Media for Is there any way of forcing it to Acquire Network Address?

Is there any way of forcing it to Acquire Network Address?

My neighbour's WiFi, to which I connect using the network key he has given me (and slip him a tenner every month), sometimes is so hard to get onto.

The signal strength is almost always good, more often than not very good, sometimes even excellent, and connects at 11 Mbps speed. Uses WEP encryption, and I have his Network key. I have it all set to connect automatically.

But sometimes it's hard to acquire the address!

You can be sitting there looking at that little TVscreen with the three green brackets, waiting for it to flash and say Acquiring Network Address. Once that happens, I'm on and rarely booted off.

However, sometimes it's so stubborn. It won't connect. I go to "Choose a wireless network" where I see his network with at least four of the green panpipe thingies lit up (very good signal), and set to "Automatic". If I double click on it or click on connect, this does not make it acquire the network address... it just tries to connect and after about 15 seconds goes back to Automatic. But not to Connected.

When this happens I've tried everything, from Repairing the connection, to reentering the network key, anything. Moving my little DLink antenna. Rebooting the PC.... But when it gets stubborn like this it just won't work. The signal stays strong, it just won't actually connect, even if you hit connect.

Eventually, it decides to "Acquire the network address" and then I go straight in.

Is there any way of enforcing it to Acquire the network address? Some DOS command I could use or something? Last night I really wanted to use it and it took 2 hours until I managed to get on. It's a complete PITA.

Some of you will probably say that that's WiFi/Dlink for you, but I could understand it if I got a s**te signal. But if I get a good or very good signal, and I click on Connect (although it is meant to connect automatically) I cannot see why it doesn't say AHA My master wants to connect, I'm going to acquire a network address for him and connect. Instead I have this pantomime.

Any thoughts or help gratefully appreciated.

TRISTÁN