I would try the following:
1. Look at the network connections and see if there are any "fixed settings"
in Ip address or DNS numbers. If so, remove and restart the computer.
2. or if wireless works, connect the laptop to wireless router. 
3. Sometimes the cable company needs to be called and you have to make sure
that they are getting connection to their modem.
4. Buy a USB adaptor.

I would start with #1 and then #2, etc,

-----Original Message-----
From: Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of lswpubrw
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2011 8:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PCBUILD] LAN problem

I'm trying to help out a friend return a laptop to usefulness. It's an ~5
year old DELL Inspiron 2200, running Windows XP that I have upgraded through
SP 3, that she hadn't used since her husband passed away ~ 4 years ago.
We've reactivated her Internet connection provided by the local cable
company and when I plug my computer into the connection it works fine. When
I plug her laptop in we get a "cannot acquire IP address error message". So
I took it home and tried it on my system. It connects to my wireless router,
but does not connect to my hardwire line providing the same error message. I
ran ipconfig and it showed addresses for the wireless connection but no
gateway address for the hardwire. This hardwire works when I test desktops
down there so I'm sure the wire is OK. In fact when I unplug it from the
laptop, it gives me a LAN unplugged message. As an aside it's telling me
this is LAN 4 although when I look at networks under control panel I only
see one LAN listed, why the 4? I suspect there's something wrong with the
software setup but not sure what. BTW I uninstalled the drivers for the NIC
and restarted. It recognized the NIC and reinstalled the drivers.
Thanks,

Bob Warasila

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