A user complains that the internet connection on their workstation has been significantly slower than usual. You have verified that no new software was installed and no changes were made to the network configuration recently. You need to identify the most likely cause of the slow network speeds. What is the BEST step to continue troubleshooting this problem?
Perform immediate system updates to the workstation's OS and network drivers.
Advise the user to close all running applications to identify if a particular software is consuming excessive bandwidth.
Check the workstation's physical network connections, including ensuring network cables are securely plugged in and inspecting them for damage.
Run a virus scan to check for malware which might be using network resources.
Examining the workstation's physical network connections is the best first step because a malfunctioning network cable or improper connection can lead to reduced network performance. Unlike software updates or checking for high resource utilization, which would likely lead to issues with specific applications or overall system performance, a faulty network connection can directly result in slow network speeds. Moreover, checking for network cable issues is a straightforward and non-disruptive initial troubleshooting step before considering more time-consuming tasks.
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Why is checking the physical network connections the best first step?
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What types of physical network connections should I check?
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What should I do if the physical connections are fine but the speed is still slow?