Connection Authenticates but only allows file access every other time

[StaticDamage]

I have created a PPTP VPN connection to a windows 7 PC. The connection is made through a standard Netgear ADSL router/switch using port forwarding to the server (192.168.0.2). (I have updated the router to latest BIOS.) I can authenticate and connect with the server every time, but only see the shared drive every other time I connect. If I ping 192.168.0.1 (the router) it is only visible every other time I connect too.

 

[Noway2]

The times that I have seen, every other time connects, issues, it has bee because there is a server such as a DNS, that is being queried in alternating fashion, with one returning a correct result and one returning a false result.

The fact that ping works in alternating fashion, suggests a possible DNS or routing problem. If you are pinging via ip address, and not hostname, you can reduce this to a routing problem.

In stead of running ping, run traceroute / tracert (windows) and see where the communication is breaking down. You may even find something like that it is using the wrong gateway half of the time.