Router Not Resetting to Facory ?

Product WRT54GX2 (ver 1)
Firmware Version: 1.01.18

Please help - running out of ideas and I'm about to take a big hammer
to this Linksys product.

I had "Wireless MAC Filter" set on this router @ home , 3 laptops, no
problem.

Then we got a new laptop - no problem getting wifi connection
elsewhere - really.

But can't get it connected to the WRT54GX2 @ home.
So I tried the following:

1) Removed all filter/restriction/security --- didn't work.
2) a cycle of reset/disconnect/firmware up/downgrade...power
cycles....
30-second reset, 15-second reset, push-in reset, Web UI reset.....
--- didn't work !!!

* All previous laptops have NO problem connecting ever, just the new
one can NEVER connect *
No message, it will attempt to connect then just time-out.

I finally went to BestBuy and got a new WRT54GX2 (vers 2) (their last
one) plug it in and voila! ALL clients connect fine.

So what's going on ? It seems the router just refuse to reset to the
"REAL factory default"

thanks
(Is it possible to exchange with Linksys for a replacement ?)