Game regularly lags for several seconds

This is caused by Windows XP's Wireless Zero Configuration Service.

It suspends the current connection list every 60 seconds while it scans for available connections.

Unfortunately, this can make playing just a little difficult.

You can fix this by disabling the "Wireless Zero Configuration" service. To do so, goto:

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services

Scroll down until you find "Wireless Zero Configuration", then right-click and select "Stop".

The service itself is setup to start automatically on reboot, which you can also disable by right-clicking on the service and selecting "Properties". Then change the Startup Type to "Disabled".

Unfortunately, this might also prevent your System from establishing a wireless connection on boot up.

The solution then is to leave Wireless Zero on Automatic, but disable it once you have your connection established.

It's a bit of a hassle to do this manually every time you boot so the best solution would be to make or find a batch file or program to do it.

Here is a thread on the Broadband Forums that talks specifically about this problem and a workable solution:

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,8872121~start=16~mode=flat