Pc Won't Connect To Router

HELP! Today my computer refuses to connect to the internet.

Acer PC running Windows xp-sp2
Router is Belkin n150 f9k1009v1

If I connect my cable modem directly to my PC I can access the internet without any problem. (modem is fine)
If I connect the router to my laptop, I can access it with 192.168.1.1 (router/data cable fine)

but as soon as I run it with my pc and router, I can no longer reach the internet, neither can I access 192.168.1.1 , it just cannot find it.

So here is what I tried..

Rebooting the router and PC many times
Did hard reset 2-3 times

So basically all of a sudden my PC refuses to see the router that is plugged into it.

I am not at all a tech savvy so I might sound dumb while saying this but,

I noticed that there is only 1 ethernet card shown under network adapters and no wireless card.
Local area connection shows only sent packets, no received packets.

Does one need to have wireless card to use pc as access point?
If my net was working fine before couple of days, was it because of the wireless card and now it has gone nuts for some reason?


Any help or ideas?!

Thanks