DSL Connection

[TJZ201]

After my computer boots, it takes an additional 1 to 2 minutes for it to make the DSL connection. There seems to be a fair amount of activity on the hard drive during the wait, and the start menu and desktop shortcuts don't respond until the connection is made. After the connection is made, sometimes I get the connection icon on the taskbar, and sometimes I don't. All is ok after that, except for the missing icon. The modem and ethernet card both check out ok. I have Verizon DSL software installed (and reinstalled) and the diagnostics don't indicate any problem. This just started happening within the last week or so and I don't recall any significant changes to the system that would have been the cause.

Dell 8250
2.4 GHz
512 RAM

[Grendel]

Any program that is installed that uses your internet connection has the ability to affect it.

The main one is a firewall; do you have any installed or running?

Other applications that affect internet connections are spyware/malware. They are forever sending/receiving information back and forth from servers.

To check for spyware/malware use some popular programs like Ad-Aware or Spybot.

[TJZ201]

I have.... and have had McAfee running since day 1. Also run Ad-Aware on a pretty regular basis. The problem isn't with the internet connection, it's getting connected in the first place.

[LooseChippings]

Have you got any 'Automatically Check for Updates' selected such as XP or IE?

They could be going through the update procedure as soon as your connection is made.

[TJZ201]

Not a bad idea... disabled all of them but still have the same condition. As I said, the connection is fine, it's the wait to get the connection that seems unusually long. I'm new to DSL but I have a hunch that one of the settings is out of whack. Verizon uses something called VOL Dialer, but there are no options to change settings. Any additional suggestions would be appreciated.

[LooseChippings]

Double check your Modem connection settings against your ISP online settings.

It sounds as if your connection could be having 'Authentification Problems'.