Windows Vista Wi-Fi Media Disconnected

I have a Gateway laptop with built-in Wi-Fi, running Vista Home Premium.

Problem: While Internet access at my daughter's home via a Comcast modem linked with a Belkin54g router worked OKAY at first, I lately find I cannot connect through the Belkin54g router, even though I have not made any changes or updates in laptop configuration. The Belkin54g connection shows up in Network Connections, but when I click to connect I get the message unable to to connect and the reason shown is "Wireless association failed because Windows did not receive any response from the wireless router access point. "

What's weird is that during this problem phase I have been able twice to run the repair function and restore the connection to the belkin54g. That's twice out of a dozen or more tries. Why I cannot always get the repair routine to work successfully is beyond me.

Also weird: on the intermittent times I have gotten the connection restored, Internet access works fine for the entire session I'm using the laptop that day, EVEN WHEN I DO HOT REBOOTS. BUT, WHEN I SHUT IT DOWN FOR THE DAY AND RESTART THE LAPTOP A DAY OR TWO LATER THE Belkin 54g CONNECTION IS AGAIN NOT FUNCTIONING! The laptop wi-fi sees the belkin54g connection, but clicking on "connect to" fails for the same "Wireless association failed..." listed above.

IPCONFIG in a dos screen shows ONLY "MEDIA DISCONNECTED." no DNS data, etc.

I should also add, that when I use this laptop at my home through a ATT-DSL wireless router+built-in-modem combo unit, the laptop sees the DSL connection and accesses the Internet regularly.

 

I'm not so great with networking and routers, but I believe some have a security feature that you have to add the mac address into the router to connect.

 

tv johns the same thing happen to me