Do a "tracert" to yahoo.com and a public IP address. Do both fail at the gateway address?

A+ and Network+ are hardly worth anything but are simple to pass for the majority of people. Network+ itself pretty much covers the first of the 4 CCNA semesters, and given that CCNA is a...

Not really, it's the encapsulation method used for the information transmitted between your ISP and your modem. There ought to be a setting somewhere amongst the router settings relating to DHCP. Did...

The router should be acting as a DHCP server in place of your modem - that's why it's advised to disable DHCP on the modem itself. Go into the configuration of the router and check it has DHCP...

What OS are you using?
Assuming Windows XP....

First things first - with the router plugged into the computer, go to start menu/all programs/accessories/command prompt.

At the command prompt...

Have you run FDISK to create a partition? Can't format a partition that doesn't exist...

Is the drive new? I realise the Win 98 set up does a disk-check, but it might be worth running a manufacturer's diagnostic on it.
If you can access the drive after the problems but before you...

Or this from the Dell site;
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&ServiceTag=&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8250&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

Try an Eset scan; http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/

Did you download Process Explorer as described in the page you linked to?

Unless it's a rootkit you'll see the process in the list.
...

Give this a try; http://software.hitoma.com/GPCTool/

You're mixing terminology there - BIOS & Admin unrelated, IE/boot sequence unrelated - boot sequence is a BIOS setting. Can you explain ?

Check all cables and fuses.

This sounds a little odd but sometimes works. Remove the power cable, hold the power-button down for 30 seconds, reconnect power cable, switch on.

If that doesn't...

Try this;
http://www.intel.com/support/network/adapter/pro100/pro100b/

The blue screen is most likely an immediate BSOD and the PC is set to auto-reboot in that instance. You need to recover an older registry copy ( http://www.aitechsolutions.net/winxpnoboot.html ) or...

Hit F8 repeatedly at boot up and choose Safe Mode or Last Known Good Configuration

Does this help? http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/messenger/messenger8/webcam/mstacamsource.html

Does it stop any other services when this happens? System Restore no good? Any enlightening entries in the Event log?

Taskbar colour change - go into Control Panel/Desktop and ensure Windows XP theme is selected;http://www.helpwithpcs.com/tipsandtricks/changing-theme-win-xp.htm

If it is selected and you still...

Glad you got it sorted, & thanks to caperjack for fixing my link.

Looks normal, though I'm not a `trained expert` in HJT logs.
Why do you assume infection? Have you run a ChkDsk, an HD diagnostic from your HD manufacturer, a memory test ? Admittedly memory...

Is linksys1 connected to other devices in addition to the switch? Is it a managed switch with DHCP? Is it feasible to arrange static IPs for the devices connected to Linksys1 and the switch?
If...

Set the default gateway of the second router to the IP address of the first. If both are using the same subnet and IP range (192.168.1.1-254 255.255.255.0 for example) you might need to change subnet...

"The motherboard got a little burnt cos of the onboard LAN card" - physically burnt?

Note down the STOP error code and any file name mentioned when you get the blue screen(s) , they are most often...

Thanks for the reply - I've already removed the Windows Networking Client and File & Printer Sharing from the PC in question, disabled NetBIOS over TCP/IP - it doesn't need any connection at all to...

I need to isolate one computer in a small office from the office network - from both NetBIOS networking with other machines and at the IP level. The office is just one of a number of businesses in...

ImgBurn will do that too

Use Process Explorer to see what each svchost.exe instance is doing http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx.

Also, try disabling the DNS Client service if you have a huge...

As has been suggested previously in various posts, lack of memory (definitely), faltering power supply and/or failing optical drive are all possible factors. Failing hard-drive is a possibilty too,...

Latest version of Spywareblaster - v4.0, now fully Vista compatible. Goes on every machine I work on /regularly use. http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Vista tweaker - some way...

The title refers to Windows Services and there are quite a few of those. More info required - antivirus software, firewall installed, anti-spyware software, last scans with anti-virus/spyware...

Do you have your XP CD to hand? Run an in-place repair; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

CCleaner? www.ccleaner.com