I'm at a loss. I've upgraded the firmware on both routers, and updated the wireless drivers. I have a Linksys BEFSR41 and a NetGear WGT624. My linksys is also acting as my DHCP server. The Netgear is hanging off the Linksys(Linksys uplink to port 1 on the Netgear, not the internet port). I have one PC connected to the Linksys(works fine). I have a laptop wired to the Netgear(works fine), and I have a Dell Inspirion 6400 using a Dell Wireless 1390 Wlan. I can have the Dell laptop sitting right next to the Netgear router, and it will not get an ip address. It will get a 169 addresss. If I connect with a cat 5, I'll get an ipaddress for the physical connection, and wireless will work.
If we take this same laptop to my in-laws, everything works fine. They have the wireless router that was supplied by their ISP. This tells me that there is something about the wireless part of my Netgear, but I can't figure out what.
Every time I have seen this problem before it has been due to the configuration of the router.
If the Linksys is connected to your internet connection then you want the Netgear to be configured to work as an Access Point. The user guide for it will tell you if you need to connect from a LAN port on the Linksys to the WAN (Internet) port or a LAN port on the Netgear in order to have traffic pass through the Netgear and on to the Linksys and out.
At worst, if you do not need to access other computers on your local network from the notebook with wireless, you can have the WAN port on the Netgear connected to a LAN port on the Linksys, and have the Netgear think it is connecting to the internet. The built in firewall on the Netgear will prevent file and printer sharing, but the wireless computer would be able to get out.
I know the Dell system and card quite well, and the general capabilities of the routers. If you have any questions on this I'll be happy to help out as best I can.
Netgear wireless problem 
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