This one is for computer people out there, because I'm stumped:

A system in the house crashed, and due to incompetence (not mine) I was forced to completely reinstall Windows.

Post-reinstall, neither wired nor wireless connections are properly obtaining IP addresses from DHCP. Other computers can connect both wired and wireless to the router, and manually assigning IP settings compatible to the router enables a connection (if with slow communications between router and computer, which doesn't bother internet surfing but plays hell with WoW).

I've updated both ethernet card and wireless drivers to the latest versions I could find. I know the problem is somewhere on the computer, but I have no idea what it is or how to fix it. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Edit: I ran a WinSock repair utility which apparently identified a bad file and replaced it, which got DHCP working (at least for the moment). I suppose my question now is: How did so much go wrong on a re-install? The entire Windows Update utility was bad too, I had to refresh it through arcane means I don't understand. And I HATE not understanding.

I suppose part of the problem is that Lenovo sent a CD with *original Windows XP* with the system. No service packs. Nothing. I had to completely upgrade with a SP2-build disc to get the damn USB support to get the wireless modem working to manually assign the IP address to get connectivity to download the updates to repair the system... Man. Why am I not getting paid for this?