NIC doesn't connect right away

[Tom]

Have an older Dell 4100 desktop running XP Home, with a wired connection to
a Linksys router. When I boot it up, I can't connect to the network. The
tray icon has a red x, and hovering over it it displays the 'network cable
is unplugged' message. After about fifteen minutes, the problem clears up
by itself and local and Internet access is fine. Anyone have any ideas
what's going on?

Tom McFarland

 

[Jerry]

Cable modem or DSL?

Turn the modem (DSL) on before you boot the computer and monitor how long it
takes to connect. After it makes its connection boot the system and see if
you're not immediately connected. If things are now ok then the problem
could be the system is booting faster than your modem is getting online.

 

[Tom]

Cable modem. It's always on as is the router. I have three XP machines
connected to the network and only one has this problem.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
As far as Windows is concern you can try this process,
http://www.ezlan.net/clean.html#refreshnet
Also Look at the support site of the NIC may be there is newer drivers.
Otherwise get another NIC (they are very inexpensive you can find one for $5
to $10).
Jack (MVP-Networking).