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First attempt at connecting to network fails - retry is OK

This is WIN 98 Dell System connecting to a LAN via a Belkin USB adapter. Upon first attempt to connect to the internet, I get a" Work Offline" panel with the subtext essentially saying that "No connection to the internet is currently available....etc......Click TRY AGAIN to attempt a connection". Clicking on Try Again does connect via IE just fine and all subsequent attempts are OK. However, if I turn the system off and restart, I get the same problem. The connection is thru a LINKSYS (BEFSR41) 4 port wired router. Can someone explain what I need to do to make a connection on the first attempt or what is causing this one time failure to connect? Thanks. PS.. I can live with it as is but would perfer to make this right.

rindi

Open internet options in control panel, select the "connections" tab, and now make sure you have selected to only dial a connection if now network is present.

pseudocyber

If this is DSL, On the BEFSR41, usually on the page where the DSL is configured, select the option for the router to keep the DSL connection up.

What I think is happening is that the first time it tries, the DSL line has been dialed up yet. On the second and subsequent tries, the line is up. If the router keeps it up, this problem should go away.

tonyadam

ASKER

I had checked this previously. There was no dial up connection program even listed which means that all of the options are grayed out. I seleceted a dial up program just for a test and then checked "never dial this connection" but that didn't help either. Other ideas? I have a feeling this may be an issue with the Belkin USB device but I don't know how to check that since this is the only way to make a cable connection.

pseudocyber

Is it cable or dsl?

tonyadam

ASKER

This is a cable connection and the router is set to "keep alive".

rindi

What are your "Lan Settings" in internet connection settings? Can you also post what you get with ipconfig /all?

Thanks.

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al-hasan

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tonyadam

ASKER

I think that this operating system is old and really needs a regen. Therefore, I am going to close the question without a specific solution with the hope that a regen fixes it. However, I don't know when I will be able to get that done. The system works OK except for this minor issue so I am actually reluctant to do a regen right now. Thanks for all of your suggestions. I really don't think this issue is significant enough to waste your time on right now.