one machine attaches quickly to network, the other does not

yes. no change to B delay in normal mode, and B connects instantly in safe mode with networking.

tried a few more things and here are the results:

- safe mode with networking using default tcpip settings: instant internet connection
- normal mode, static ip and static opendns server: instant internet connection
- normal mode, dhcp for ip, static opendns server: instant internet connection
- normal mode: default tcpip settings (automatic dhcp ip and dns): internet connection delay

so it looks like there is a dns hangup in normal mode that is not there in safe mode, and its not there on system A in any mode. Not sure what though......

good idea.

tried it but no change to symptoms.

It is a desktop, correct ?

AddRAM said:

It is a desktop, correct ?

yes

I guess you don`t have a nic you could throw in there. You would have tried that hours ago.

AddRAM said:

I guess you don`t have a nic you could throw in there. You would have tried that hours ago.

unfortunately no

It seems like the key is that no matter what I do (use several startup programs, normal mode) as long as I set the dns server to be static there is no delay at all. Also safe mode no delay at all.

A have a shoebox full of em but Scotty tells me the Beamer will be down for quite some time.

I don`t know what else to try.