network cable unplugged after TV install

After I installed a ‘Hauppauge’ TV card in XP, the icon in the systray displayed the network icon that said, ‘Network Cable Unplugged’. Since that point I am not able to obtain an internet connection. I have uninstalled the TV card but that did not solve the problem. i then unistalled the onboard NIC and let it reinstall upon reboot but this did not solve the problem either. I am supecting that the McAfee Virus and/or Firewall are not allowing another connection, but I am not conclusive on this. Any suggestions towards a solution would be greatly appreciated.