Originally Posted by STOPIT5
Make sure the router is connected properly, to find out check what ip your network card is picking up when the router is connected. Right click Network and hit properties and select "change adapter settings" on the left side of the window. Just click on the local area connection and hit details. It should say the local ip its picking up.
Should be 192.168.x.x (the x can be 0,1 or 2) for consumer routers.
No you do not have to do anything with the modem aslong as its connected properly, seems like you just need to detect your host (which is your modem). Everything else in the router can be set as automatic.
To log on to the routers configuration enter the dns that the "local area connection shows" for example 192.168.1.1 . You type this into your browser, if you just bought the router and haven't used it before it should have a factory user & pass. If not have your user and pass ready.