It sounds like you're using XP to handle your "wireless networking."
Cisco produce their own client called the Aironet Client Utility (ACU)which you can download from here:
http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/sw-wireless.shtml
This product is a lot better than XP's native WLAN networking capabilities. It will also allow you to check the firmware on the card, which XP software updates
cannot do. You can also setup "profiles" for different wireless networks etc. I recommend it far and away above XP's networking facilities.
If you want specific help on how to install ACU, update your firmware, update your NDIS drivers etc, just let me know. It's easy enough.
Mr Mephisto