I got a Compaq Presario notebook as a present for my birthday. Everything worked well until I tried to connect to the Internet. I am connecting on wireless Internet and I have wireless network card in my notebook. Yesterday I also got a DSL connection. However, whenever I tried to connect my router my Linksys WRT54G won’t forward ports properly. That is killing both WLAN and cable connection.
I do not think that your problem is directly connected to your WRT54G router. You probably have some problem with your network card or with your Windows. First, check the drivers for your network card in your Control panel. Then check your cable and wireless signal. Your wireless router should have dynamic IP address if you want him to work on cable connection. Uninstall wireless network support from your notebook and then try just your cable connection. If nothing helps, then try to call your Internet provider and see doesn't they, maybe, have some temporary problems. They also must have experience so do not hesitate to ask them for help. If nothing of that helps, you will have to reinstall the operating system from the beginning.