mutiple problems (w/MN-130 pci card?)

Please forgive me for the length of this post.

I am trying to install a home system PC (XP Home) to PC
(Win98) CAT-5 wired network
- it has never worked, BTW
- No high speed Internet connection; I expect each to dial
out.
- I use a D-Link DSS-5+ switch in the "network". (I
introduced the switch in anticipation that someday the
telco will make DSL available.) It is located near the XP
machine.

First let me say that I had a bit of difficulty installing
the software for the MS MN-130 PCI adapter in the OLD
machine. It took SEVERAL tries before the process
completed. I am not yet certain that it is correct since I
cannot connect with the XP machine (NEW). The lights on
the switch blink, though, so I guess it sees something on
the end of each cable. I am not certain that the new card
is causing grief, but I now have several problems with the
OLD machine. I do suspect that all of the false start
installs of the card software is the problem. Doesn't
matter, though, if I can understand and, hopefully, fix.

I have reloaded Win98. I did NOT format the drive before
doing so, however. The list of things below is
consistent; i.e. the reload made no difference.
1. I cannot reach MOST sites when I dial into the
Internet. MSN comes up as homepage, and I can get to most
places from there, but if I key 'google.com' for instance
on the command line, it can't be found.
2. When I try to send an email, I can enter an address on
the TO line, and a subject, but when I try to add
something to the body of the mail, NOTHING! If I click on
the body portion, the cursor does not appear there.
3. I run ZoneAlarm firewall, so I am able to see what/who
is using the Internet. The broadband application (for
whatever reason - I have no broadband) wants to use the
Internet along with 2-3 other new pieces. So I allow them
and very soon, the whole system hangs HARD. I have to
press buttons to shut down and restart. If I don not let
them access the 'Net, I can do a few things and shut down
properly.
4. I needed to copy some small files from OLD to NEW, so I
tried to use a floppy. I used click and drag in Win
Explorer, and absolutely nothing happened. There was no
complaint; it just didn't copy the files to the floppy.

Is point 4 related to the other three? Is 3 related to the
others?

SUGGESTIONS?
Thanks, Leeb