i did compile my kernel with my NIC included and not as a module i compiled it static into the kernel. i checked after i booted when it didnt work and it was there. im not sure if it has not loaded etc. but i compiled it correctly, i have compiled the 2.6.8 kernel before and it worked fine

first see if it is in the kernel output (dmesg | grep eth) if it is then try manually configuring it:

if you use dhcp:
dhcpcd -t 10 -d eth0

if you use a static IP:
ifconfig eth0 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx netmask xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
route add default gw [gateway ip address] eth0

if that works than whatever way you used to configure your network did not work. (I do not use the gentoo network scripts, I made my own network script with the manually specified stuff in it.

i have fixed it thats for all the help guys

www.gentoo.org..........It's all explained very well

i jus installed gentoo with stage2 and toughed it out for a day and got the base system up and running. i still need to emerge xorg but everyone i know is telling me i should use xorg 6.7 and not 6.8 cause of alot of probs with it but emerge search only shows xorg 6.8, how do i unmask the older version???

You can do:

I'm using 6.8 and haven't had any issues. What issues are you talking about exactly?

i have come across an error with xorg 6.8. i installed hardened gentoo onto my server, and when i came to try and install xorg, i installed it and then it wouldn start. theres a bug with hardened gentoo and xorg but i dont belive its with a normal gentoo installation. so i just left my server with command because i dont a GUI!

and yes, to install a program with a certain version use the command, emerge =xorg-x11-6.7.0-r2 for example or emerge -s =xorg-x11-6.7.0 to search for a version, all you need is a "=" to set the version.
also another tip, whenever i install something i always do emerge --pretend --verbose gnome for example so then you can see what it will install and what it will install with. then emerge gnome.
if you what to add or remove a use flag, use for example USE="gnome" emerge --pretend --verbose xorg-x11 to add gnome to the use flags and check them then, then USE="gnome" emerge xorg-x11 or..... USE="-gnome" for example to remove gnome from the use flags

these are purely examples and can be applied when "emergeing" anything.