Slow startup and ISP access

Question

I have 2 problems (Win2K) that may or may not be related:

1. On startup, the computer spends a long time on configuring network connections (there is no network, I am a home user).

2. When dialing into the local ISP, the registration of user name/password on the ISP system takes 5 minutes. Using Task Manager, I can see that services.exe goes to 99% of CPU during this time. After about 5 minutes, the connection is completed and CPU usage by services.exe drops back to zero. I have another PC and registration with the ISP takes just a few seconds on it.

Any ideas?

jwatt · Answer

Is there a network adapter present in the machine? If so, you might get both symptoms if the adapter (Ethernet or wireless, not dialup) is set to "obtain an IP address automatically".

If there is such a device, I'd suggest disabling it, since you're not using it.

Jim

hared · Answer

Don't have ethernet or wireless. Any other ideas?

jwatt · Answer

Have you checked the machine for viruses and spyware/malware? 'services.exe' is used by several network viruses. You may have caught one through the dialup connection. Jim

hared · Answer

Yes, I had some malware problems (PopNav).  I finally got that solved and I found the solution to this problem on another posting on this forum.  I disabled the DNS client and it starts and shutsdown very quickly, and it connects to the ISP very quickly.  I suspect this problem was related to the malware as that was when it started.  Thanks for the suggestion.

jwatt · Answer

I disabled the DNS client and it starts and shutsdown very quickly. Ugh...that piece of software again! One more reason added to my list of why that service shouldn't be started. Thanks! Jim

bicyclebill1 · Answer

What is DNS client?

jwatt · Answer

What is DNS client? Here's a short article about it from TheElderGeek, and a longer one from  Microsoft. Note that the setting recommended by TheElderGeek is 'disabled'. Jim

Windows General

Slow startup and ISP access

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