Windows 7: static dns gives immediate internet connection, delayed otherwise

I recently ran windows update and ran into a problem because of kb976902. My (cat5 wired) machine now takes 20 seconds to get an internet connection after booting to the desktop when using default settings. That is, the network tray icon has a yellow exclamation point in it for 20 seconds after bootup before it goes away. However if I use a static dns, the internet connection is immediate. This update caused a similar or worse problem to others, in the link below.

KB976902 has removed internet connection, 'unidentified - Microsoft Answers

the strange solution is to install zonealarm. Once it is installed, I can use the default (automatic) tcpip settings and get an immediate connection. But when I uninstall it, the delay at bootup comes back. I would rather not use ZA nor a static dns, and would like to figure out what is going on.



Does anyone have some thoughts as to why an automatic dns setting would give a long delay before connecting, but a static dns setting would be instant? And why would zonealarm alleviate that problem when using the automatic dns setting?

I made a post yesterday in the general forum but we got caught up analyzing an unknown ip address because I had a laptop in the house that I did not know about, and it was only after midnight that I trial and error'd my way into finding that kb976902 was the cause of the problem, which led to the link above. So now I am looking for networking expertise specifically in regard to automatic versus static dns.