You see, I meant to move to my new computer (that I purchased over a year ago) for a long time. And there were always some more pressing things to do. Now, that my notebook is not working with the Docking station, it is a real PITA to use the notebook (I have to manually plug in monitor, power supply, 2 usb connections, sound cable, and a printer cable). i have to do it in the morning and then disconnect at the end of the day. You can see it is a real nuisance. So I will be "moving" all the rest of the files, databases, etc. to the new computer (which has a good docking station). I will probably buy a USB network card for the old (this one) notebook just so that I can still use it in the interim (although wireless works).

Thank you.

>No, I meant completely disable wi-fi on the laptop and reboot. Then check the tcpip settings under the local connection network adapter.
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>However, given your statement below about the electrical charge, you may have damaged the NIC. (Somehow I missed that entirely in your posts) You might also try removing the network adapter from the devices and doing a "search for new devices" to reinstall it. You may have to download and install new drivers but try it without doing that first. It's not working at all now, so you don't lose anything by doing that.
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>Afterward, (after the test) just en-enable your wireless to connect that way again.
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>BTW, if the nic is really damaged from the electrical surge, you can (disable it in cmos or under devices) and buy a usb 10/100 wired or cardbus one for a wired connection if no other damage was done to the motherboard. (Some are as low as $3 - $15) I wouldn't assume it really is physically damaged though until you do the other tests I mentioned unless you just don't want to bother with it.
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>>Sorry I didn't get back to your earlier. I have not tried disconnecting wifi because it is physically not easy (the router is in the corner with all kind of junk around it and the desk is in another room). But what I thought right now is I can disconnect the cable from the router and connect it to the cable modem. That in essence would be like not having wi-fi at all. But I am almost gave up to find the solution to this. I suspect (just a guess) that the reason it happened is that when the Docking station "broke" (at the same time when network stopped working) it send some "high" electrical charge to the computer (via network connection) and it damaged the network circuit. I have a surge protector for the docking station but it is a very simple one. I will get a more powerful surge protector now for the new computer and its docking station.
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>>>Have you tried 1-5 below without the docking station? I didn't see any response...
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>>>>Curious, what happens if you:
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>>>>1: disconnect wifi completely and disable it
>>>>2: connect ethernet cable
>>>>3: restart networking on the laptop
>>>>4: if the cable still shows no connection, disable it (local connection under networking) and re-enable it and then try again
>>>>5: can you post your local connection settings? Is tcpip4 and/or tcpip6 enabled (checked under tcp settings) and dhcp enabled for that network card?