Missing network adapter + mass confusion  

Thunder storm. Woke up nothing works. Replaced my VGA cable with and HDMI cable because screen wouldn't leave power save mode due to lack of communication between tower and screen. HDMI solves that. Now I have no internet connection. No signs of life. Cable guy comes over plugs his laptop into the..box thing where the internet comes from... says the internet is working fine must be your computer and he leaves. So now that my screen is working I can trouble shoot - can't find a network adapter. I have no idea what that means, and it is not listed anywhere on my control panel list of drivers and things. Tried to reinstall whatever that is.. which is hard when your just guessing and clicking things. Bottom line is after using the drivers and devices disc and reinstalling everything that said "network" in the title there is still no signs of life. I don't have wireless so the whole adapter thing isn't making sense either. I believe my lack of knowledge and endless ramblings make me a hopeless case. What do I do?
Jessica

I live in an area that has more than its share of lightning strikes. Over the years I have lost three dial up modems and two onboard NIC's plus a fire in a field. Never lost a mobo though. Just lost the NIC on a new Asus Sandy last week along with a Netgear 3700 and a cheap switch. The patch cables too. Plugged my spare Intel Pro into the Asus, subbed in a spare router, switch and cables and all is well. Lucky I guess. Mobo's seem to survive somehow so don't give up on yours until you try a card.