TF2 keeps getting stuck at Connect screen, PLease help!

Started happening a couple of weeks back, now its total pot luck if i can get to play TF2 - I cant play at all!

It hangs at the first screen you get when you join a server, says CONTINUE at the bottom right - audio is stuck in a loop.

Once in a game it never crashes, but i have noticed recently that if i Alt-Tab out of a game, i can no longer Alt-Tab back into it - or get back into it any other way - that never used to happen

I have tried it on the 32bit version Vista and 64bit of Win7

Ive tried deleting the registry.blob file - that just reinstalled steam, tried changing fx settings but that doesnt help.

Anyone else having similar problems or is it just me :/
It started happening after I got Verizon FIOS, could that be the case?


DirectX Log:
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/12/2009, 00:37:11
       Machine name: ALI-PC
   Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
       System Model: System Product Name
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 12/03/08 11:51:39 Ver: 08.00.14
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU    Q6600  @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
             Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4096MB RAM
          Page File: 1296MB used, 6891MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 64bit Unicode

I have the exact same issue.  The first time I connect to a server this does not happen but if I change servers or reload a map the problems start.  It hangs at the chalk board in a audio loop.  Please help! Thanks.

Anyone with thoughts on this?