Weird Intel 1000 LAN problem

Question

I've got a P4 2.8 O/Ced to 3.3, 1 gig 500-ADATA ram in dual-channel, 2 x 120 WD SATA RAID 0 HDs on a Neo2-FIS2R board on BIOS 1.52 running Windows XP + SP1 with the latest drivers for everything installed. Just to get that out of the way.
There is something strange with the network adapter thingy. On starting windows, it loads a few programs, and then I have to wait for about 2 minutes while the network card does something strange, and then after that I can start whatever programs I want. If I try and run certain things (basically anything that's not already loaded, so windows explorer things are fine) during this 2 minutes, nothing happens until after the 2 minutes it up, at which point all the programs start at once.
I know this is due to the network adapter because if I unplug the network cable, Windows reports it cannot find any network and does not go through this whole problem. Also if I start up in Safe Mode, everything runs fine, but if I start up in Safe Mode with Networking Support, it again does the big slow down. Furthermore if I disable the network adapter in the Device Manager, that also prevents the slow-down.
However if I do this, I can't use the network. Which is running on a crappy 10 Mb/s hub, if that might have anything to do with it (since this is a gigabit lan adapter).
I have unplugged all other computers from the network, and it still does this. I have fiddled with various services that have anything to do with networking (enabling/disabling etc). I have uninstalled all my other programs (not the same as a fresh install, but almost) and disabled everything else from running at start up. Yet the problem persists. I have tried running the intel network utility thing that comes on the MSI CD, it says that all tests pass. When I do the "Test Link Speed" or "Test Cable" on the General tab I get "No String Found. Id 7069 DLL _NWR Locale 1409" however.
Under the Computer Management - Event Viewer - System option I get the following significant entries, all of which are Information, not warning or error:
3:16:25 pm Event ID 30
Source: E1000 **This is the network adapter drivers**
Intel(R) Pro/1000 CT Network Connection did no receive auto-negotiation advertisement from link partner, possible full duplex connection available.
3:16:24 pm * 2 Event ID 6009 & 6005
Source: eventlog
these say that the event monitoring system has started
3:16:27 pm Event ID 4201
Source: Tcpip
The system detected that network adapter (blah) was connected to the network, and has initiated normal operation over the network adapter.
3:18:43 pm Event ID 7035
Source: Service Control Manager
The Network Connections service was successfully sent a start control.
After this we just have all the other services starting up (15 entries), all Sourced as Service Control Manager. Clearly something is going on/wrong in the Tcpip Event, but I have no idea what, or how to stop it.
Curiously, after disabling the adapter and starting up, I get only the two Eventlog messages saying that even logging has started, and none of the other ones at all.
Any one have any suggestions?

Answer 1

I had a similar problem awhile ago where:
windows xp pro boots up to desktop, then for 1-2 min the ethernet card tries to initalize the dsl modem (while this is going on no icons in system tray are loaded up), then after dsl modem (GVC gnet pro bb0050) initalization a sudden all the icons are loaded to sys tray and the win xp is fully booted.
After reasech here is the problem and how to solve it. I hope this helps you and others.
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/1306
 Q: Why do I have long delays after rebooting with Win2K and WinXP? (#1306)   
 A: If you are using PPPoE and you experience a long delay after rebooting, your network adapter may be configured to use DCHP.
Try assigning an internal IP address to the Local Area Connection that corresponds to your network adapter.
Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Right click on your Local Area Connection and select properties -> Click on TCP/IP and select properties.
Now insert 192.168.0.1 as the IP address and 255.255.255.0 as Subnet Mask. Leave default gateway blank.
Now go back to Control Panel and select Administrative Tools -> Services -> DCHP and select disable DCHP.
and the FAQ
http://www.dslreports.com/faq