The issue is solved. Turned out it was the wireless card. Coworker called Linksys, and they had her remove the card and clean the contacts with an eraser. It worked.
Comcast authenticates by the MAC address of the computer connecting to the modem. Funny thing it, you could set it up and have it work fine for months until comcast goes down for some reason then your new router cannot authenticate you. The proper solution is to get a connection to comcast, add router into the loop, clone the mac addy to the router from the machine that just connected direct. The the router will present that mac addy to comcast anytime it needs to authenticate.
Raidio shack jerked your friend around full well knowing that if she followed the instructions in her router the setup wizard would clone the MAC addy to the new router…problem solved.
Both Comcast and AT&T lately have been getting all pissy about routers, AT&T tries to divert you to connect tech for remote support if you even say router.
Networking is a skill set not everyone owns. I can set up a router blindfolded, but Mechanic, accountant, or real estate agent I am not…
Is that something specific to those networks? I’m on Cablevision and I’ve set up a router several times (whenever one dies or goes insane). I’ve never had to clone the MAC and I never use a wizard (not that I have anything against them, some of my best friends are wizards).