Question : Win XP Hangs loading ethernet connect to cable modem

I have a Gateway desktop running Windows XP home edition and a cable modem W/ethernet connection.  Every time I re-boot the system hangs while loading network settings. If I unplug the ethernet cable and wait untill the OS loads and then plug in the ethernet - the conection works fine. What could cause it to hang?  (NiC= Intel Pro/100 VE Network Card - all tests OK)  ???

Answer : Win XP Hangs loading ethernet connect to cable modem

Things to try
 - uninstall and reinstall network card
 - from a command prompt "NETSH INTERFACE IP RESET LOG.TXT" (without the quotes)
 - try a different cable
 - try a different ethernet card
 - rebuild winsock
How to Recover from Winsock2 corruption
To resolve this issue, delete the corrupted registry keys, and then reinstall the TCP/IP protocol.
Step 1: Delete the corrupted registry keys
1.      Click Start, and then click Run.
2.      In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3.      In Registry Editor, locate the following keys, right-click each key, and then click Delete:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2
4.      When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
Note Restart the computer after you delete the Winsock keys. Doing so causes the Windows XP operating system to create new shell entries for those two keys. If you do not restart the computer after you delete the Winsock keys, the next step does not work correctly.
Step 2: Install TCP/IP
1.      Right-click the network connection, and then click Properties.
2.      Click Install.
3.      Click Protocol, and then click Add.
4.      Click Have Disk.
5.      Type C:\Windows\inf, and then click OK.
6.      On the list of available protocols, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.
7.      Restart the computer.