I'm trying to connect my computer directly to the internet via a cable modem (no router). In Network Connections the LAN says "connected", but when I go into internet explorer I get a window asking me if I want to work offline. When I do the command "ipconfig /renew" I get a "media disconnected" message. Everything seems to be connected securely and when I plug the same cable into another computer it works fine. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Contact your ISP's technical support. You need to make sure that you are receiving the internet signal properly first before you make changes to your computer.

You may have the Windows Firewall or other firewall running that is blocking the connection to the Internet. Stop the firewall and test your connection. Once you are connected to the Internet, resart your firewall so that it can recognize the new network connection and work with it. The risk is much higher if you are using a direct connection to the Internet without good firewall protection.