mate I think this is starting 2 sound like a bug in the driver, which will probably 2 updated again...

Anyways try 2 deactivate any LAN ports/ devices (carefull I mean deactive not unistall!!!!!) in XP's device manager... let us know if this helped.. u can at any time activate/ deactivate the LAN port. If this proves 2 b the culprit of yer probs.. u can do a dual boot with 2 xps, 1 for audio work (totally teaked 4 that purpouse and with everything unecessary deactivated)... another for net/ games, etc...

Z