Can't get wireless router/computer to function together

ok, hope you have a usb thumb drive and a usb connection on the laptop - -

time to load a new driver for the laptop device - - let me go find where is ---
you will download it onto the desktop, copy to the USB device, move the USB to the laptop, and install the new driver - - standby....

forgot to ask; Which make/model laptop are you using AND which version of Vista?

im on the ACER Aspire 3553 running Vista Basic 32-bit version
the only flash drives in our house are currently around my brothers neck at school i wont be able to get one untill 4pmEST. Thank you for all your help so far

the driver is located here

Devices this driver supports:

Realtek RTL8101 Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Realtek RTL8169/8110 Family PCI Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)

Operating Systems: Win Vista

call him and perhaps he can DL it while at school (could also be a pain as mounting a USB device at schools could be restricted ... call and see what happens)

MEAN WHILE; we might try to the the WiFi configured
USING the desktop system
access the router; login
setup->Administration

Wireless Access Web (*) DISABLE
Remote Mgmt (*) DISABLE
UPnP (*) DISABLE

setup->Wireless Basic =>(*) Manual
--- I can't get screen shots for everything we need, so I'll outline what you need to do and
you need to search and peck about to find where to make the changes --

the Setup->Status will show what IS set, find'm and make these changes:
Mode: G-Only (not mixed)
SSID: change from Linksys to anything else, even a firstname+2 digits
Channel: 6 is ok
Encryption: leave none for now, but we need to change that as soon as we get a wifi connection to your SSID to work

When you save the settings, the router may disconnect. Don't panic

Manage Issue for WiFi: when a system has both wired & WiFi capability, it can easily get confused when BOTH are running at the same time.
The way to simplify life is to enable one or the other but not both
My Toshiba has a software widget that makes this trivial, but you can alway
use the Device Mgr to flip these

right-click the MyComputer->Manage
click on Device Manager
open [+] Network Adapters
disable one, enable the other

Typically, we use the Wireless Network Wizard to make the connection.
look for the SSID you created an allow that to connect - -
you should see an icon in the system tray and hovering the mouse over it, it will
show the connection and the bandwidth speed.

Keep me posted . . .

ok im going for the driver now, i just steped away (before you responded with the wifi info)back now and while the driver dl's should i try and configure the wifi?

Having some issues with the driver dl... it keeps taking me to a driveragent website and i dont see a way around it to the driver i need?

ok, changed all of the settings you told me to in the wifi set up.
Disabled Ethernet Connection on the laptop, and enabled WIFI
Tried to connect and all im getting is the "local only" "ip adress conflict"
do i need to switch it back to ethernet?

ok

Times up she wont let me keep trying. shes calling AT&t in the morning. Sorry for the wasted effort

*leaves incredibly frustrated and angry*

Im leaving for NorthCarolina in a day.

I feel like i/we were so close to getting this but her patience has run out. so i hope to see ya around in the forums (i do want ot learn this stuff)

So sorry. btw: The router is just fine as shown by the ability of the desktop to connect and give Internet access.

The issue is the laptop itself.