series2: "network cable unplugged" at second call during guided setup

I am trying to redo the guided setup on a series2 TiVo (TCD540040) after changing the hard drive. I use a USB-to-ethernet (not wireless) adapter Linksys USB100TX that has worked so far with this unit for many years.

During guided setup I set it to DHCP, it tests the connection and it's fine. Further down it connects to retrieve the channel lineups, and it connects fine. But at the end of guided setup when it connects again to download channel listings it gives me the error "network cable unplugged"

I have tried many things: unplugging the adapter and plugging it again in the same USB port; plugging it in the other USB port; assigning a static IP and then reverting to DHCP; etc. I must have rebooted and retried the guided setup a half dozen times so far, and I end up with the same error.

No matter what I do I can't get past this network error at the end of the guided setup. It bugs me to no end that at first it connects fine, then it doesn't.

I seem to remember that I have run in this problem before a few years ago, but I don't remember what I did to fix it. And a search of this forum didn't come up with an answer.

Any help appreciated.