Time to switch modem vendors it sounds like!

Possibly too much traffic on the modem? Just throwing out a possibility there.

They should work together so long as they all work on the same protocols.

Your very welcome...I don't know what it is about those bridges, but they pop up from time to time and leave people wondering what the heck happened!

A wireless router shouldn't be necessary. He could set up an ad-hoc network and go computer-to-computer. But that would defeat his original goal:

SONY Desktop 1 -- what is the purpose of the network bridge? Is it supposed to be there? I am no networking expert...but in cases like yours, the bridge appears (sometimes by accident). If you delete...

Without buying anything? That's not possible. Unless you cut up your existing Ethernet cable and re-wired it into a crossover cable.

Can you ping it from the desktop?

What is your laptop IP address? Does it begin 192.168.x.x, like your router? Is the default gateway the same address as your router?

How many users are connected to the network at any given time? Do you use DHCP? Are you connected by a cable or wirelessly?

IF you are connecting the XBOX directly to your router you should not be using a crossover cable.

You must add your desktop PC's Ethernet adapter into the MAC address list or the router will block all communications coming from that MAC address.

I personally use Linnksys. I like them.

Please clarify what you mean.

If you are not losing network connectivity but you are losing Internet connectivity, then it is the modem at fault. Not the router.

Do you use MAC Address filtering on the router?

Is the network encrypted?

Does your friend's router hand out IP addresses by DHCP or do you need to set a manual IP? Like it says, contact the person who manages the network (your roommate).

Try using a Winsock repair tool. Search Google.

You need a wireless access point in your area to connect to.