Problem: Vista can not connect to wireless network.. the system can not see the DHCP server in router and getting 169.254.x.x ip address which is private and no use at all.
To resolve this go to registry, find
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{GUID}
Where GUID is a id for that network adapter – you will see the difference if another one is wired and connected.
Add new entry (DWORD 32), call it DhcpConnDisableBcastFlagToggle and assign value 1.
Change entry DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag to 0.
Try to reconnect.