I have Comcast Internet via Ethernet connector and it works fine on my Dell laptop with Windows 2K. I also now have a new Dell laptop which runs Windows XP, and connecting via the Comcast Ethernet connector doesn't work ('Repair' says it can't get an IP address from the server). My new laptop works fine in hotels via the Ethernet connection, and wireless (via linksys) works perfectly everywhere. I have both laptops side by side, and my old one will work, but moving the cable to my XP laptop doesn't work (even though the network port lights flash away happily). I have also tried a friend's VAIO (windows XP) via the Comcast Ethernet connection and that has the same problem, yet her home Ethernet connection works on her VAIO just fine. My XP network settings are correct (automatically obtaining DNS & IP, etc.) and work everywhere except via my Comcast Ethernet cable. Has anyone else encountered a problem like this? It seems very odd. Thanks, Matt.

Have you tryed unpluging the power from the modem and pluging it back in before hooking the ethernet line up to the new laptop?

When you change the device connected to a modem, you must power cycle the modem.