With the cable plugged in to the modem and the problem computer, do the link lights near the connector ports light up on both machines?

Steve

Yes, they light up.

Let's make things more clear, so I don't go off on the wrong track.  You are connecting with an etherent cable, right?  When connecting with an ethernet cable, their is nothing plugged in to the USB port on the modem, right?

Steve

Pardon if I make this come across harder then it seems, I'm completely lacking in the knowledge of technology area. But yes, I'm using an ethernet cable. No USB on cable modem.

No problem, I'll try to keep it as simple as I can.  First, go to Start > Run and type services.msc then click OK.  Find the listing for DHCP client and double click on it.  Is it Started and set to start automatically?  If not, set it to start automatically and reboot. 

If that doesn't work, try reinstalling the drivers for your network adapter.  Go to the following site, and download the file. 

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R64645&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_CEL_2400&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3597&devlib=0&typecnt=2&vercnt=2&formatcnt=1&fileid=84196

Find a way to get to the problem computer and run the file to reinstall the network drivers.

Let us know if any of this helps.

Steve

The DHCP is already started and automatic.

I downloaded the file and transferred it onto the desktop, but when I try to run it I get the message "This self-extacting zip is part of a multidisk zip file. Please insert the last disk of the set." and that eventually leads to, "An error occured while unziping. One or more files were not successfully unzipped. The error code is 110."

I just downloaded the file, ran it and got no such error.  I suggest you download it again and try running it again.  It extracts the files to a folder then automatically runs the setup program to install the drivers. It worked for me and I see no reason it won't work for you.  Did you follow the instructions exactly as they are listed on the download page.

Steve

Ah, found the problem. My laptop was corrupting the file when I tried to download it [it timed out and claimed download finished when it was only half done]. Had a friend download it for me and send it over. (This is why I need to get the desktop working, to replace my rapidly dying laptop)

I reinstalled the files on the dell, reset, but I still get the "Limited or No Connectivity" bubble appearing. :( Oh dear.

Do you have any firewall programs running on the computer (like Norton Internet Security or McAfee Security Center)?  If so try completely uninstalling any such firewall and see it will connect.  You say you have disabled the firewall, but I have seen cases, especially with Norton's firewall, where something was still left running that blocked the internet connection.   I've been assuming that this is a new computer and this is your first attempt to connect to the internet.  If this assumption is wrong, then you could have acquired something while browsing that messed up the winsock stack.  Try downloading and running winsockfix for Windows XP from the Here and if that doesn't work try lspfix from Here.

If none of these measures work, and since you have a new computer, you may need to call Dell Tech Support and get the motherboard replaced.   Alternatively, if you want to troubleshoot this problem further yourself, a cheap troubleshootinig step is to get a cheap PCI 10/100 ethernet card (they can be found for less than $10 after rebate), install it, and see if you still have the problem.  If you do, then it suggests a software problem, either in the configuration of Windows or some other program running on the computer that is blocking access.  If the cheap network card works, then it tells you that the network adapter on your motherboard is bad.

Steve

Thank you, I've got it working now! I'd only shutdown the firewall software (ie, Norton that installed when I first booted the computer up). Removing the program entirely got me internet access working. Thanks again!