Please help me set up old notebook

[ihimss]

I want to use my old notebook computer to get online. It is an IBM thinkpad maybe 2001 or 2002 with Windows XP. I had a wireless card put in it at a computer shop and then the Comcast guy came out to set up the broadband. He couldnt connect the modem to the computer because the computer did not have an ethernet port. So I got a "usb ethernet dongle" to connect it. I still cant even get the Comcast software to install. Any ideas?? I also tried to set up a Linksys router and get online that way but it says it cannot find a connection. And something said it could not find a "network adapter" but isnt that in the wireless card?? I am an ***** and over my head....any suggestions??