internet connection

[yesterday]

i have read that connecting from the router to the computer using an Ethernet cable is far more reliable than using usb. so my set-up has been like this for ages. a couple of days ago my computer stopped recognizing the Ethernet connection which is down to a faulty Ethernet cable i think. 

so i started using a usb to connect the router and my computer and i have noticed that i get faster download speeds and quicker browsing. whats going on there?

i am using win xp sp2 and i use Firefox to browse.

[patio]

If the cable was going bad slower speeds could be a symptom...however i suspect the NIC card instead...

[yesterday]

the Ethernet card shows up under device manager and it says that this device is working fine. yet whenever i plug in a Ethernet cable from my router to my computer i get a little balloon which says a network cable is unplugged. i have tried uninstalling and re-installing the Ethernet card yet nothing.

thanks for your help so far.
sorry for long delay in replying.

[yesterday]

anybody....

i even bought a new network card