Vista - Red x on network icon

Here's a problem that started around a week ago.
I have Windows Vista Home Premium
At startup, everything loads fine. The desktop and all my icons are there.
However, there is a red X over my network icon on the task bar.
I have to wait at least three minutes for the x to disappear before I can access the Internet.
I talked to my ISP provider and they reset my router. The problem still exists. The provider said the problem is on my end, not theirs.
I tried everything I could think of including cleaning and editing the registry and the problem persists.
Don't know where else to turn
jtisch

I'm a network novice but would like to try to improve my neworking skills by trying to help. Hope you don't mind.

1. Are there other computers on the router and can they connect while you have to wait three minutes?

2. Assuming you're using wireless, if you connect to your router via cable, can you access the internet as soon as Vista completes booting? If yes, then it sounds plausible that the 3 minute "wireless" connect delay is indeed a problem on your end.

3. If you still have to wait 3 minutes when connected via wire to your router, maybe connect your computer directly to the cable modem and see what happens.

Skyzoomer

I have had that happen a few times as well. After being unable to connect one morning, I started watching the ethernet icon upon login. The amount of time it takes to connect varies on my computer. Typically less than 2 seconds, but it has taken as long as 20 seconds for the red X on my ethernet connection to go away. Once or twice it took over a minute.

I use a wired cable modem, and I believe I am the only one in the neighborhood who uses one. So I don't think it is a network load caused by the number of users local to me.

I would be interested in a fix for this as well.

See above input

I've tried everything I possibly can think of and I still have the same problem.
I used a stopwatch to see just how long I had to wait for the red x to disappear and it is exactly one and a half minutes.
Meanwhile, both the router and modem show an Internet connection during the wait for the x to disappear.
Additionally, while I am waiting for the red x to disappear, I am locked out from doing anything, even though everything on the desktop is visible. I cannot even open the control panel or run msconfig nor open my e-mail account. I have to wait.
jt

how many auto-start programs and services are there on your box
get a network cable and boot in safe mode with network drivers
to boot in safe mode press F8 after the bios loads
it seems like you have a lot of back groud stuuf going on

Sorry nso5300, I have no idea what you are telling me to do.
jt

Check how many auto-start programs and services that are running when you start your pc. You might have a lot of stuff running in the backgroud.
Here is one way I would try to troubleshoot the problem. I would boot in safe mode. When you boot in safe mode the are a couple different options, choose "boot in safe mode with network drivers". Becuase choosing this option only loads the LAN driver and not the WLAN driver I would use a network cable to connect to my router. Doing this would allow me to see if the problem presists in the most basic configuration
if there is anything else that you didnt understand please ask and im sorry i i wasnt so clear on my previous post

Thanks much for the clarification, I appreciate it.

Tried everything I can think of and still have the problem.
But I think I have found the link to the problem, but I still don't know how to
correct it.
If I load it in Safe Mode, there is no hangup.
So, what does that tell you?
Anyone else out there wanna take a stab at this?
jt