Ridiculously LongWait For Windows Loading

Windows 98 SE takes a good 4 minutes to boot from switch-on. I know the reason why. It's the DFE-530TX Ethernet card. The reason I know it's that, is that when I install Windows(I've had the card in a few systems) it loads up like lightning - until I install and configure the Network card. Then it's so long with no screen or HD activity, that it appears to have hung. In fact, when I first got the card, I thought that was what had happened and kept trying to reboot.

D-Link have been next to no help at all with this problem. A couple of people I know also have this same Ethernet card - and their machines boot up with very little delay, and in a reasonable time.

I know very little about Ethernet cards, but is there any type of on-board BIOS or flashable hardware that may need updating? I have the most current drivers for it.

Another strange thing (possibly related).... I have a 2-computer LAN (no router/hub - direct connection) On the other computer, which has the same Ethernet card and boots normally the Windows program Netwatch 'sees' my computer from that program. Yet, the other one (with the problem Ethernet) cannot 'see' the other computer. However, mapped drives and network printing are all running fine. Also, LAN games work fine. Very strange.

Maybe you have DHCP enabled and there is no. I often saw this problem. If it's the problem, try a static, non internet routable adress like 10.0.0.0 .

Hope that helps

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