I've tried DSL 3.x under vmware server and hadn't had noticed this problem... if you can try using it, could you see if you encounter the same problem as under vmware player?
I'm posting this with Firefox on The DSL Book live cd using the identical modem set-up that's caused the problem in DSL embedded within VMware player so it looks like the problem is peculiar to the VMware player/WinXP2 interface.
I hope to pursue the question in the VM forum once I've persauded them not to insist on my full personal contact details over a non-sshl link just to register in a user forum.
I haven't used VMware server as it's a bit hefty for a dial-up download but I'd imagine it's adaptable enough not to encounter the same sort of problem.
original here.