Wireless Network Adapter Disappeared - HELP!

I am running an Acer TravelMate 8100 with Windows XP Pro (SP2). It was working fine with the wireless networking until I lost the signal when someone unplugged the wireless router, without me knowing that was the problem. When the router was plugged back in, it showed up on my list of available access points, but I couldn't connect. I attempted a "repair this connection," which was unsuccessful (because it couldn't find the wireless connection). I rebooted my computer, but completely lost all wireless capability. The wireless button no longer lights up when pushed (to turn it on or off); the Wireless Network Adapted no longer appears under the Device Manager, and of course the wireless option is gone from the Network Connections list. I tried a system restore, but that failed.

Can anyone help me understand what has happened and how to repair it? And please don't tell me to do a re-install, as I have no idea how to do that (and the disks supplied by Acer don't work, which is why in part I will never purchase another Acer product)

 

Just a suggestion,but have you tried safemode?Also check your bios settings to see if something is different there.