Thunderstorm? Limited or no connectivity (Not SP2 Issue)

[fadeworm]

Hello,

The system in question is a Dell 2.4ghz running WindowsXP with an onboard ethernet. It has SP2 and have tried the hotfix. Anyways, here's the issue:

We have a cable modem connected to a router, which is connected to 3 computers. All computers connected fine. We had a thunderstorm (ugh) and it aparently blew the router (can't hold a charge). This has happened before, so we purchased a new router (same brand and all). The other two computers work fine, no problems at all! But the one Dell won't connect.

It's not the router, because the other computers are fine. It's not the cord/wire because I've connected it to a different computer and it connected fine. I've researched the net looking for help and have tried those solutions to no avail (static IP, etc). XP sets it's address with a 169.254.xxx.xxx address so it's not getting through somewhere. The computer reads that the cable connects or disconnect, so that makes me wonder if the onboard ethernet was partially fried due to the thunderstorm, or what?

A note to add, is that the light on the ethernet lights up, but the router light flashes frantically, nonstop, in any of the 4 ports.

Please help,

fadeworm

 

[jimbopalmer]

169.254.xxx.xxx is where XP sets it if it is NOT getting through to a DHCP server, like a router. I would buy a $15 ethernet card, and check in the BIOS to see if you can disable the onboard ethernet at the BIOS (If not, you can disable it in Windows)

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[fadeworm]

I had an old PCI ethernet card, installed it, and it worked just fine!
thanks for the help, but it sounds like the onboard went ka-poot =\