setting up network with Linux
 

I have two 5 year old computers,one with windows xp and one with PCLinuxOs.I have Comcast broadband high speed internet and a Linksys Wireless-g router.I don't know why but I am having a tough time setting up a network.I can set it up physically and see that all the lights on the Comcast modem,the two computers and the router are lit.I feed in the 192 address to set up the network. After that I cannot into Comcast on either machine. I can get email on the machine directly connected to the comcats modem but cannot get into Comcast.
I made a floppy for the network but get nothing when I put it into the Linux computer. It looks as if there might be some programs I might need to install but can't because I am not connected.
My Router box says it only works with windows but the salesman said that didn't make a difference.
I've contacted Comcast. The tech there stopped and restarted the high stopped signals saying that would take care of the problem. It didn't.I've called Linksys. They said I should take off the firewall. Since that didn't help,I put it on again.
The comcast worked when I had the Linux computer directly to the Comcast modem.
I am frustrated and puzzled. This can't be that difficult. Is there a step by step that takes directly from physically attaching things to getting into your browser again?Should I try another version of Linux?I like this one because so much seems automatic?

How are the PC's connected to the router. Wired or wireless?
Wired should work. Enter you routers ip address - should be in the doc that came with the router into the address bar of your browser and see if the routers login page comes up.
The salesman is correct - the router does not care if you are running Linux or Windows. both talk to the router using TCP/IP.

Can you plug the Linux machine directly into one of the router's ethernet ports? If that works, the router is probably fine. The issue at that point would configuring the wireless interface in your computer.

Are you saying that neither the Windows machine or the Linux machine can access the internet?

If your Windows machine is plugged directly into the router, you should be able to access the router's configuration settings using Internet Explorer and the router's default IP address - this will be in the router documentation. Unless you are using fixed IP addresses, you need to make sure DHCP is turned on in the router.

I'd focus on getting one machine working, then worry about the second one. A wired Ethernet connection will be easier than a wireless one.