I have a Compaq Presario 5050, 333MHz Celeron, 164MB RAM running Windows 
ME.  Two perplexing issues:
It spends a full minute or more showing the Compaq splash screen with no 
apparent hard disk activity.  Then it proceeds to boot up into ME.  
Takes more than 2 minutes to fully boot, quite a bit longer than other 
computers using the same connection. What's causing that long startup 
delay? Any remedy?
I want to install a NIC temporarily so I can download updates.  When I 
install a 3COM NIC, the computer tries to boot from the network and of 
course fails. Then it hangs and will not proceed to boot.  There is no 
boot sequence choice in setup so I can't eliminate the network boot 
option.  Any ideas?
I did install a Best Data 56k modem that I've had good results with 
before, but the connect speeds are too slow to use it for downloading 
updates.  This may be another problem.  I typically get 40-46k line 
speeds.  This modem seldom gets more than 38k, which may be alright, but 
it spends long periods of no activity when connected - no incoming or 
outgoing data.  Same result at different times of day. This might be an 
ISP problem, although I've never experienced it before.
Yes, I do have a broadband service as well as dial up. Broadband 
connections to this ISP work just fine. I've tried several different 
access numbers to the ISP with no real change.

               The NOSPIN Group Promotions is now offering
                 our special coffee mugs and mouse pads
              with the PCBUILD logo...  at a great price!!!
             http://freepctech.com/goodies/promotions.shtml