Notebook won't select range expander

I have a notebook with a Linksys WPC 54G adaptor installed. my WAP is
a Linksys WRT54G is in the other end of the house and I'm getting a
weak signal on the notebook. SO I installed a Linksys WRE54G range
expander. The notebook's adaptor sees them both, and shows the
extender as a much stronger signal. I use the adaptor utilty to select
the extender but it goes right back to the weaker signal of the WAP.
How can I get notebook adaptor to stay with the stronger signal range
expander??