"Authentication process to connect to the network has not been started."

MarkR1984 · 09-02-2009, 09:01 PM

I've got a Dell Inspiron E1705, Windows XP, and an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network adapter, connecting to the internet via a Netgear wireless router. Today, completely out of the blue, my wireless network was dropped and it will not re-connect. This was truly out of nowhere, I hadn't made any updates or changed anything on my computer, but was simply just disconnected. I can see that the network (and other networks) is available and working, and I am able to connect to it from other computers/devices. It is only when I attempt to reconnect on my Dell that it fails. The only message I receive is, "Authentication process to connect to the network has not been started." I've tried a system restore to a month back, and that did not work. I tried uninstalling the Intel PROSet software, updating the drivers, and everything else I could think of and nothing has worked. I tried resetting the internet connection but that obviously did not work. I called Intel and they said they could not help and that this was Dell's territory. Unfortunately, I can't call Dell without being charged. Does anyone have any idea what could have happened and what I need to do to repair my connection?

09-02-2009, 09:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
MarkR1984 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	"Authentication process to connect to the network has not been started." I've got a Dell Inspiron E1705, Windows XP, and an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network adapter, connecting to the internet via a Netgear wireless router. Today, completely out of the blue, my wireless network was dropped and it will not re-connect. This was truly out of nowhere, I hadn't made any updates or changed anything on my computer, but was simply just disconnected. I can see that the network (and other networks) is available and working, and I am able to connect to it from other computers/devices. It is only when I attempt to reconnect on my Dell that it fails. The only message I receive is, "Authentication process to connect to the network has not been started." I've tried a system restore to a month back, and that did not work. I tried uninstalling the Intel PROSet software, updating the drivers, and everything else I could think of and nothing has worked. I tried resetting the internet connection but that obviously did not work. I called Intel and they said they could not help and that this was Dell's territory. Unfortunately, I can't call Dell without being charged. Does anyone have any idea what could have happened and what I need to do to repair my connection?