What the heck have I done?

Hi everyone
My network connection is totally messed up and I dont know how to fix it. I have 2 computers connected to the internet thru a Linksys wireless router and DSL modem. Until about a week or so ago they were both ethernet connected. My NIC died and I installed a Linksys wireless PCI adapter that I had purchased awhile back. Since it was too long ago Linksys will not support it saying the warranty ran out.

A couple days ago I started losing connection every 30 seconds. It would say "acquiring network address" then "connected" for about a half second and start over. Well, I went into both the modem and router settings and followed the instructions on the linksys site for setting it up but something went wrong. I couldnt even get on.

Finally messing with it, somehow I got connected thru the actiontec modem instead of the name I set up..... but I also show connected thru a "local area connection on linux" I have tried the windows management as well as the linksys manager.

I have tried to re-set up the wireless network connection a couple of times but its not working. Now, the wired computer has no internet access.
It did for a little while today when I was connected but now my son can't even log on. We have looked and played with every setting we know and nothing will work. He used to also have that "linux" connection but it is gone.
Is there any hope?? lol
If someone can tell me how to sort this mess out I will be forever grateful.

We are both using WIN XP and have scanned for viruses and malware.
Thanks

 

What version Linksys Card do you have?

I have a problematic WPC54G-ver 3 here for my laptop.

I have a NIC in the Dell box I took down in March you can have for shipping.

 

You could try changing the encryption type. I've been off and on a wireless because my adapter didn't like the encryption type. Also try downloading the latest driver for the card and a Linksys connection tool instead of using windows connection tools.

 

Thanks for the replies.
I am using an old router and even though the adapter has never been opened, it is an older model as well. The router is BEFW11S4 and the adapter is WMP11. I have changed the configuration, used different channels, tried WEP, WPA and not encrypted and still doesnt work. When it worked last week I had not set any security.
The drivers are updated.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks