New Intel WIFI Wireless Network Adapter does not recognize Wireless Router

Question

I have had a Linksys BEFW11S4 Version 4 Wireless router for quite some time.  It works like a champ and I have one Laptop wired to it and a second using Wireless working just fine.  Recently, I received a new ThinkPad W500 Laptop with an Intel WIFI Link 5100 AGN wireless network adapter.  The older laptop that works just fine with the router uses a
11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter by Atheros.  However, the NEW laptop with the Intel Adapter fails to connect to the Router.  It will either indicate a failure while "Waiting for Association" or it will indicate a failure when waiting to "renew IP Address".  Sometimes, it will show a signal strength close to ZERO (Even as the older laptop with the other adapter is showing a signal strength close to 100%) When I called Linksys support, I was told that the facts that the Router (a) works find with the wired Laptop and (b) works fine with the 11a/b/g NEtwork Adapter and (c) works fine when WIRED to the new laptop all indicate that the problem is NOT with the router at all -- but with the Network Adapter.  Can anyone tell me what has to be adjusted in the Adapter settings?  Right now, I am using IBM Access Connections for BOTH of the wireless laptops.  I have made sure to set IDENTICAL values for SSID and WEP (128-bit) [static] password.  I have also ensured that all OTHER settings are the same for the two laptops.  Yet, in one laptop, there is NO PROBLEM while in the other, I can not get the Wireless Adapter to "see" the signal from the Router.  TO further check this, I have [temporarily] disabled the WEP password, enabled SSID broadcast, and disabled the MAC address restrictions that I put in (so that the system would be totally "open") yet the Intel Adapter STILL did not "find" anything.  In addition, when I use the "Find WIFI" feature in Access Connections, I find that SOMETIMES the network with SSID is found and sometimes, it will display "unknown network" and not pick up the SSID.
This is all very frustrating.  If anyone has experience with the Intel WIFI Link 5100 AGN Adapter, I would appreciate any hints, tricks, ideas, etc.
Think you!!!!
--Zvi

Answer 1

I installed the LATEST version of IBM Access Connections as well as verifying that I have teh LATEST drivers for the Intel Wireless NEtwork Adapter.
What now happens is that I am able to authenticate to the Router.  However, I get a failure on "renewing IP Address" -- which [according to the diagnostic message] means that the Rotuer fails to provide me with an IP address to use.  Do you have any suggestions?