I ended up backing up all my files to CD and installing Vista X64. I bought this laptop used from a pawn shop and never felt good about running the XP Pro OS because this PC originally had Vista Buisness from the factory (original product key sticker attached). I'm not so sure the XP Pro install wasn't pirated by the previous owner or the pawn shop. And I never could get the OS to show me as the owner in 'computer specs' (discussed in
this thread). I bought this Vista X64 from Newegg so I know it's not pirated.
The network adapter problem turned out to be me not pressing the reset button on the ISP's router. I was trying to get the IP address assigned via cycling power to the router which did not work. Live-and-learn.
So I've got my XP files saved and online with Vista, so I'm happy.
Thanks once agian patio!