802.11b and 802.11g incompatability

I have a home network running a Linksys router and 802.11g protocol. All three computers on the network use Vista (two Compaq desktops and an Acer laptop). A friend just bought a laptop (older) with a Linksys Wireless-B adapter and 802.11b protocol. The laptop is running off of Windows 2000 Professional. These should be compatible but the laptop doesn't want to log onto the network. I'm not very experienced with networks--so far the computers I've tried (except this one) just found it and I was able to log them on. Any thoughts?
Keith

 

You've probably got the router set up for g mode only.
Get into the configuration pages and set it for b,g mode or mixed mode.
You will take a hit on performance because it will slow down to b speeds.