Wireless and SP2 Debacle with DHCP services

My last recourse is to seek guidance fromt this valiant group on a Wireless
Debacle that SP2 has created as follows:

Netgear AP MR814 (wireless access point 802.11b with DHCP services)
connected to NetStream (Efficient Networks) ADSL modem that is connected to a
Desktop running Windows XP Home. Laptop (HP NC4000 WXP Pro w/ internal
Atheros WLAN 802.11 A/B and Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet) connects via CAT 5
fine with no issues getting its IP address. When attempitng to use wireless
on laptop cannot resolved IP address where Windows assigns the dreaded
169.xxx.xxx address.

I have tried using a PCMCIA card to troubkleshoot if it was the Atheros
internal module (has been replaced by HP), where it worked for one session
until I need to shut down for the end of the day. Next day, boot up laptop
thinking the PCMCIA card resolved a bad WLAN module, but the card itself
could not negotiate an IP address defaulting back to 169.xxx.xxx address.

Try using the NETSH command "netsh winsock reset catalog" as well as "netsh
int ip reset resetlog.txt" to no avail.

Would be grateful to seek further guidance on this SP2 debacle affecting
wireless DHCP IP adddressing.

Thanks.
--
moerice