Why is win 95/98 so slow to log in?

Some Win95 users seem to have very slow logon times, as long as two or three minutes. The symptom is that Windows 95 will dial the number, successfully verify username and password, and then seem to hang for a very long time at the 'Logging on to Network' phase before completing the connection. The cause is Win95 is attempting to negotiate a connection with several network clients and protocols that are enabled by default for Dial-Up Networking. However, for use with Internet Service Providers, no network clients and protocols are required except the standard Internet TCP/IP protocol. The presence of unneeded network clients is normally harmless and the only effect is to slow down the login process as Win95 has to negotiate each of the network clients and protocols.

Since Internet Service Providers only support the TCP/IP protocol, we suggest disabling Win95's attempt to negotiate these network clients and protocols. To do so, open the "Dial-Up Networking" window in the "My Computer" folder, RIGHT click on the connection icon then select "Properties". In the properties configuration window that appears click the "Server Type" button and make certain that the "Log on to network", "NetBEUI" and "IPX/SPX Compatible" boxes are NOT checked. Click OK to save any changes required and close the properties configuration window. Your login should now take only a few seconds.

Your connection may have only recently began exhibiting the 'Win95 slow logon' problem. We are not sure what affects the normal negotiation timeout process. There are several different references to favors of the problem in the Microsoft technical support knowledge base. Our guess is that variable timing delays (called 'race' conditions) introduced by a particular computer configuration, modem type, connection data rate, telephone line quality and load on our communications servers can all play a part Finally, you may have installed software or otherwise inadvertently changed your Win95 configuration to cause additional unneeded network clients or protocols to be loaded.