Need to know the name of the network adapter associated with your computer. Click start look for Mycomputer right click it choose properties, then choose hardware tab at top, then click Device Manager, in there look for Network adapters click the + sign to expand the list, what is the name of it?

I have the restore disks and ran them but.....

What does that mean? Have you in fact returned the computer to factory defaults? If so the virus should indeed be gone along with everything else.

Do you know if the network adapter is built into the motherboard or a separate card? You can tell by looking at the rear of the computer, if you connected your CAT5 cable in the socket adjacent to the USB ports then it is onboard and the drivers should have loaded when doing the recovery. If however there was trouble and the previous owner dropped in a separate LAN card then you need to search for the drivers for it.

Follow Zep's suggestion above.

Think hard before taking an older machine to be fixed, it may well cost more than the thing is worth. You can buy a new LAN card and drop it in yourself for $10 to $15 and it will come with a CD with the drivers. Anyone here can and will walk you through installing it, just a simple 5 minute task.

I think you can also right click the Network Adapter in the device manager choose uninstall, reboot and windows will find new hardware and reinstall the device driver.

Ok. So I hooked up the computer and looked at the driver for the ethernet. I did what was said and it says the drivers for this device are not installed (code 28). It says this for the ethernet controller, the multimedia audio controller, the SM Bus controller and the Video Controller.
I was asked if I restored to factory defaults.....well, I'm not sure. I just put in the restore cd and ran it. I thought that would take care of my problems, but it didn't.
I did look at the back of the computer and didn't see anything. I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I don't think she had a separate card hooked up. The only thing I got with it is the monitor, the computer, the mouse, the keyboard and the speakers. And all the cd's that originally came with the computer. That's it, nothing else.
It's only $45.00 to have this computer place fix the computer.
I would appreciate it if anyone can walk me through to fix the problem. However, should I just take it to them because they will put the programs on there that I need for anti-virus and for cd-rom/dvd maker?

"And all the cd's that originally came with the computer. That's it, nothing else. "

Can you tell us what is on each of these? And can you tell us which one you used to do the restore?

To me, it sounds like what you might have done is restore or reinstall Windows, but not any of the drivers. One of the other CDs may have the drivers you need.

Ok, I used the Operating System CD which says Reinstallation CD- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Including Service Pack 1a. I did try to use the disk that has the drivers on it and it didn't seem to work. Maybe I was doing something wrong.
Here are the cd's I have:
1. the one mentioned above
2. CD for reinstalling Sonic RecordNow 6.5 Software
3. CD for reinstalling Dell Tools Software that includes anti-virus software, support software, multimedia software and internet software.
4. CD for reinstalling V.9X(capable)/56K data/Fax Modem Software for Microsoft Windows that includes Drivers, Diagnostics and utilities, online documentation and modem on hold.
5. Drivers and Utilities Resource CD.

Ok. You reinstalled using basically a "barebones" Windows installation CD, so it installed just the OS, and not the drivers. You need to use the Drivers and Utilities Resource CD to install the drivers. It may not autorun anything, so you may need to explore it to find out what needs to be run in order to install the drivers.

You'll also probably want to install the Sonic RecordNow software. The Tools software is probably mostly demo programs that have expired, but some of the support and multimedia software may be worth installing.