Vista - No Network Detected

Pardon if I just sound really computer illiterate, but I've recently switched from Windows XP to Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit.. and can't connect to the internet.

I've got an HP Firebird 802, even sent it back to the company only to be told they had no problems connecting. I plugged in the ethernet cable directly into our wireless modem/router, but it still tells me that the network cable is unplugged. I've turned on Network Discovery, and still nothing. Just a lovely red X over my network status.

I have a Westell 327w wireless modem/router, and the other computers that are on it are running XP.

My NIC is an nVidia Nforce 10/100/1000 mbps ethernet.

Is my problem with my wireless router or perhaps the cable? I', wondering if the 64bit vista is my problem. Any help would really be lovely.

Thanks in advance.

Hi there, Just a lovely red X over my network status shows that its either your Ethernet cable or the network port is bad. However, check in device manager that you have the network drivers installed. Call your cable company to change the network cable and/or cable modem before replacing any hardware.

I sent the computer back to HP and they told me there was nothing wrong with the nic or port. I'd think it was the cable, but we actually used the same cable that was hooked to one of the WinXP computers and it works fine on the other computer, which is why it's so confusing as to why I can't get it up and running.

Well in this case, as the nic port as well as the cable is working fine, its obviously an issue with vista. I would recommend you to check if the nic port is enabled in BIOS, and when you plug in your ethernert cable, does the port show any light on it?
If above ideas fails, do a clean install of vista and you should no more have this issue.

not to sound stupid again.. XD but how do I check if it's enabled in BIOS?

:edit: and no, i'm not getting any lights on my ethernet port