RANTS: Windows Vista Wireless Connection

I came across a Gateway notebook running Windows Vista, which has trouble connecting to some access points (it worked on some but not others). I wish I could say that this was specific to this machine, but it seems to be a widespread Vista problem. There are different theories as to the cause, but the symptoms are the same:

1. Windows shows that the internal wireless card is connected to the wireless network.
2. But, machine doesn't receive and IP address.
3. Instead it gets an autoconfigured address beginning with 169.x.x.x.
4. The machine shows its access as "Local only"

I've tried all kinds of resets, including ARP cache, TCP/IP stack, DNS flush, and IP renew. I've also tried disabling IPv6 and the registry hacks documented by Microsoft here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928233

and configuration settings, also documented by Microsoft here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928152

A simple search of Vista wireless problems documents the countless number of people having this issue. The machine does connect with other access points, but the one where I need it to work is failing. How long do we need to wait for a fix?

Update: Just came across a new suggestion: disable IPv6.

TIPS & TRICKS: Frequently Used Programs list is reset to defaults during every logon in Windows Vista

In Windows Vista, when the start menu is clicked, there's a list of programs, which reflect the most recently used programs. I came across a machine that reset this list to a default list. The default list included Welcome Center, Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows DVD Maker, Windows Calendar, and Windows Meeting Space.

I tried clearing it by, first removing all the existing icons manually, then by clearing the list through unchecking the box for "Store and display a list of recently opened programs" for Start Menu Properties. Neither method withstood a restart.

The cause turned out to be an improperly set registry value (thanks a lot Gateway). The registry value is called StartMenuInit. Here are the instructions:

- Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER

- Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced

- In the right-pane, create a new DWORD value named StartMenuInit

- Double-click StartMenuInit and set 3 its data

- Close Regedit.exe

Hope that helps someone. Good luck.