My laptop will not connect thru the ethernet cord to my modem, I think the network adapter got zapped during a storm but when I troubleshoot thru the laptop it says that the device is working properly - how can I tell and fix it? The modem is brand new and will connect fine thru my old desktop.

Are you talking about direct-connecting via Ethernet to a cable or DSL modem? You shouldn't have to disable wireless to do that. If the cable modem has an open Ethernet port, you should be able to run a straight-thru Ethernet Cat-5 cable between that port and the Ethernet port on your laptop. The laptop should recognize that it is connected to the modem through the direct connection. Check the manual for the cable modem or information supplied by your ISP for connection details. You may have to do some setup on the modem to get an Internet connection, like having your ISP 'activate' the modem. Just be sure your Ethernet cable is a straight-thru, standard Ethernet cable, and not a 'cross-over' cable such as is used to transfer data between two computers.

ethernet jack may be fried.. Go to device manager and see if its disabled or non existant.

A power surge during a storm can damage the powerline adapters, in a heartbeat. This is a very strong possibility and you may need to replace the adapter(s). If it fried one, it can fry them both. Was any other electroonics connected to the power outlets in the home damaged? If so, then you may be out of luck, and need to replace them both.

I'm not sure if you can connect an Xbox 360 to the internet with a lap top. What I would do, is get a router (guessing that you already have one). But if you don't, it's basically a splitter for Ethernet cords. You plug the router into the Modem (the box that makes the internet), buy an Ethernet cord, plug it from the router to your Xbox and you should have internet. Or, you can get a wireless router, and get a network adapter for your Xbox to get internet wireless. But I don't think you can just get internet from your laptop.

If there isnt a button on the laptop to switch it on and off, then the easiest way to turn it off is to disable the wireless network adapter.
To do this, open Control Panel and double click Network Connections.
This will then show your wireless and ethernet adapters as icons.
Right click on the wireless adapter and then select "disable".
Your wireless adapter should now show as disabled.
If in the future you want to turn it back on, do the same again but select "enable".

you need to install a network adapter, configure it correctly - if you want to connect to another computer you need a straight thru ethernet cable - to connect to another computer thru a router, switch, hub or ISP-provided modem you will need the router, etc and a crossover ethernet cable... If you want to just get on the net you will at least need a properly configured network adapter, a crossover ethernet cable and a ISP account and either their modem or yours, depending on their policies... Hope this helps!

you need to log into the router setting by typing something like 192.168.*.* etc,check the right one for your router and enable some type of encryption like 128bits wep..Then your network is secured with a password which will stop anyone access.Now also change your router password if possible to prevent access from others...Hope this helps.

I think you have answered your own problem, your wireless has possibly been zapped.
To test your ethernet adapter on your laptop connect it to a network hub, check the hub and see if you have a link light on the hub and or laptop..
To test your wireless router, connect it to a known working computer with a network card and check the router configuration, using the browser, if you cannot access it then its zapped.

Hi ABVT66 - Didn't your router come with two short cables? It should have. One is the cable that hooks up the modem to your router and the other is the cat5 (ethernet) cable that connects your router to your pc. Let me know if you have these cables. Also, if you check your device manager on your pc, click on the + next to network adapters and it will tell you your network adapter. DON'T RATE THIS 'TIL WE'RE DONE. Thanks.

Jeff

run the modem to the router with Ethernet cable and then use one of the other Ethernet ports on the router and another Ethernet cable to connect desktop