HostIF Networking Problems XP Host(Hardware Problem!)

[pressurepoint]

New install XP Pro, downloaded and installed 1.5.2. When I try to create a HostIF through either the GUI or the commandline I get nothing but wait time, ie on the command line '0%....' After 15 mins I figure something is wrong and cntrl c to cancel the process. Then my processor stays at 70-80% even after I reboot. In the task manager it is a svchost process that when I kill I cannot gain access to any folders. My only solution was to uninstall and reboot.

I reinstalled and the same thing happened. I wish I had saved my 1.5.0 to see if it worked that way, but alas...
Any way to get an older version??

I was hoping to see this as a common problem but it looks like it is not..

EDIT: Apparently the problem is related to my nvidia network controller; I tried interface networking with another virtual machine program and had the same problem.
I cannot find any manual or support. Any ideas/ similar stories? In the device manage I have advanced properties related to the controller relating to vlan and flow control but I do not know what they refer to and when I change them I lose my connection.