Vista "Connect to a Network" window won't open

On my Dell laptop running Vista Business the "Connect to a Network" window won't open. Regardless of where I attempt to access it, it won't open. It was working fine a few days ago. I have read other threads where users have had slow response times on it opening but it won't open at all for me. Has anyone else had this issue? Also, does anyone know of a way to reinstall this or fix it some how??? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forums

Try this method:
Control Panel\Network and Internet\Connect To A Network

You can also try using command prompt

netsh wlan connect name=ABC

where ABC is the name of your network.

Good Luck

Thanks for the reply. No matter what direction I approach from to connect to the wireless network you must go through the "Connect to a Network" dialog. For what ever reason this dialog will not open so I am unable to connect to wireless as well as any other kind of network. There are no errors, it just won't open. My guess is the underlying program (what ever that is) is corrupt and no longer will run.

I have tried the netsh wlan. First I should add that the wireless network I am trying to access is not already setup as a Profile on the laptop so I can't just connect via an existing profile. I attempted to add a new Profile using the wlan add profile command using a copy of the same connection configuration profile from another computer. I get the following error: "function WlanSetProfile returns 5023.The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation." Searching Google returns just two very dated references and solutions offered there don't seem to work.... Anyone have any info on how to get around this particular error?

It is amazing how worthless a computer is when it can't get on the internet these days! I am hoping there is a solution that does not involve reinstalling the OS.

How about this method.


Start>Right Click Computer>Manage>Click the Arrow for Services and Application (Left hand side)

Click on services now. Click the tab name so it sorts from Z to A. Right click WLAN AutoConfig and choose properties. Make start up type automatic.

Repeat the same for Wired AutoConfig, Network Store Interface Service, Network Location Awareness, and Network List Service.

That should fix your problem. Make sure you restart as well eh.


Best of Luck,
Richie:D

Unfortunately, that has not worked. Still getting the "function WlanSetProfile returns 5023" error. I sure don't want to have to reload the OS... Urrgh. Have any clue what dll or exe the "Connect to a Network" runs from?

If you have an actual OS cd, you can run the CD while you are on your desktop. Just click "instal" and choose the option repair. Do NOT choose upgrade.

Other than that, I'm still trying to find a way to fix your problem if that doesn't work...

Also, have you tried running a system restore and/or checking the device in device manager? It may be related to recent software/updates

I'm just started having the exact same problems - did anyone ever find the cause/fix for this? it's driving me crazy!

Also getting this problem and all steps suggested so far haven't helped.

Any other suggestions?

Please, it's making me crazy

I have this problem now too. It started after the automatic install of service pack 2. I have called Microsoft, my ISP, and Dell. I have a Dell Inspiron 1318 laptop. It's been great until this problem. Dell has told me I need a full system re-install.

Any new help on this problem?

I have a problem similar to this. My "Connect to a network" window opens but when i select a Wireless Network and click Connect then the window just closes and nothing happens.

If i remember correctly the problem started after i installed some updates.

In trying to solve this problem, I have uninstalled SP2 and then re-installed it using the SP2 download for x86.

I have the OS CD that came with the laptop but would using the 'repair' option be viable considering all of the windows updates that have been installed including SP1 and SP2?

Maybe a complete system re-install wouldn't be so bad. I'd get rid of the crap from trying various software utilities from a prominent PC magazine/website.

I tried to repair the system using the system disk that came from Dell with my laptop. I didn't see an option to repair. When it was obvious the disk was replacing the system, I bailed out.

Next, i installed Windows 7 release candidate from a disk i burned from the iso download. It took quite a while but it works great so far and the 'connect to a network' problem is gone as '7' does this a different way.:D

I fixed this in the end by doing a system restore back to a few days before I lost the 'connect to a network' functionality.

I've since re-applied all the updates that I'd put on and the problem hasn't returned. The only thing I haven't put on that I'd put on between knowing it was working and knowing it definately wasn't working was the latest Java SDK.

Can't say for sure if that was what caused it though.

Thanks for the info. I tried to do a system restore but the SP2 update had occurred almost two weeks before I discovered the problem with connecting to a network. By then, I couldn't get to a restore point that far back.