Hey, I had the same problem. Vista would say, local acces only. The really funny thing is that I knew my internet and hardware were working. I have a dual boot, Vista and xp, and although through vista I only had local access, with XP I could surf the internet fine. Also in Vista, I have virtual pc installed running windows xp and windows vista, and those two virtual pcs could access the internet while my normal windows vista could not.

Solution: don't be scared to smack your registry here and then. Your computer will not crash if you delete all the TCPIP settings. Go under Local_Machine in the registry, then: System, Current Control Set, Services, TCPIP, Parameters, Interfaces. Delete all the folders in this.

I also went under settings and properties for the wireless adapter, and uninstalled all the protocols, services and clients and restarted. Then I installed again all of them.

Also go to System under Control Panel and network ID, and make sure that your computer is set up as a home computer and not a business computer. Yes, Vista will ask you to restart again.

I also went to device manager and uninstalled and deleted all the drivers for the adapters of the wirelless and cable connection. Your computer should reinstall those automatically once you restart.

Uninstalled my Antivirus software. Completely. Restarted once more.

Lastly, under network connections, choose manage wireless networks and delete all the connections vista has saved. (choose remove), and restart.

Turned off wireless modem/router for a few seconds and started it again.

When Vista starts up again, right click on the right of the task bar over the wireless icon and ask it to connect. It will find your network and ask you for your wep key. make sure it is correct. You are done.

Mine worked. I fixed my girfriend's and my three of my students' computers like this; including my own, that's five successes. They all had this Vista barf up problem with the local access only. Do at your own risk.

cheers