Windows 7 - "wireless network connection" doesn't have a valid IP configuration

Okay, so here is my problem. I frequently bring my laptop to work where the is a public wireless signal. I work at a hospital. There is a secure network but I don't have the password for it, so I use the public one. Up until recently I used an old asus with vista, and while the signal was pretty low I had no problem connecting to it and staying connected. Just meant slow internet for me. However, that computer has sadly died and I bought a samsung NP700Z5B-S01UB. And while it's a very nice machine, I cant seem to connect to the network here. It shows that there is a low wireless signal, but it still wont let me connect. The error it gives me is "wireless network connection" doesn't have a valid IP configuration. Is there anything I can do with the computer to fix this problem, since I cannot do anything to the wireless network at all (as it is a network associated with the hospital). If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Hello mystic, and welcome to Sevenforums!

First, do you have the latest driver installed for it? I don't know what version of windows you have so here is the general link to the drivers: Samsung - you will need the wireless driver(s). Uninstall your current wireless driver before installing the new one, which means you will need to download the new one first or use a LAN cable to have an internet connection to download the driver.

Here is an internet troubleshooting guide you might be able to use: Internet Troubleshooting Guide

However, it sounds like this computer works at home, just not at the hospitol, so it may be some kind of incompatability or any number of reasons. Make sure you have all windows updates installed as that can sometimes help such issues.

I have windows 7, the computer is brand new, just out of the box sunday.

Heh, no the version is the type of Windows 7 you own. See this: Compare Windows - Microsoft Windows. This includes whether it is a 64 or 32 bit system (also called x64 and x86, respectively).

Could you run this tool (System Info - See Your System Specs) and enter the information it gathers here: http://www.sevenforums.com/profile.php?do=extra

Did you manage to do any of the other things listed?

Oh, sorry, yeah its 64 bit. Sorry I forgot to mention that. I'll try your suggestions when I'm at home since I cant use the laptop to connect to the internet when I'm here at work (at least not for more then a few seconds) I cant download anything while I'm here. Granted when I'm home I wont know if something works until I get back to work to try it out.