Correct. (1) Ran netstart. (2) Played the mp3 file (with delay). (3) Ran netstart again. (4) Played mp3 file without delay.

Not sure how to do that. I ran MSCONFIG, and the "UPnP Device Host" shows up as "Running". I didn't start it up myself, so does that mean it is set to automatic?

Didn't work out so well... (see below). I don't know what the x: is referring to, I don't have any such drive. My "network" such as it is consists of SWMBO's Macintosh connected via router, and as she is in Alaska at the moment her computer is turned off. Could that be it? Also connected to the router is my cable modem and Ooma VOIP phone system, but they don't talk to my computer.

The most likely culprit is my Tunebite program. It is a transcoder that sets up 28 virtual sound cards in memory, and transcodes up to 28 wma (or mp3) files simultaneously, playing them in 1:1 real time. However, it is NOT my default. My default audio source is a set of USB headphones.

The net.txt file grows pretty quickly, I shut it off after about two seconds and it still runs a couple of hundred lines. I've attached it along with the screen shot. If you want I can let it run longer. (The first time I ran it it came to 783K!) I didn't see anything too compromising in it, unless it has the URLs of my favorite porn sites.

Please don't spend a lot of time and effort worrying about this, unless it is the sort of challenge that you find fun and entertaining. At worst, for me, it is a once-a-day 20-second inconvenience.

tanstaafl.