some months on, I'm a bit further forward with this.
The problem seems to be that the Samsung N110 fails to acquire an IP address from the Netgear router when the lad attempts to pipe all the notes he has taken at school into the PC.
The N110 has an Atheros AR5007EG wireless network adapter and Windows is managing the whole thing - the drivers are up to date. It recognises and connects to the network but, because it does not get an IP address, it cannot connect to the web. Lots of "...obtaining IP Address" but never does. 'Repair' doesn't help either; neither does restarting the Wireless Zero Config. Restarting the netbook sometimes does the trick; all the other devices in the house work fine on the wireless network.
The whole network is Xp SP3. Having Googled, it does seem that there is a problem with the Atheros adapter but all those who have helped me with this agree that all the right boxes are ticked etc.
Any further ideas anyone please?
Cheers
mcdhu