Have tried in both hardware and office forums without response.Problem is with Word and Excel hanging when trying to open a file while both network cables are connected. I have a local network of 4 systems connected via an 8 port switching hub. All works well. Until recently I connected to internet dialup via internal PCI modem in My pc. Internet is shared using a proxyserver. This week I switched to Cable internet and initially the cable modem was connected by USB. I noticed that Office was having problems opening either word or excel files so unplugged the cable modem. problem abated. Decided to instal a second NIC and connect cablemodem to that. Internet functions perfectly, proxy server works. all systems can access internet etc but the problem with word or excel files hanging while opening came back. If I disconnect either the local or internet cable Office functions normally. As soon as I reconnect the problem is back. some basic things I have checked: Device manager shows no errors or conflicts. the two adaptors are using different IRQs. Some additional info that may or may not be helpful: Mobo is Gigabyte GA81G1000 and it has onboard lan which I connect to my local network. I have tried both USB and installed a PCI network card to connect to the cable modem and it makes no difference which I use. If both networks are connected Office hangs. If either is disconnected(By unplugging the cable) then Office works. I'm thinking there might be something in the transport protocols or network settings but I'm now geting in above my head. The Onboard LAN has been configured with a static IP for use on LAN. The other NIC connected to cablemodem I have left to obtain IP automatically. Could that be an issue? could/should I allocate a static IP to that card? Would that interfere with internet access. The cable modem would have its own static IP address with my ISP. Sorry about the length of the question but I thought it better to give more rather than less detail in the hope someone may know how to work around this issue. Thanks if you read this far.

Think I've solved it. (But I've thought that a couple of times and been disappointed) In Network Connections in Control Panel the local connection was being routed through/controlled by Network Bridge. When I unticked the LAN from the Bridge the problem disappeared. I guess it's something in the motherboard and it's interraction with XPs networking system. This board also has SATA and Firewire connections that I don't use at the moment. Will see how this new configuration works. Sorry to waste anyone's time.