wireless settings not kept

i have a client with a compaq c300 laptop, with latest drivers and updates.
i'm using windows to configure the wireless card. i can manually configure
the access point into the windows wireless networks tab using wpa-psk tkip
and the laptop connects just fine. when i reboot the machine the
configuration settings go away and i have to manually input the data again.

the ap shows up in available wireless connections, and i can click on
connect, enter the passkey and i'm on the network. the ssid and associated
settings show up in the wireless connection properties. reboot and it goes
away again.

any ideas why these settings aren't hanging around between boot ups?
--
a few miles from nowhere...