Qwest/Actiontec GT701-WG DSL Modem will not assign an IP Address to my new Dell laptop

Dear Experts,

Short version of my problem:

My Qwest/Actiontec DSL modem will assign IP addresses to my wire-connected desktop and my slightly older Dell laptop. My new Dell laptop, however, can connect to the modem but cannot get an IP address unless I disable security on my modem.

Detailed version:

I have DSL through Qwest. I use the Actiontec GT701-WG DSL Modem with wireless gateway that they sent me. My desktop computer connects via a wire, and works fine. I also have a Dell laptop (a few months old) that connects wirelessly and also works fine.

I just bought a new laptop and a new router. The router is a NETGEAR ProSafe 802.11g Wireless VPN Firewall, Model FVG318. I ran the setup, and it appeared to complete successfully, but could not connect to the Internet through the Actiontec modem.

So I disconnected the new router, figuring I should start out simply and just get the new laptop connected to the Internet through the Actiontec modem, and wait until that worked properly before I tried to get the new router set up.

I ran the Wireless Network Setup Wizard from my wired Desktop computer, put the setup info on my thumb drive, plugged it into my new Dell Inspiron 9400, and it gave me an error message, apparently because my new laptop uses the "Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility" that my older Dell Inspiron (the one that successfully connects wirelessly) did not come with. Apparently it doesn't use the usual Windows wireless management system. So I found the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility and manually copied and pasted the correct SSID and WEP key into it (128 bit). It now connects to the Actiontec modem, but the modem WILL NOT give it an IP address. I've tried all kinds of things, but my Wireless Network Connection Status continually tells me that "This connection has limited or no connectivity" because "the network did not assign a network address to the computer".

The manual that came with the Actiontec modem says to try switching the Channel, so I got into the modem's software and changed it from 9 to 11, and my laptop recognized the change. I also temporarily turned OFF all security to the modem, re-ran the Wireless setup on both computers, and was finally able to connect my new laptop to the modem and access the Internet. But the minute I turned security back on and re-ran the wireless setups, I was back to being able to connect to the modem, but not get an IP address.

I also tried disabling the Dell utility and using the regular Windows wireless setup to manage the connection. Once again, I was able to connect to the modem, but it wouldn't give me an IP address.

I have tried everything I can think of, but it seems like I can't get the modem to assign an IP address to anything new (the router or the new laptop) unless I disable security, which would be crazy.

Can anyone give me any tips? Things to try?

Thanks,

M