in-depth evaluation. Let me know if you need more specific guidance on any of these steps or if you have any other questions!