not able to use the ethernet/usb port

Hi,

 

I am having a DELL INSPIRON system with Windows XP Professional as the O./s(SP-2). Off late I am facing the following problems

 

1.  Not able to use the Ethernet CARD. (I am having the I394 and the BroadCom 40/100.) My network connections show both of them . But for the Broadcom it says the network ahs been unplugged.

For I394 connection neither a Packet has been sent or received.

 

Note : I donot see any gree/orange light flashing. The cables are working fine, as I am able to use them on another maching.

 

2. The device manager shows both of them as working .

 

3. The only method that I am tryng to connect to the net is thru the Wireless. Even now that is giving me a problem. The signal strength shows it as excellent, but the received packet/no.of bytes is changing at a snail's pace.

 

I tried the following options

 

1. Removed the network adapters from the device managers.

2. Tred re-installing the device drivers cd from the Dell .

3. The system found new hardware and installed the software. But still it is not wroking.

4. I unstalled the Service Pack-2 and the wirless connection worked fine for some hours and later on when the service pack-2 was installed I was not able to use the Wireless connection

5. I tried the Net Gear wireless router 814v2/Microsoft Base Station and the netgear MA521 adapter.

6. I tired to repair/release/renew the connection with no success

 

Appreciate if any one could help me solve this issue