So I started using the other nic. I disabled the one I was using before ( the one built into the MB). According to the device manager it is an Intel 8255x-based pci ethernet adapter (10/100). The one that I am now using is a realtek rtl8139 family pci fast ethernet nic. The box is an IBM MPRO w/ 2 550 ghz pentium 3's, windows xp sp2, directly wired to the Westell 327W. The os was a clean install and format the day that I tried to run zonealarm. I haven't really tinkered with it too much since then. Just installed what's necessary to get by using a computer as a school/internet/media center.

This is turning out to be very informative for me. I am learning a lot just to keep up with what you are suggesting I do (not the commands, but what they are pointing to).

Thank you for all of the help.