Can connect to router, but cannot renew IP addresses

[Mr. Ksoft]

Hi. I'm setting up a wireless network in my home to serve a desktop and a laptop.

The router in question I have is a Linksys WRT150N Wireless-N router. The desktop computer that is not wired to the router (which I'm trying to connect from) is using a Linksys Wireless-G Speedbooster PCI adapter. There is also a laptop with built-in Wireless-G support. I was told that the Wireless-N router would be backwards compatible with these two Wireless-G pieces of hardware when I purchased them.

I have the router currently functioning right in front of me. It is broadcasting a signal and everything. However, when attempting to connect to it from either of the two other computers, I can't. On the desktop with the PCI adapter, the Linksys software says it can connect to the router, but cannot access the internet. A bit of looking into it shows that it can't renew the IP address on either the desktop OR laptop.

I got on a chat with a Linksys guy, but I didn't expect any kind of useful answer. And so far I haven't got one. In fact, as I've been typing this and consecutively talking to the outsourced tech support person, the laptop is now not even connecting to the network, let alone asking for a WEP key/attempting to renew the IP address. I'm not sure what's gone wrong or how to fix it. Any ideas?

EDIT: My desktop is connecting now. Not sure why it's suddenly working though!

However, the laptop is still refusing to connect. (It's running Vista Home Premium BTW)

[forhockey]

These PCI cards come bundled with software. Usually there are issues between the software provided by the company and the windows built-in software when detecting wireless connections. Its best to only use one, so go ahead and disable one of the two. As for Windows Vista, I can't really help you on since I don't own it yet.

[Mr. Ksoft]

Indeed the card came with built in software. Bit of poking around apparently made it go, at least on this desktop. The laptop: still being stupid.

Right now, when I turn it on, it can connect to my network. However, I'm stuck with "Limited connectivity", which is exactly what this desktop did when it couldn't renew the IP address...

[johnwill]

Have you disabled encryption to see if you can get reliable connections? Add the encryption in as a second step when you get it all working.

Also, it sounds like all the hardware will use WPA, which is a far superior encryption method, I'd use that with a long and random key (20 char or more).