Current configuration is as follows:

Motorola DSL modem paired with a Netgear Wireless-G router. Works fine, I have a connection.

There is a problem, though, accessing the router's BROWSER interface. This has happened since I reformatted my PC from Vista back to XP Pro SP3. My computer came with Vista. The drivers for my "1394 Network Interface" are generic, and I am afraid that although the blinking green light fuctions when an ethernet cable is CONNECTED (router to PC), somehow SOMETHING is not right. The router access address is not working (192.168.2.1). Perhaps I am entering it wrong? Do I need a port number? I run my PC wirelessly to the internet via a Netgear wireless PCI card that I have installed. It works fine.

My objective is to set up/configure my new Linksys/Cisco Wireless-N router (WRT160N). After I insert the included CD to begin the setup process, the setup process itself fails due to an error. The setup program tells me that it is unable to detect an ethernet port, and to enable it if it is disabled. WELL, I do have one, and it has a driver, albeit probably not the correct one. But it is there, and the setup program won't let me continue because it can't see it. Here is where the fun begins.

I have already tried reinstalling the ethernet driver. I downloaded a PC information program like CPU-Z and it revealed my ethernet connector's manufacturer whose name escapes me at the moment. Since the PC came with Vista, I cannot readily find any XP drivers that will suit it. In a desperate yet feeble attempt I downloaded and paid for a driver-updater program, to no avail. My motherboard is an ASUS NodusM3. I have also tried to connect the WRT160N to my PC to check for any viable communication. None.

So in a nutshell I can't get the router's setup program to believe that I have a viable ethernet connection, in which case I may not because I can't get the PC to run off the router via an ethernet cable. I can't even access the router via the browser. In this case will I need new drivers? If so, where do I find them? How can this issue be resolved. It really sounds like a driver issue to me. This is a weird problem. First of all when you say you get a connection when you a cabled to the router can you get on the internet? Are you sure your router's ip is 192.168.2.1 instead of 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1? I would go to netgear's site and download the manual to see what the default ip is. Also, when you connect wirelessly can you get on the internet or can you get to the router via 192.168.2.1?

As for your setup program not recognizing your network card it may very well be a driver issue. Do you know if your nic is builtin to the motherboard or is it an individual network card? If it's builtin to your asus motherboard I would go to asus website, search for the mobo & look at the drivers download section for it. If it's a network card by itself open up the pc & look at the thing so you can see where to download the drivers for it. Last but not least, have you tried removing the nic drivers from the device manager & forcing windows to install a generic one?install your network drivers. 1394 is firewire. you need NIC drivers.

If you don't know the brand/model of your network card, try downloading and running Everest.