Assuming you have TCP/IP bound to the network cards, correct? If so, then if the computers are set to automatically get an IP address, and you don't have a DHCP server on the network, then you need to set the computers to use IP addresses reserved for internal network usage, such as 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.2, etc, subnet 255.255.255.0 . Matthew Ballard [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] At 04:09 PM 9/16/2000 -0700, you wrote: >Two identical systems are experiencing the same problem - once past >P.O.S.T., it >takes just under 2 min to boot in to Win98. It's definetly the NIC - if I >disable the NIC in Device Mgr or physically remove it, the boot in is normal. >If the NIC is in - it takes an extraordinarily long time to get in to Windows. > >The NICs are Realtek RTL8029 PCI 10/100. >The symptoms are the same whether the ethernet cable is connected or not. >I did try - on just one of the systoms - removing the RTL8029 and installing a >3COM PCI NIC. The symptoms were identical - no change. >Tried forcing the NIC to take a different IRQ - a number of iterations yielded >no improvement. >Have tried rebuilding the network stack (removing all protocols, service, >clients, etc. and re-installing all of them). >Still - same symptoms. > > > >Note: >I had removed the IPX Protocol which the user(s) did not need. In doing so, I >was, of course, prompted for the Win98 CD. The users could only find their >Win98SE CDs - the OS on the system I was working on was Win98 (first edition). >So, I used the Win98SE CD when prompted during the course of making the >networking configuration changes. Could this be an issue? > >Thinking that "something" was still "wanting" IPX, I put IPX back on >(using the >Win98SE CD). Same symptoms. > >Ladies and gentlemen, I am indeed stumped. I'd be very greatful for your feed >back. > > >-- >Chris Rivenbark >[log in to unmask] > > The NOSPIN Group Promotions is now offering > special "Free-After-Rebate" Software specials in conjunction > with Beyond.com. We have new offers all the time!!! > http://nospin.com/promotions The NOSPIN Group provides a monthly newsletter with great tips, information and ideas: NOSPIN-L, The NOSPIN Magazine Visit our web site to signup: http://nospin.com