new computer/router problems

Hello /comp/,

I am new to home networking and I am having trouble figuring some things out. I recently purchased a second computer for my son to use and a router so we could have a connection on both computers.
But this is where I am confused.. Without the router, my computer connects OK, but when connecting the modem to his computer just as it is with mine and using the installation disc, he gets no connection. We put the modem back onto my computer and it worked, so we connected the router to both computers and came up with a problem on my computer as well as his.. The router tries to do an automatic search for my provider's server, or something of the sort and it never connects.
So, two problems then.. His computer and the router not connecting.
We looked at his computer and his has 2 ethernet(?) ports, where mine has only 1. But he does not have the telephone line ports on his (the card that lets you plug in the telephone line, et c). Is this why his computer does not connect, because no phone line is running through? Or maybe his ethernet ports are different from mine? Is this even possible?

Second is the router, A Linksys BEFSX41 ver 2.1 Broadband Firewall Router with 4-Port Switch / VPN Endpoint. I connect the cables and change the settings just as it tells me to and it still does not connect to my ISP. Which is Verizon DSL. But I will probably call them for help with the router after I get my son's computer at least internet able.

It'll cost you $400. Payment up front.

you'll never figure this out thru trial & error so find someone who knows what they're doing. tell us, at any point did you enter your ISP's config/authentication info into the router's web-based utility? protip: all your RJ45s are the same; and your rj11 has nothing to do with this. good luck getting any tech support for a Linksys router from Verizon. DSL != PnP.

>>3
Okay, first let me get this straight..
RJ45 = Ethernet?
and
RJ11 = the phone line card?

ISP's config/authentication info? I'm not even sure what you mean, the instructions that came with the router lead me down PPPoE which it said most DSL providers do. I also tried DHCP as a friend suggested, but that also refused to work.

But I have to wonder if he'll even be able to connect to the internet if the router problem is ever fixed, since he couldn't connect even with the modem connected normally. This computer stuff drives me nuts at times.

>>4
Forgot to say that the router tries to automatically establish the connection, I think there was an option to do the info manually. I guess I will have call Verizon and try to get the information.

>>4
The internet and computer networking were NOT designed for the average housewife to be able to understand, let alone troubleshoot. Keep that in mind and go ahead and call your ISP already, geez.