Index: /trunk/src/VBox/Devices/Network/DevE1000.cpp
===================================================================
--- /trunk/src/VBox/Devices/Network/DevE1000.cpp	(revision 64739)
+++ /trunk/src/VBox/Devices/Network/DevE1000.cpp	(revision 64740)
@@ -70,5 +70,5 @@
  * in init (see @bugref{8624}).
  */
-#define E1K_INIT_LINKUP_DELAY (500 * 1000)
+//#define E1K_INIT_LINKUP_DELAY (500 * 1000)
 /** @def E1K_IMS_INT_DELAY_NS
  * E1K_IMS_INT_DELAY_NS prevents interrupt storms in Windows guests on enabling
@@ -2678,8 +2678,14 @@
             && !(STATUS & STATUS_LU))
         {
+#ifdef E1K_INIT_LINKUP_DELAY
             /*
              * The driver indicates that we should bring up the link. Our default 5-second delay is too long,
              * as Linux guests detect Tx hang after 2 seconds. Let's use 500 ms delay instead. */
             e1kArmTimer(pThis, pThis->CTX_SUFF(pLUTimer), E1K_INIT_LINKUP_DELAY);
+#else /* !E1K_INIT_LINKUP_DELAY */
+            /* Bring up the link immediately, no need for an interrupt though. */
+            STATUS |= STATUS_LU;
+            Phy::setLinkStatus(&pThis->phy, true);
+#endif /* !E1K_INIT_LINKUP_DELAY */
         }
         if (value & CTRL_VME)