No Internet for a week now GRRR

[eep]

my old modem webstar 100 was connected by usb, my new modem webstar 2100 arrived i rang virgin to get connected.
The guy said i didnt need a disc and registered the mac number,we tried to connect through ethernet, for some reason the local area conection icon then disappeared. I have a solid cable light and power light but the pc light flashes.He told me it was my pc and i needed to run an origional pc disc which i dont have

Out of curiosity I tried to re connect my old modem through usb , and woopee the local area connection icon came back but this time the cable light flashed.
The icon only came back on the old modem when connected through usb not when i tried ethernet

I rang again and spoke to the most patronising man in the world who just wanted me off the phone, he said i needed a driver disc and would put one in the post.

Im not convinced this is going to work.

At this moment in time i dont care if its the old usb connection or the new one i just want internet back, HELP

[system7]

Try a Mandriva Linux Live CD. Should connect straightaway on a working line.

http://www.mandriva.com/

But I can't help you if this is a Virgin security issue to do with the new modem, that needs a password and reregistering.

[Coops]

What does the Ethernet icon look like.

By Default in Windows when the ethernet is disconnected an icon will appear on the task bar with an X through it. However when you connect a cable it is set to disappear. This is normal default behaviour. You can change this by going to network settings, selecting properties for the ethernet adaptor and then ticking the " Show icon in notification area when connected"

Now to be quite honest normally it should just be a case of plugging it in. Make sure modem has fully booted up and then restart your PC. You should not need any drivers for the modem. Only drivers for your network card which should be installed and working in order to communicate with Modem.

[system7]

As Coops say, you don't need a modem driver for ethernet connection, but you DO need one for USB preinstalled, usually before plugging in the modem. Not unknown for an ethernet (NIC) chip to be faulty which is partly why you resorted to USB as I remember. Device manager (network) should show the modem if it's connected and installed correctly via USB. It should also show your ethernet chip regardless. You will have installed a driver for the ethernet chip already from the motherboard disk.

The disk from Virgin/Blueyonder should have the USB driver for the new modem. The old USB driver may need uninstalling, and an uninstall package is included in this generic Webstar software:
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/products/consumers/new_cablemodems_drivers.htm

Your old Webstar 100 had some issues, didn't it, eep?
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=25455&p=34677