All the wireless bit does is to connect your laptop to a Wireless Access Point (WAP) sitting on somebodies network, i.e. it's mearly acting as a piece of cable ( albeit of the wireless variety ).
From what you've written above, it seems that the wireless bit is inded working - coz it can see the wireless Access Point.
So why can't you connect ? Probably one of three things:
Encryption, or TCP/IP settings, or Connection settings.
Encryption
What wireless encryption protocol (WEP) is the wireless signal using ? e.g. None, 40bit, 64bit, 101bit, 128bit - and if it is using encryption, then what is the 'Passphrase' ? and or what have you got set for this on your laptop ?
Nb. As opposed to cable network connections, with wireless it is relativey straightforward to 'listen-in' to the wireless radio signals UNLESS they are encrypted ( using WEP ).
If encryption is being used then, until you've set what it needs, you won't be able to join the LAN, because when you join their LAN, some equipment within it will provide your laptop an IP and the DNS server addresses, ..... and without them set you will not be able to route through to the Internet.
Also don't forget that if you're on a public / shared network then you had better ensure that your laptops firewall is turned on - least people start surfing your hard drive !
So, somewhere in the wireless setup options for your laptops you will probably find ( at least ) two things:
A). Configuration -
Mode - Infrastructure
SSID - typically 'WLAN' or 'Wireless' or something that you enter to match what's set in their WAP, but where in your case it looks like your laptop has automatically detected the SSID being used.
Tx Rate - Fully automatic
PS Mode - Disabled
Channel - automatic
B). Encryption -
WEP - Disabled / 64 bit / 128 bit.
Create with Passphrase - you enter some word in in the field ( usually supplied by your systems administrator or network provider - coz they're the ones who set the Passphrase inside the WAP that you're trying to connect to ).
TCP/IP
One also assumes that your laptop wireless adaptors TCP/IP settings are set to be 'automatic', i.e. that it's set to obtain various settings automatically, i.e. 'Obtain an IP address automatically' and 'Obtain DNS server address automatically' ?
Check it: Start / Settings / Network Connections. Choose the relevant 'Local area connection', Right click on it and select 'Properties'.
A window will open up in you should see the green coloured adaptor name - hopefull the wirless one if you've chosen the correct Local area connection - underneath that will be something that says 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)'. Click on this and then click the 'properties button - have a look at what it says about automatic settings.
If all look satisfactory now try this:
Start a DOS command prompt window ( Start / Run - Open: cmd click OK ).
At the command prompt enter: ipconfig /all
also try: ping
www.bbc.co.uk ( ping = Packet INternet Groper )
and / or alternatively: tracert
www.bbc.co.uk ( shows you the route across all the servers that a ping request takes )
Connections
Click on: Start / Settings / Control Panel and select the 'Internet Options'.
A window will open, select the 'Connections' tab.
You should propably have the 'Never dial a connection' or 'Dial whenever a network conneciton is not present' radio buttons selected, because you don't want your laptop to DIAL a connection, you want it to use the TCP/IP network connection being provided by the wireless adaptor ( and not the modem dialling to an ISP ).
Do let us know how you get on.