Tech Peeps... Video Load Issues.. HELP!

[PEZi]

At first I thought it was my internet. But now I'm just getting angry. My computer will not load any sort of streaming video worth d***! I have reset the browsers, reset the wifi router... updated the latest version of flash... I got nothing! Someone, please explain this. It only started about a week ago, but the problem just will not go away! GIFs are hard to load too... posting this thread right now is making the computer very hot with all of the dancing smileys over there ------>

[Dattebayo]

There are a bunch of browser issues going on with flash 11 and higher versions right now, I kept flash 10 because it works better. There shouldn't be too many issues with downgrading to that.

Also, this is usually more of a bandwidth issue (connection) more than anything else. If you have cable internet, there just might be a lot of people in your building or neighborhood online that are stealing the bandwidth away from you. Try again a little later and if the problem persists for several days, then you know it's something software or hardware related.

[Razi]

Seems like he's having issues with loading things in general too.
Have you tried doing a virus scan?
Malwarebytes is what I like to use.

[PEZi]

Datte... yes. It could be bandwidth. It is an apartment and several people in the building have the same cable internet. I'll try downgrading to flash 11, though.

Razi... Yes, I have done a scan and have live scanning on as well. Once again, it wasn't until recently that it became and issue, though. Last week I was watching youtube just fine, this week, even in 480p it can't load more than 30 seconds of the video at a time and the buffer is so bad that it will only play 6 second pieces at a time.

[PEZi]

Its official. It HAS to be something on this computer. I just tried watching the exact same video on my girl's computer and it loads fine. She has an older Mac computer, I have a newer MacBook... only difference that would not make it specific to this computer is the fact that hers is directly connected and mine is running on wifi. All I know... is that it is annoying.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Is your wireless router single or dual band? I have had interference issues with my landline cordless phone before, or others in my complex. Try switching to the other signal if its dual. Actually try hardwiring the computer before you do that. If it doesnt work with the computer hardwired then its the computer. If it does work, then its the wireless signal.

[Razi]

Aaron (Ace) had that issue, too many people in his building were on the same channel.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I cannot WAIT for Flash to finally die. It was a crummy implementation of a bad idea from the start, but it's 2012 and the flat-head V8 has more relevance to the modern world than Flash.

Aaron (Ace) had that issue, too many people in his building were on the same channel.

That's a really good point. If you have an android device, download Wifi Scanner and take a look at the channel distribution in your area. Change channels to compensate. If you don't have an android thingy, just google Windows Wifi scanner and pick one...

And you should go to speedtest.net and see if you're dealing with absolutely s*** bandwidth (like I am right now! ).

[RCA]

Its official. It HAS to be something on this computer.

Try this... (assuming you're using Chrome)

• Type in the address bar - chrome://plugins/
  Go to the list and find the section that is labeled Shockwave Flash 11 etc; there might be more than 1. (I have a section for Shockwave 11.4 and 11.6)
  There should be more than one file on that list enabled.

Experiment by disabling one, and then go try loading videos. If nothing changes, re-enable it and disable the other. Eventually you should be able to find which one is causing you issues. What happens is that they contradict the other and things stop responding. Hope things work out.

[PEZi]

Speedtest.net results... DL 1.21Mb/s, UL 1.31Mb/s and ping 21ms

s*** is whack. I will try some of the stuff listed above soon. Need sleep nao.

FYI, in the entire time it took me to load this thread, check responses, take the speed test and write this post, myself, RCA, and MoD all have sigs that have not even finished loading. WTF

[RCA]

Ok troubleshooting is annoying...

We need to rule out a few things here.

• Is this a problem with your ISP?
  Is this a problem with your router?
  Is this a problem with your PC's networking hardware?
  Is this a problem with your browser?
  Is this a problem with Shockwave Flash?

DISCLAIMER:
- Depending who you're talking to, some might want to do this in reverse, starting @ Flash and then moving up to ISP. Either way works but I like to make sure the foundation is rock solid before I try fixing leaky windows.

Is this a problem with your ISP?

• What are the advertised bandwidth you are supposed to be getting from your ISP?
  Also plug in your computer directly to your modem, not the router, the modem. What kind of speeds are you getting?
  - If your connection is rated around 1.2-1.5Mbps up/down than this could be why you are having issues.
  - Although theoretically 1.2Mbps should be enough if you have multiple users, things can get bad quickly.
  - So depending on what you're getting from your ISP will help determine what's going on. If you are getting much less than advertised, this might be an ISP issue.

Is this a problem with your router?

• "But RCA, when I connected directly through my modem my speeds were much higher, now that I am back to the wifi I can only manage 1.3Mbps, what gives?"
  - Well there could be a lot of things going on here, first I would check if it's just the fact that I have too many authorized users on your network eating up your bandwidth. The best way to do this is to check your router's logs to see what's happening. If you're not super tech savvy, just change your WiFis password and make sure nothing is connected to the router but your machine. If all of a sudden things are much faster, it's probably a lack of bandwidth.
  - While you're at it check if there are any unauthorized users on your network. You can again check logs or just setup a new password using the best encryption your router supports; if your router only supports WEP, then get a new router, you earned it. Also make sure to disable WPS and at minimum use WPA-2 encryption.

Is this a problem with your PC's networking hardware?

• Now that every user is off the network but you, go to the area where you were when you posted (using WiFi), if the speeds are the same as before, it could be a router range/networking hardware issue. If some one elses laptop located in the same location get's much better speeds than your machine on WiFi, it's most likely a network hardware issue on your machine.

Is this a problem with your browser?

• "RCA, I ran all these tests and I have enough bandwidth and my network runs fine, but my buddies PC runs YouTube without any issues on WiFi even though we have the same internet speeds, what's next?"
  - Well now we need to see if this is a software issue. Go on your machine and try different browsers (yes, even IE8 or better). If YouTube runs with out any issues on the other browsers, it's obviously an issue with the specific browser you were using before.
  - If this is the case than troubleshooting is done and now we Google solutions.

Is this a problem with Shockwave Flash?

• "Well I tried IE, FireFox, Chrome, and Netscape Navigator but YouTube is still really buggy."
  - Now we attack Flash. Go to http://www.youtube.com/html5 and opt in for the HTML5 YouTube option. If things start working much better, than your problem is with Flash and we can Google some fixes.

FYI, in the entire time it took me to load this thread, check responses, take the speed test and write this post, myself, RCA, and MoD all have sigs that have not even finished loading. WTF

I think this is a NICO thing. I have 50Mbps down and sometimes my own signature doesn't load, I get the spinning "buffering" image instead. But one thing I noticed is that when I can't load one persons sig, I can't load any one elses sig. This rules out image hosters as being the problem. Also NICO brings my PC to a halt, my CPU usage doesn't go through the roof but the "Smilies" animations freeze when I start typing quickly and my cursor lags. By typing quickly I mean as fast as someone can type using only 6 fingers (got curious, 42-46 WPM).

[PEZi]

Ok, so a few problems in troubleshooting.

1) The modem/router are one in the same from comcast... not 2 separate units.
2) I can't hardwire into this computer (MacBook Air)
3) I can't see if anyone else's laptop loads things faster than mine because it is only my girlfriend and I... I have the laptop and she has the actual computer.

I will try a few things here, though. I will also try using other wifi access to see if it is specific to my wifi or my computer.

[PEZi]

Hooked in to another unprotected wifi (i think it is the clubhouse for my apartment) and things are better without even a full signal.

My wifi: DL 1.21Mb/s, UL 1.31Mb/s and ping 21ms
New wifi: DL 2.19Mb/s UL 1.91Mb/s and ping 19ms

I'm thinking it must be the wifi... as once again, hardwired to my girlfriend's computer it loads everything fine. But how to go about fixing? Once again, this is a single unit. I don't know anything about it, the comcast guy just threw it in here and it has worked without flaw for a good 7 months.

[DJ_B_Easy]

The modem/router are one in the same from comcast... not 2 separate units.

There is your problem. Those things (at least in my area) are notorious for being junk.

[Razi]

I'd check to see how many people are using the same channel as you.
I'm betting there's a lot of interference.

If you connected to your Wifi with your phone, I bet you'll have slow loading times as well.

[MinisterofDOOM]

The modem/router are one in the same from comcast... not 2 separate units.

There is your problem. Those things (at least in my area) are notorious for being junk.

Certainly likely.

I'd call comcast and try and get the wheels in motion for a replacement modem. When I had Comcast (dark days, those were) I'd probably replace my modem every 3 months. Regardless of make or model...the things just died. If you have a local office it may be easier to just take the thing in yourself and get a replacement, but be sure to make the call to tech support so they run you through the basic "Did you power cycle? Is it plugged in? Are you smart enough to set a digital clock?" or they won't believe you when you claim it's bad.

[PEZi]

Well... I'm currently posting from school. Their internet is generally crap, but it still loads my video and everything just peachy. Looks like it must be the stupid modem thingy. Now I just need to try and find some sort of time to even take the thing back.

[Dattebayo]

Did you check the channels yet?