Steam extremely slow and unsuable Windows 7

[Jonnbay]

My Steam client is unusable. It keep getting stuck on transition windows. Like "Connecting to user account" "creating game files" "finishing cloud sync" it just gets stuck for hours. Sometimes it doesn't even launch at all. My internet is completely fine on everything else but on Steam which feels like its barely connected. Even logging in take 15 minutes. I can't even use my library because it won't display properly it until like 30 minutes in. Anyone have a solution?

I've tried
- uninstalling and reinstalling
- delete browser and download cache
- delete everything except steamapps and steam.exe
- removing and adding back to firewall exceptions

[B-o-B]

Slow Downloads and Connection to Content Servers
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9498-WPDF-3220&l=

Programs Which May Interfere with Steam
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

[Jonnbay]

I already added Steam exception to all my malware, antivirus, firewall programs. I don't have VPNs or proxies. I even updated my graphics drivers. Still extremely slow and intermittent normal use.

Also tried 3 different country servers to download from still the same problem.

Originally posted by b☣bz:

Slow Downloads and Connection to Content Servers
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9498-WPDF-3220&l=

Programs Which May Interfere with Steam
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

[Jonnbay]

Other attempts that did not fix it
-reinstalling ethernet/wifi drivers
-running in compatibility and admin mode
-disabling antivirus,firewall,malware completely
-disabling automatic detection for LAN

Logging onto another PC I have with the same account works normally.

[Jonnbay]

bump for solution

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Are you using custom ports on modem/router, or custom DNS server?

Have you try Steam beta?

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Jonn:

Logging onto another PC I have with the same account works normally.

Sounds like something's wrong with your first PC. Is it wired to the Internet? Maybe the cable is bad or the ethernet jack. Is it wifi? Maybe you're getting interference where it's located. Move it to the PC that works.

If you watch your task manager while Steam is attempting to function, do you see any other application or task that is bogging down this PC or might interfere with Steam? Any resident tasks that are loaded up at startup that might be the problem?

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Jonn:

Logging onto another PC I have with the same account works normally.

Boot the computer with the issue into safe mode with networking and try to use Steam only while in this boot. If you see improvement, that seems to suggest that you do have software causing issues with Steam.

Not every possibility is covered on the support page, though :

Originally posted by b☣bz:

Programs Which May Interfere with Steam
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

And disabling security programs may not be good enough, if they have other background processes that are not disabled simply by disabling the parent program.

[Jonnbay]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Are you using custom ports on modem/router, or custom DNS server?

Have you try Steam beta?

I don't use any custom settings or proxies or VPNs. Just straight Wifi connection. Everything works except Steam. I have not tried Steam beta how do you activate it on installation?

[Jonnbay]

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:

Originally posted by Jonn:

Logging onto another PC I have with the same account works normally.

Sounds like something's wrong with your first PC. Is it wired to the Internet? Maybe the cable is bad or the ethernet jack. Is it wifi? Maybe you're getting interference where it's located. Move it to the PC that works.

If you watch your task manager while Steam is attempting to function, do you see any other application or task that is bogging down this PC or might interfere with Steam? Any resident tasks that are loaded up at startup that might be the problem?

I am on Wifi. The connection is good since everything else internet, streaming, speedtest, etc. works. I have tried disabling everything before running Steam but the problem still persists.

[Jonnbay]

I tried disabling every background program completely except for Steam and the problems still happen. I will give safe mode installation a shot later and report results.

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by Jonn:

Logging onto another PC I have with the same account works normally.

Boot the computer with the issue into safe mode with networking and try to use Steam only while in this boot. If you see improvement, that seems to suggest that you do have software causing issues with Steam.

Not every possibility is covered on the support page, though :

Originally posted by b☣bz:

Programs Which May Interfere with Steam
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

And disabling security programs may not be good enough, if they have other background processes that are not disabled simply by disabling the parent program.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Jonn:

My Steam client is unusable. It keep getting stuck on transition windows. Like "Connecting to user account" "creating game files" "finishing cloud sync" it just gets stuck for hours.

These seem to be connection related, so even though you said all other internet connections/computers work fine, I would still try bypassing the wifi connection and going on ethernet only, for now, while troubleshooting this issue.

It's just part of the process of elimination.

Also, keep that connection while booting into safe mode with networking and see if Steam shows improvement on the computer that has the issue. My suggestion was to simply boot into safe mode with networking and test your current Steam installation, not install Steam while in that boot. Just for clarification. It must be "with networking" enabled in the boot options.

EDIT....

Originally posted by Jonn:

I tried disabling every background program completely except for Steam and the problems still happen.

If you really did mean "every single one" except for Steam, you may have disabled some that are necessary.

[Jonnbay]

I installed it in safe mode just to see if there was any difference. I also tried it on safe mode networking and the problems are still there. I also notice that I cannot access steam store, community or profile it just loads a blank page infinitely. I can access the library after a very long login time but it freezes when I download and install games at 0 mb.

I didn't disable any system processes so it was normal use without the bloat during the disabling attempt.

Add: I also tried Beta Client with the same issues

[The Giving One]

Make sure Steam is closed fully before doing the following.

Go to your htmlcache folder and manually delete it. It's usually located at :

C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Local\Steam

Steam will make a new cache and folder when you start Steam again to check if this helps.

[Jonnbay]

I deleted the appdata and even the registry as well as per valve's instructions even with a perfectly clean steam install it still happens - https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9609-OBMP-2526

I don't get it this was working perfectly fine a few months ago. This problem is clearly created somewhere in valve's end during a recent update.

Other game launchers even work fine just Steam crapping itself.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Jonn:

I don't get it this was working perfectly fine a few months ago. This problem is clearly created somewhere in valve's end during a recent update.

Then how do you explain the client working fine on the other computer ? That shows that the issue is on the computer itself. Process of elimination.