LAN Configuration

i recently At&T DSL interent with their 4100 modem, however when i try to
connect the ethernet to my ME laptop from the modem, the computer ethernet
port lights dont light up, nor does the modems ethernet light. i called AT&T
support, who proceeded to tell me that my laptop running ME doesn't have the
software installed to run a lan connection, therefore i need to create one in
order to use my ethernet port. Since technical support is down, does anybody
know of a step by step way to set up an lan configuration so that i may use
my internet?
thank you