Suddenly unable to load certain websites, complete certain downloads/very slow downloads, or play certain online games.

Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues on a High-Performance Windows 11 PC: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Encountering sudden internet connectivity problems that affect website loading, downloads, and online gaming can be frustrating, especially when your hardware configuration is powerful and your internet speeds are fast. If you’re faced with issues such as websites failing to load, sluggish download speeds, or difficulties joining online games, a systematic troubleshooting approach can help identify and resolve the root cause. In this article, we’ll explore a real-world scenario and provide detailed steps to restore your online connectivity.

System Overview

Before diving into solutions, here’s a snapshot of the setup involved:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-14700K (3.40 GHz)
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
• Motherboard: MSI Pro Z690-A (MS-7D25)
• Network Connection: High-speed Wi-Fi (350-400 Mbps download)

Scenario Summary

The user observed that upon launching their PC, web pages, including platforms like Discord, Facebook, YouTube, and Reddit, loaded slowly or not at all. Web pages occasionally displayed as broken or failed to load fully. Further troubleshooting included attempting to access online games such as Vintage Story and Path of Titans, with limited success—games either failed to connect to servers or exhibited download issues with extremely slow or stuck download speeds. Standard network resets and troubleshooting steps failed to resolve these problems, which seemed to occur despite optimal internet speeds.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. Verify Network Connection and Speed

2. Confirm connection stability:

3. Use a wired Ethernet connection if possible to eliminate Wi-Fi variability.
4. Run a speed test from a reliable site (e.g., Speedtest.net) to verify actual speeds.
5. Check for packet loss or jitter:
6. Use Command Prompt: ping google.com -n 20 and observe packet loss.

7. Run tracert google.com to identify bottlenecks.

8. Restart Network Hardware

9. Power cycle your modem and router:

10. Turn off both devices, wait 30 seconds, then turn them back on.

11. Ensure all relevant lights indicate normal operation.

12. Basic System Restart

13. Restart your computer to reset network adapters and system services.

14. Check Network Adapter Settings

15. Disable and re-enable your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter:

16. Navigate to Device Manager > Network adapters.
17. Right-click