I have netgear wgr614 upstairs my laptop downstairs loads pages VERY slowly what can I do

Verify that it is indeed a wifi signal problem by moving the laptop upstairs temporarily.

If this fixes the problem, you're getting poor wifi signal downstairs. Not much you can do with the elements at hand. So try adding another element: install a wifi signal repeater (around US$ 25) somewhere in the middle. Or you can run a cable (or use Powerline Ethernet - around US$ 100) to downstairs, and there install a wifi access point (US$ 30-60). Or directly connect the laptop to the newly installed network wire.

If the problem isn't fixed, you have some other problem on the laptop: most likely a faulty network configuration. Verify against whatever PC you have upstairs; they should have identical configurations except their IP address (if fixed instead of DHCP).

Just to be on the safe side verify the laptop is properly operating and immune from virus and malware. Not all slowdowns are the system's fault.

Happy navigation!