Can't connect to internet with fresh install

A friend asked me to reformat his HDD and install a fresh XP. (not the HP OEM XP).
I've done this many times and generally no problems.

Install went well, but can't connect to the internet.
I'm getting a message: "Local Area Connection - This connection has limited or no connectivity".
My Internet is fine for the rest of the household (3 desktops, 3 laptops, 3 iPhones, & 1 iPad).

I tried re-installing XP and I also tried un-installing the network device from the Device Manager.


It's an HP Pavilion 511n desktop.
I looked at the HP website for drivers, but couldn't find anything for the LAN or chipset (Intel 810e).
It's a network card with a cable plugged directly into my router. I pulled the cable out of another working desktop and plugged it into this one.

Any suggestions for fixing my Internet connection for this new XP desktop?

Try rebooting the router.

What's the IP address?

If you run the following at the cmd prompt:

ipconfig /all|find "IPv4 Address"

and see an address starting with "169.*.*.* it means Windows could not get an IP address from the router for some reason so, it had to assign a 169.*.*.* address. And, 169.*.*.* addresses cannot be used to access the internet.

If applicable,
Install Windows XP service packs.

Check CMOS/BIOS menu for any settings to enable/disable onboard LAN.

Unplugged the router, waited 5 minutes, plugged it back in (rebooted).
It worked great! THANKS!!

I don't ever remember rebooting the router, but that was an easy fix!

I've installed XP a bunch of times and never had to reboot the router, why was this necessary? (it worked so I don't want to question it, just understand).

Probably because the new install gave the XP computer a different LAN address that the router wasn't seeing and by rebooting it found the "new" computer in the network.

Or the router hung up, that rebooting bit has gotten me back on the internet many a time.
Usually the first thing I try now.
Could have had a power voltage drop while doing the reinstall and that will latch up a router and modem right quickly.

Just another possibility.