Lost Internet Connection

For the second time in six months with my new PC I lost connection to the Internet. My configuration is cable to a LinkSys router that cable connects to a wireless modem to a tower on a nearby mountain. I tried unplugging the router, unplugging my ethernet cord, booting without ZoneAlarm up, without my F-Prot up, and nothing worked. Finally my cordless keyboard stopped working (new batteries did not help) and I hooked up an old keyboard and mouse and that solved the problem. It seemed almost as though a driver had lost its bearings somehow. Returning to the cordless duo afterwards I was fine.

At all times during my troubles, my wife was running successfully with her Mac off the same router.

When I disconnected and reconnected the cord to the router, the icon appeared in the system tray indicating that a network address was being sought. After 20 seconds that icon disappeared without declaring its failure.

My system is XP Pro SP2, completely up to date. I have a Pentium 4 3.2, 1GB of memory, 160GB hard drive, ZoneAlarm 6.0.631, F-prot, with Pest Patrol running and the MS firewall off. My browser is Opera and Eudora my e-mail.

My frustration is not knowing how to diagnose the problem and that no s/w update I might have done appears to be involved. Fixing it is hit or miss.

Thanks,
Bartolo