169.x.x.x is the Windows 'help I can't find an IP' range - so you'll probably find you need to set your PC to something on the 192.168.0.x range, and have the bridge clone it's MAC address - should be an option in the web interface of the bridge.
Personally if I were you, I'd just get a PCI wired card for your laptop. I have one of these:
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?NGR-WN311+
to talk to my wireless base station, and it works like a treat. I have only installed the driver though, not all the other netgear rubbish.
***NOTE I don't have Vista so you'll need to check for the drivers yourself***