Computer is not recognizing cable modem

[YourFavoriteWeapon]

Problem:
I recently got cable and before I had the time to learn my way around all of the hardware and such I had to leave for a week of vacation. Before I left though, I did what I thought you were supposed to do when you are going to be leaving for any extended amount of time; I put the modem in Standby and now my modem isn't registering any PC activity.

Hardware:
Motorola Surfboard SB5100 Cable Modem
Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Cable/DSL Router
ASUSTeK/Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller on P4T-533C Motherboard

I had everything set up and working fine until I came back from vacation. I had the modem connected to the router (Ethernet) and the router connected to my computer (Ethernet). I share the connection with our family computer.

The first thing I did after realizing that the modem wasn't responding was to unplug all the wires and turn everything off. After doing that several times with no success, I moved on to the possibility that something may have been broken. I was thinking about what could have been broken when I noticed that one of my clocks was flashing "12:00" which means the power went out sometime in between Saturday when we left and Saturday when we came back. Now, nothing was plugged into a surge protector (on my "to-do" list was to buy another Coax cable so I could plug it into my surge protector), but I'm 99% sure that nothing is broken. I'm assuming this based on the fact that I'm connected to the internet right now, just not using Ethernet. I connected the USB cable that came with the modem directly from the modem to the computer and it's working fine. Normally that would be the end of my troubleshooting, but if I use the USB cable it can't connect to the router.

I've tried 2 different Ethernet cables plugged from the modem into the computer and the Ethernet controller LED's don't even light up anymore. When that happened I tried updating the controller's drivers, uninstalling the controller, reinstalling the controller with the drivers on the manufacturer's disc, and nothing works. I took what I thought was an Ethernet card from our family's computer and put it into my computer to see if that fixed the problem, but it didn't (assuming I took the right thing).

I don't think that any of the hardware is broken, just something my computer is doing. I went to my Network Connections and I noticed each time I would try getting Ethernet to work then connecting the modem through USB it would create a new Local Area Connection. Right now I'm up to Local Area Connection 8, when I know the LAN I had working before I went away was Local Area Connection 2. I'm not even sure if this could happen, but it seems to me that all I need to do is get back the Local Area Connection 2 and everything will work fine. Maybe when the modem was in Standby it put the Ethernet controller in Standby too, and because of the power outage, it still thinks it's in Standby. Is that possible?

In a nutshell:
Went away for a week and put new cable modem/router on Standby. I came back and when I took the modem out of Standby, I noticed the "PC/Activity" light was not flashing like it should be. Concerned, I unplugged all the cables and try various other troubleshooting, but to no avail. I'm pretty sure that all of the actual hardware is fine, as I am connected to the internet through my modem using the USB cable right now. There was a power outage while I was away, but I don't think that is a factor. My folks are getting mad that the internet isn't working on the family computer and I'm getting mad because I don't know what to tell them. I don't even know who to call. If I call Motorola (the cable modem company) they will tell me to call someone else since the modem does seem to work, just not using Ethernet. If I call the ISP they will tell me that it isn't their problem, it's a hardware problem and I need to call another company and so on. I don't even know what to go out and replace because it seems everything works fine on their own terms.

[[BD]Sui]

"PC/Activity" light not working

This could be a result of router not talk'n well with your modem. Try hook'n computer directly to the modem. Hopefully you will see activity light going even if can't reach the web from the computer.

Modems can build a memory for address. Had problems with mine earlier this year. Left it unplug'd overnight (no power, no cable, no ethernet cable) and hooked it up the next morning with no problems.

Modem first. Router next. PC last.

[YourFavoriteWeapon]

I've already tried that with no success. This is really difficult to figure out and I'm looking for other people's takes before I just replace all of the hardware (which still doesn't guarantee anything will work).