Xp Slow To Boot With Nic Card Connected

Have a friend who's Dell, Windows XP home system 'hangs' just after the Icons show up on the desktop. It hangs for about 2-3 minutes, then goes on and finishes booting. I can't get into any programs until that time. However, if I disconnect the NIC ethernet cable to the modem the computer boots right on up.

Has anyone experienced this and if so, how did you diagnose and fix the problem? I suspect it is something having to do with connecting to the DSL modem but can't seem to diagnose the problem. By the way, I did try two other working DSL modems to see if she had a modem problem but with no success.

Dusterpilot

 

It's probably hanging because all the preinstalled OEM software is going online and phoning home. When you disconnected the ethernet card, the programs couldn't get online, so it booted right up. Mike Lin has a free Startup Control Panel
A more specific site to find out what should be allowed to operate, and when, would be www.blackviper.com You have to be careful what you disable on OEM machines, because many of the programs are interdependent.

Good luck!

Johanna

 

Johanna's advice is right on the money but I wanted to add that computers with a network card installed always boot at least a little slower than it does without a network card. It takes a while for Windows to get the network connection sorted out, even when there aren't any programs hammering to phone home.