PCTech Forums

Every review that I've found on your motherboard the MSI KT4 sais that the motherboard has a built in network adapter (possibly a really fast gigabyte ethernet one)

You could further disable this device in the device manager. Right click MY COMPUTER - MANAGE - choose DEVICE MANAGER on the left side find NETWORK ADAPTERS, and Disable the device from there.

Exactly how long does it take for your PC to start up? What screen does it sit at for the longest?

The Norton January 7 update has referenced this issue--I had some similar results with Norton 2004 so I went back to Norton 2003 (same animal and it doesn't phone home) and it cleared it up real fast.

I disabled the network card. It didnt speed up startup. The startup time, from pressing the on button to the blue windows logon screen is 1 minute 18 seconds. It gets to the black 'XP proffessional' loading screen amazingly quickly, thats always been great, but it stays on the black windows screen for an unnaturally long period of time. I know its not particularly long, its just that I know people with less powerful compters who startup with more programs than me, and still take less time. Of the 1min 18, well over a minute is the windows screen.
It may be that this is normal and Im just being a fussy idiot, but some reassurance from knowledgable chaps and chapettes such as yourselves would be rather reassuring.

Thanks

Jazzman