Network icon and connection slow at boot

[SpywareDr]

Check the boot order in the BIOS/CMOS Setup and make sure it is attempting to boot from the hard drive before the network card.

[ssjenkins]

Fine . I've just timed it . It took 45 seconds to get to the desktop , and another 20 for the hdd to finish . I'm not doubting the fact that the hardware is old but the PC runs fine with XP . The only time there's a problem is with the network connection . As I've already stated there are MANY people with this exact same problem . A quick search for "network icon slow" will reveal that . I doubt very much if all these people are using a dell L400 labtop . Anyway , we seem to be drifting off the subject . I appreciate the help . I'll keep investigating .

[Train]

Switch to a newer nic.

[ssjenkins]

... and the PCMCIA Wi-Fi card that does the same ?

@SpywareDr . Thanks for that . I've double checked the BIOS and the hdd is first in the list .

If anyone comes across any possible software fixes then please let me know .

Paul

[insanepenguin]

Would like to chip in here if you don't mind, I'm running the same OS and service pack and have the exact same problem.
Specs: Pentium 4 3.0ghz, 2gb Ram

This is on a fresh install XP that boots pretty quickly it's definitely a software issue, the OS boots in no time but hangs for a few minutes before I get the network icon, it does the same thing whether on the wireless USB dongle or built in NIC

[Steve R Jones]

All the computers I've ever used load a ton of stuff at boot up... My main office and my main home pc load MSN Messeger.. Once its loaded and has made a connection I know I'm ready to rcok n roll.

Having networked drives and or printers can slow the process...but simply put, you have to wait for the machine to finish booting before you can use it

[ssjenkins]

I never did find a solution . During some of the initial XP updates (after SP3 clean install) it would start to work normally but after installing all updates then it reverted back to the 90 second delay . It happens with both the internal NIC and a PCMCIA Wi-Fi card . I gave up looking for a fix .

Sammy

[insanepenguin]

I know people think it's just the computer booting all the processes but it's a definite 'hang' there is no HDD usage or high CPU load then after a couple of mins the network icon instantly appears. I've only had this issue with SP3
Oh well, I can live with it

[Dave-UK]

I never did find a solution . During some of the initial XP updates (after SP3 clean install) it would start to work normally but after installing all updates then it reverted back to the 90 second delay . It happens with both the internal NIC and a PCMCIA Wi-Fi card . I gave up looking for a fix .

Sammy

I've had the same problem, and I've registered on this site to tell you how I fixed mine.
I had to wait about 90 seconds for the icon to appear and just before it did a message about the firewall not being connected flashed up. (It was set to 'on'.)
So I turned off the firewall, then rebooted.
The network icon appeared about 2 seconds after the speaker icon.
Back to normal operation!
So I looked into the firewall's exeption list and there were 3 entries whereas before I turned it off there were many more.
I turned the firewall back on and the icon still appears within 2 seconds ??
I don't know how I fixed it but it's fixed.
Hope this helps somebody!

[ssjenkins]

Hi There .

Thanks for posting . I'm still getting the same problem with Windows firewall disabled but thanks anyway .

Sammy

[ssjenkins]

I've now reactivated Windows firewall and the problem has gone . Strange ? So basically I had the problem initially with WF enabled . I then disabled it and still had it . I then reenabled it and now my network icon and subsequent connection is almost immediate . Looks like you were on the right track Dave-UK . Thanks !

Sammy