Laptop only getting wireless in view of router

Ok last week, Could use my laptop just fine down a 40 foot hall way and through a kitchen and 2 more rooms wirelessly(admitedly with a mediocre connection).

About 2 days ago it was giving me sporatic messages after a restart claiming my network settings did not match the ones saved on my laptop. The only change that was made was adding all but one roomates devices to an access list on the router (since the jerk wouldnt shut off bit torrent while people were working). Some other people were noticing some screwy occurances too but dont recall the symtoms so I just set it back to factory default and removed the access list. Everyone else seemed to be fine

Yesterday I cannot see the router on my laptop, I cannot see my neighbors (sporaticly I usually would see 1 bar pop up but now I can't find it at all) I can pick up my router wirelessly only when I have direct line of sight to the router and only 4/5 bars 0,o , so that rules out a lot of choices in its self since it sees it, just not very well.

Anyone have any solutions, or atleast ideas on what went wrong?

Laptop Compaq tc4200 Vista ultimate
Router Netgear N300 WNR2000 v3

TCG said:

Is this odd wireless behavior only happening on your laptop or are the others in the house also having the same issue? Does your laptop behave properly elsewhere that has good signal(cafe, library, etc...)?

Just me, everyone else was having some screwy issues until we factory reset it, possibly unrelated. I cannot pick up either of my neighbors which occasionally show up as 1-2 bars, I see no networks unless I am starring right at the router.

have u checked the channels of next door just incase they have changed there channel?

inSSIDer | MetaGeek

No how would that effect only one of my wireless devices?

depends on the strength of your internal wireless card, you can get signal issues that only one device is affected by. and for wasting 10 seconds to DL and 20 seconds to install and 5 seconds to read the info it is something you can rule out very easily. apart from that u can have the simple answer of ur windows has a issue or ur wireless is failing on ur laptop which are both issues you also will find hard to TS or even prove.