hi everyone, wondering if someone can help me.

i dont know much about networking, so i will first explain best i can what the problem is with my laptop

brand and model: acer aspire 5100-5674
wireless router: Linksys
windows OPS: Windows XP all service packs installed (pretty sure about that)

PROBLEM:

i just bought a new hard drive, the guy who reinstalled everything in my computer put windows VISTA (which i previously had and hated and previously already took off and reinstalled XP) anyway, i had to reinstall XP again coz i hate vista. I downloaded all drivers for xp from ACER website. Some worked , others didnt.

I finally installed all the drivers for the wireless network, think im using atheros 802. I never had problems before (first time i replaced vista with xp and had to reinstall everything) but now i keep getting an "acquiring network address" message even though everything appears to be connected but i cannot access internet browsers or connections.

I read some responses on the forum, but call me computer illiterated... i cannot understand where to go and find all those things everyone wants to change and such...

help someone please?