Could you clear up a few points please.
I am no familiar with ChaRter so
1.Have you got a Wireless connection to the ISP or do you have a cable connection to the ISP and are trying to set up wireless networking in your home?
2.Lack of information about your wireless devices means we don't have sufficient information about their firmware and set up to really help so if you could tell us the name and model of the wireless card in your laptop, the operating system your laptop is using and whether all the updates have been done on it. Since you mentioned Netgear I will assume you have a CG814WG.
3.Did Charter not provide you with a manual for the modem/router?
IP 192.168.100.1
User Name admin
Password password NB it may be 1234 depending on software version.
If you do not have a manual the set up procedure for the Lan and wireless should be similar to the CG814M
ftp://downloads.netgear.com/files/Re...ual_CG814M.pdf
NB since Charter provided you with the item the Wan set up will probably have been locked to Charter.
Since you have performed several "hard resets" your Netgear will be at it's default state and you will have to set up the Wireless Configuration again.
You will need to log on to the Netgear and go to the "Wireless Settings" then
a. SSID change this to a unique name that you can easily recognise.
b. Channel If you have any idea which channels your neighbours use then make sure you are on a one 4 channels away. If you don't know change it from it's default to one 4 channels away.
c. Encryption Until you get your network working do not use encryption. When you have the network working then add encryption.
Make sure you save the settings and try to connect with your laptop.