VISTA lost Network and Internet

I have a HP running VISTA. One morning I turned it on and my Internet, printing and Networking was gone. According the Geek Squad from Best Buy, the last update from Microsoft may have been corrupted and for $139.00 they can fix the software for me and try to save what I have. They originally set up my ystem and removed all the extra garbage that came with it. It was running fast and beautifully even networked with windows 2000. The worst problem was the drivers for all my Postscript printers. Now I have nothing and all the programs I tried can not find anything wrong with the hardware or software. I did a system restore going back a month but it did nothing. Is there anything I can do with out redoing all the software and reloading everything?
Thanks
Jean (jsking)

 

More info needed. Using a router? Type of Internet access (DSL, cable, etc.)? Were you connecting wireless or wired? If wireless, do you have WEP or WPA security enabled?

Have you tried re-cycling your modem and router? In other words, turn off computer, router and modem. Wait about 20 seconds. Turn on modem and wait for normal lights to appear, turn on router and let it go through it's initial light-flickering routine, then start your computer. Does that restore your Internet connection?

 

Yes, I should have given you more info. I am attached to a Linsys router and a Switch. Attached to these are my printers and other peripherals. I have 3 other computers attached that work perfectly and talk to one another via a simple network. A Mac G5 running system 10.4.11, A G3 system 9, A IBM compatible running 2000 and they all work and talk to one another. Everything is attached with via ethernet (DSL) and nothing is wireless. I tried changing the cables and turning things off and on. This is going on for about a month now. Originally when I bought this computer all the computers could talk to each other, accept the VISTA which could not talk to the G5 or G3. It could see each other, but they did communicate. So I used to send the info to the 2000 that sent it to VISTA. The same the opposite way. I need to fix that later, but for now I still need to get my printers, the internet and the 2000 talaking to the VISTA.

Yes, I tried recycling the modem and the router. I even tried doing it with the Company I bought the swtich and router from by phone. Since it works with the other computers and printers, they say it is not them. They also believe it is a software problem. Naturally they claim it is VISTA. But no one can tell me what to do other than starting from scratch.

If you need any other info, please let me know.
Thank you in advance.... Jean

 

Isn't there anyone out there who can help me get my IP, printer and networking back on track. I never changed anything. It is not the firewire, modem or router. I unplugged the modem and firewire, and system it all set up correctly, but it doesn't help. All the other machines attached to the network and printers are fine and the IP address is on automatic. Please, please help me. I have no use for the machine if I can't print or use the internet.
jsking

 

When you click any of the browsers (I tried a few) they all say no connection.
Yes, file sharing is enabled and firewall is off. All the sharing is on.
However in the Network sharing center it shows the pictures as:
Owner then, Unidentified network, then the red X, and then Internet. It says "Windows can not connect the network map locations because everything is public" This is the way it was set up when it worked and could see each other. When you go into computers and devices you see nothing. There are 3 printers and 3 computers. I tried changing the IP and I tried using the the one it assigns. I have no idea where to go now. I am ready to throw it in the garbage and buy another mac where I never had problems like with VISTA since my first one in 1986. I do, however, appreciate anyone's and everyone's help.
Thank you again.
jsking