Intel Pro 2200BG - "Authentication process to connect to the network has not started"

Thanks for the update, Andrew.

 

I have searched high & low on the Intel website, but never managed to find a way to provide them with the problem at hand: no email address, no forums, no ...

 

If enduser are not allowed to get in touch with Intel Support, maybe the DELL reps can ?

 

Would be very interested in putting this issue to rest !

 

Kind regards,

Koen

I'm not to far behind you buddy, I have a Dell Latitude C610 and have just installed the very same thing on my laptop and am having the same problems.  My suggestion woukd be to contact Intel's website and let them know what's going on.  I've been talking to larry and am trying to rectify this issue at present.  As soon as I find something out, I'll let you know.

 

Andrew

     Hey Koen,

 

I have been on Intels website and did some poking around to see if they had any kind of support, to no avail.  No email, tech, or any kind of support for our dilema.  This was the last response I got from Larry from Dell: 

Dell only provides support for hardware we ship with the computer.  We haven't sold the 2200 card for a while now (that I am aware of).  The support we would be able to provide would be limited to those systems that were purchased with the 2200 card anyway.

 

If you are having problems with an Intel driver you will need to contact Intel.  There should be some kind of contact method on their page.  I'd recommend starting with the page you downloaded the driver from to see what it can provide.

Regardless of how old our model of laptops are, I think that they should still provide a better form of support for them.  I think they get too wrapped up in their politics and rules and regulations to avoid giving anyone any kind of decent support or viable solution to our problems, and/or lack of motivation and proffesionalism to keep their customers happy for a positive outcome.  I will try to look around a little further to see what I can come up with to help resolve this.  Hang in there buddy.

 

Andrew

Have you guys tried older drivers for the 2200 card?  It is entirely possible that the newer drivers are causing problems because they try to implement features the 2200 simple lacks the hardware for.

Larry,

 

I indeed have tried to reinstall the old Intel driver and software => no success.

 

The issue is not being able to connect via WPA or WPA2 anymore, whereas this was possible with the previous version. So the 2200BG was and is capable of this...

If the card was working, and the problem started after you updated the driver, then it sounds like a firmware problem.  My recommendation is to load an old driver (at least two or three versions back) and then step forward one version at a time until things work again.

 

If you start with a Dell driver that loads a firmware update (not all driver updates include a firmware update) that should get things on the correct track.

It could also mean that the card could be going bad, because there's no way to update the firmware on those cards.  through extensive testing on mine, I've found out that the card is defectinve and I will have to replace it for a new one.  I've gone into the configuration utility on my Linksys router-administration-diagnostics, then go through pinging the pci card from the router, which came out fine, but when I try to ping the router from the card, it came back: host unreachable.  When pinging the loopback address, came back fine, but when I ping the ip address of my laptop, came back with 4 packets sent, 0 recieved, 4 lost.  I hope this is of some help.

 

 

Andrew

It could be a bad card yes.  If that is the case, then a replacement would be the only option.

 

When you install a driver update, it sometimes includes a firmware update that is loaded automatically to the card.

I figured out the problem with my Intel Pro Wireless.  The Mac address had to be manually entered into the router for it to be associated and authorized.  So right now I'm on the wireless and everything works just fine.  So if anyone else is having this type of problem with these older Dells, pass this info on to them.  I do appreciate all your help in this matter and now you have some helpful info to use in future events.  Thanks again Larry.  

 

This is what I wrote to Larry and I hope that this would help you as well.  I just got my wireless up and running just about a half hour ago.  If you have access to your routers config utiliy, go to the Wireless tab, then to Wireless Mac filter section.  From there physically enter the mac address from your wireless card:

 

Make sure that you enable or click the allow button ....I hope this helps.  Also, make sure you scroll down and click save setting making sure that it's truly saved.

 

 

Andrew