DSL conect trouble

I will try to keep this short.
Sunday i was connecting fine (DSL/Verizon). Sunday eve. I couldnt connect.
In the past, just power down the modem, and PC, then power bck up and all was fine. No-go.
Checked the Device manager and found nothing wrong.
I am using USB to connect. straight from modem to PC, no router only to one PC, XP pro.
OK,on this PC is partitioned, so I installed verizon on the other partition, to make sure if it would work and yes it does, the other partition is 98.
I am at a loss. I tried calling tch support at verizon but without any luck. 4 times now. make that 5. The last guy told me to format the drive! Great advice. I can see him as a mechanic,,"yes sir, the car will not start, so we put a new engine in it, that will be 3,000$." ARGHHHH!!!
This may help, I also have the PC hooked to a home network.
When on the 98 partition, I can conect to both the web and the hm. network, but while on XP I can't conect to either.
So, its not hardware.
I am at a loss.
I will REALL appreciate any help, any thoughts at all.
thanks
brian

peace be with you

It doesn't matter what brand NIC you get they're basically all the same, read the installation instructions carefully, on some the software is installed first, on others the software is installed after the cards installed in the machine, but that should solve your problem.

<b><font color=purple>Listing your system specs, will greatly aid us, in being able to help you solve your problem.</font color=purple></b>