windows xp boot order problem

so this isnt really a problem, it is more of an annoyance. when my computer boots up, my programs that require a network connection boot up 1st (aim, xfire, steam) and all the programs pop up saying that there isnt a network connection, then about 15 seconds later my computer finally makes a network connection and i have to press connect and whatnot on all the programs. so my question is, is there anyway to change the boot order of the programs so that my computer will make the network connection first and then make the other programs boot after?