Westell 6100 (Verizon) and WRT54G v5 Bridging Doesn't Work

Question

I have a Windows XP eMachines PC where I use Verizon DSL on, and there's no problem with that connection at all. For the past year, I've been trying to get networking to work on a WRT54G, first on a v4, then a v5, which I have currently. Nothing has worked, and I've tried over ten times.
My most recent attempts were on June 10th 2007, where I spent over three hours talking to Verizon's technical support and toggling the modem and router's settings.
I've already tried help from three different technical support employees at Verizon (on said recent attempt)--all three of which gave me the same instructions on the modem settings and the last of whom checked my modem settings via remote desktop and declared it was all correct. He eventually directed me to get help from Linksys.
I'm not sure if it helps but the serial number for my Linksys router is CDFB0E805143. The firmware is the most recent.
What happens when I try to get the router to work: After setting all of the modem's settings to the appropriate values and connecting it to the router, I set the router's settings to DCHP as Verizon's tech. support told me to. However, when I check the Status page, all IP listings are 0.0.0.0 and won't connect at all when "Connect" is pressed.
I then have to System Restore everything to edit the modem's settings back to the default values in order to use the modem as I did before I tried linking it to the router. Without that, when I try 192.168.1.1 with the modem, it won't work anymore.

Answer 1

First things being First, Connect the Modem directly to the Computer.
If Online through the Westell DSL modem, check the IPADDRESS
[ start - in ' start search ' field , type cmd, press return, you get a
DOS Prompt - type ipconfig - check the IP Address for Ethernet LAN
Connection ] and confirm whether it’s a Cable [ NAT Series ] or a DSL  -
Presumably when you are using a Modem such as Westel 2200 or
6100 Series, the IP Address will be of the range : 192.168.1.x.
Under such a scenario, Connect the Modem  / Computer to the Router,
Press the Reset on the Router for 5- 10 Seconds ;
powercycle the Modem and the Router, Then need you have to log in
to the Router's Setup Page [ Open a browser, type http://192.168.1.1
in the Address bar of Internet Explorer ] It will prompt for Username
and Password : Leave the Username blank and type admin as the
Password ] and below Setup Tab, change it's Local IP Address to
192.168.3.1 or 192.168.5.1 .Then After powercycling the Modem and
the Router, You could connect the Computer to Port 1 or Port 2 , and
check the Online Connectivity.
It should work.
* If you have a PPPoE Connection from the ISP, Get the Username
and Password from them , which has to be configured on the Router.
Recurring Issues with the Router could be fixed by Firmware Updates
Revert Back in case of any Assistance . . .