USB/Ethernet problems

Dell Dimension 8300
Intel
Pentium R CPU 2.60GHz
Windows XP Home SP 2

Hi: please assume a a non existant level of computer knowledge.

I was connected to the internet Saturday morning. No probelms noted. Logged off, switched off the comp and did not go back 'til later in the day. I could not connect therefore assumed it was the ISP. Left it 'til the next day, still not working. Contacted ISP who initially told me it was phone line fault but later contacted me to say it wasn't. No advice offered. Router/hub working fine, comp working fine. Just no connection. Changed to secondary comp (same spec more or less), internet works fine.

Anti virus, few days previously, had notified of a trojan but said it was quarentined. Not sure if the two events connected but, it appears that ALL the USB ports and ethernet port are not working.

Has anyone got any ideas? As noted, I have no knowledge of anything technical therefore would I be better taking it to a shop?

Thanks

 

follow these steps:

click on start>control panel>system>hardware>device manger>network adapters select your network adapter there and right click on it and choose "uninstall". When it asks if you are sure,say yes. Reboot your pc. When it boots back up,it should recognize the network card and re-install it and you should be ok. If not,take it to the shop.sorry