first thing i suggest is going to going to services and make sure that the service "wireless zero configuration " is set to automatic .find the services in the control panel and admin tools ,i think its the same in vista as winxp anyway .services.msc in start/run if you have the run command setup in start .

also you say you enter password ,then connect ,its my experience that you hit connect and then are asked for the security password to the wireless connection .how old is you netgear ,i have a older one once and it wasn't compatible to my compaq laptops wireless device .

check this out .
http://www.intel.com/support/wireles.../CS-025389.htm

May be a firewall ?

Also check that you dont have 'Mac Address filtering' enabled on the router!

If you do, you will need to insert the mac addy of your laptops wireless NIC to the mac addy filter table on the router!

What is happening (as caperjack mentions) is that your network settings on the lappy are not matching those that are set in the router.

To put you on the right track, the network settings on your lappy should be identical to those on your desktop (which obviously already match the routers).

You have checked that 'network discovery' is turned on in vista's network and sharing centre haven't you??

Regards

is the desktop linked through a patch cable or through wireless if its cable then connect the laptop to the patch cable and see if the network works then. If it does then its a setting problem.

Can vista see the wireless network but just not connect or does it connect but have limited access or no internet etc. Let us know!!!

I'm having the same problem
I just bought a new laptop and cant connect to my wireless router. Please help! I already tried the other suggestions on this thread.
It connects fine with the cable, but as soon as i take the cable out it disconnects!
I take it that its a settings problem, but what do i need to?
I rang the internet company but they said they cant help me. Any tips please?

try to see if on your router your SSID brocasting is in the enable or disable... If it is disabled (like mine is) enable it so you can see your router to connect to it.. or go to control panel>wireless config and utility and it should show all possible routers even those not broadcasting...

My issue is I can now connect my computer to the router, but now I can't connect if I disable my SSID Broadcasting.. hmmm.. how do I set my computer to connect even when it's not broadcasting like my other lap top does???!!?!?

I'm sorry, i cant see where the 'wireless config and utility' option is in control panel? and how do i enable broadcasting? I'm terrible at these things and the manuals arent helping!!

With the internet cable connected to your computer:

go to your control panel (I have mine set in the classic view because it's just easier for me to find everything - click on control panel and to the left it'll say 'classic view', click on it - you can always go back to the other view whenever).

Scroll all the way down the page and you'll see like an antenna symbol and below it it'll say "wireless config..."

Click on that

then click on "site monitor" it'll show you all routers near you.. The one that shows up the closest is yours. If it say's (nonbroadcasting) it means you have thee SSID Broadcasting disabled

Now, my router is through linksys so I go through them to adjust whether I have my SSID Broadcasting enabled or disabled. Unless you have a linksys router, I really don't know how else to help you other than to say call the company your router is through for further help.. Just FYI though, most people still don't understand how to work through Vista.. I've just been doing the "trial and error" method... HA!

Hope this helps... I'll be online for a bit

that normal ,you have to connect to the wireless,with a click here and click there ,also you need to make sure that the wireless is turned on ,a lot of newer laptops have a switch or button ,whats the make and model of the laptop .
this might help you .
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/more...lesssetup.mspx