Slow 1st time access to Internet from Outlook Express and IE using XP

Hi,

I’m helping someone who just bought a Dell Dimension 4600; 2.4GHz; 40 GB; 7200 RPM Hard Drive; running Window XP.

She uses a cable modem with service from adelphia.net.

Prior to this purchase she owned an older model Dell running Windows 98 and used the same cable modem and service.  Never had this issue then.

Here is the problem:

When she tries to access the Internet either from IE or Outlook Express, she has to wait for at least one minute (sometimes 2 or 3) to gain access to the Net.  She also had a problem opening certain apps – in particular Windows Explorer.

Once the first connection to the Internet is made, each succeeding access to the Internet (while the computer is on) behaves with normal access speed.

We had the cable company come out.  They checked everything and said all was ok.  It must be the computer.

We called Dell.  They checked various things to make sure that the system was functioning as per factory install.  Then they had us deactivate the Startup programs.  This solved the problem with the slowness of opening Windows Explorer.  They said that the Internet access slowness issue was due to the cable company.

Okay, so at this point Dell says it’s Adelphia, and Adelphia says it’s Dell.  We are at an impasse.

My friend did not have this problem with her older Dell that ran Windows 98, so we are wondering if this is an app or a Windows XP issue.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

California