Well, this might be your lucky day!
After some looking around, I found a solution to this ridiculous bug that shipped with the game. Apparently, you're going to have problems signing into Live if you don't have an 'Always On' connection, like Cable. This leaves us DSL users out.
SOLUTION
Instructions are for Windows Vista - though there's an equivalent with XP
Also, make sure the error code that pops up in H2V ends with 1905e
Basically, you have to mimic an 'Always On' connection. What does this mean? Simply that when you turn on your computer, you're already connected. Cable connections are 'Always On,' which is why they don't experience this problem. Most DSL users have to click on 'Sympatico' or whatever from the desktop, and then enter your username and password.
How to Mimic an 'Always On' Connection
Unfortunately, to my knowledge, the only way to do this is to run your internet connection through a router. Your setup should look like this:
Modem -----> Router -----> Computer(s)
And not this:
Modem -----> Computer
Now, go to Start > Network and make sure your router shows up on the list. Right-click on it and select 'View Device Webpage.' This will open your browser. Enter your username and password (the default is something like 'admin,' without a password - or maybe the password is admin... just play around with it) and a page will open up with a plethora of complicated shit.
Select the 'Setup' tab at the top of the screen and select 'Basic Setup' from the smaller tabs. The first thing below the tabs is a drop-down menu that should read 'Automatic Configuration - DHCP.' Click on the menu and choose 'PPPoE.' Enter the username and password that you would normally use to connect, then be sure to scroll down and click on 'Save Settings.'
Close your browser and restart your computer.
When you're back on the desktop, don't connect to the internet. Look in the taskbar to see if there's a little blue globe (?) on the network icon (two little computer screens). If it's there, and you didn't connect to the internet so far, it means that you're good to go. If you want to make sure before you open Vista, I suggest opening your web browser and checking if you are indeed connected.
Open Halo 2 Vista and rock that shit for the first time!
Note
The above solution was tested and should work. If you are still experiencing problems, try it again. If, after making sure you didn't miss a crucial step, you still can't connect, try turning off Windows Firewall (Control Panel). Apart from that, I don't think I can help you. Also, if you don't have a router, that sucks. It's the only way to bypass this (I think). Routers are filthy cheap nowadays, so go buy one - or pray that they release a patch that will fix the problem.
PS: Is this helpful to anyone?
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