BleepingComputer.com: What The Heck Is Wrong ?

Hi,
I'm a brand new member and I need some brand new help !
I have an IBM R40 remanufactured laptop computer. When I got it it had Windows 2000 installed. For some reason I had to do a new reinstall but I only have CD for Windows XP Pro so I installed XP Pro.
I also have a Dell Dimension 4550 PC also running XP Pro. I have had both these computers connected to the internet and also networked with each other before.
My problem is: I recently connected my laptop again and I've been trying for over a week to get a network set up again with no success. I talked with a Comcast technician for an hour and we still couldn't get a connection with my laptop. Everything is fine with my PC but it's my laptop that's causing the problem. I just purchased a new wireless modem and I already have 4 wireless cards and no matter what I try nothing works. I can't even get my laptop connected to the internet.
When I search my 'hardware' all my entries that have to do with networking controllers, PCI modem, Ethernet Controller, etc. are marked with a big yellow questionmark; however, My wireless-G notebook adapter isn't yellow checked and it is working properly but I still can't connect to the internet.
I've tried everything but I can't get an internet connection even through my direct ethernet connector.
Is it time to forget networking and take up golf ? Please someone, HELP !
Thank you.

Hello and welcome.

In device manager, double click on the entries with the exclamation mark on them, go to drivers and click update driver, tell it to search automatically. once this has completed, reboot the system. Are you able to connect then?

make sure you install the drivers for the wireless card _*before*_ plugging the thing in to your desktop box.

that is extremely important.

EDIT: have you configured the wireless modem? is it a wireless modem/router? or just modem? if a modem, does it support NAT??

goodluck

This post has been edited by 4ward_tristan: 13 January 2008 - 11:59 PM