MS Windows 2000 Pro VPN

[akorneyev]

Hello, maybe it's a wrong discussion board, but my question is certainly about VPN.

I'm trying to set up VPN connection, I have client operating system Windows 2000 Pro, and so far I've tried two ways of connecting to the remote VPN server:

1. I tried to create New Connection under Windows "Network Connections", and at some point, where I have to choose type of connection I want to create, choice "connect to a private network through the internet", which is supposed to create VPN connection, is disabled. I'm not sure why it's disabled, and this is actually what my question is about. Why would Windows disable that option?

2. I tried VNC client, I'm putting server name in the textbox it requires, and it just doesn't connect - "Connection time out" error.

Please help.

 

[John Lewis]

First, VNC is not a VPN application -- it is a remote access application. You may use a VNC connection over a VPN tunnel, but VNC offers minimal security on its own. Also, the VNC client will not connect unless VNC server is running on the host.

In order to create a VPN connection, the Remote Access Connection Manager and Telephony services must be running. To check these, click Start-->Control Panel. Double-click Administrative Tools, then double-click Services.

On the list that appears, find Remote Access Connection Manager and Telephony. Both should indicate "started" in the status column and startup type should be set to manual (automatic will work, but creates a minimal amount of unecessary overhead when you are not using the service).

 

[akorneyev]

Both services are started, I just checked them. And still this option is disabled. Maybe there's something else?

 

[John Lewis]

Windows 2000 should be at least service pack 4.

You must have at least one existing network connection before you can configure a VPN connection. If you are using dial-up internet, you need to configure that connection before you can configure the VPN connection.

Can you connect to the internet? What type of connection?

 

[akorneyev]

I have SP4 installed.

Yes, I'm obviously connected to the Internet, it's a regular broadband DSL connection, and there's only one connection here - Local Area Network connection.

 

[John Lewis]

Not really obvious. It is entirely possible that you are posting from one computer and trying to connect to the VPN from another.

The next thing to look for would be your rasapi32.dll file. You should have only one copy in %SystemRoot%\System32. Occasionally, extra copies will show up in other folders for one reason or another.

Click on Start, then Find Files and Folders. Type "rasapi32.dll" in the name box and click search. You should have one copy of the file in %SystemRoot%\System32. If you have others, rename them to rasapi32.bad. Reboot and try to create the connection again.

If this does not work, it is possible that the user profile in the registry is corrupted, which will require the deletion of a registry key. I can't remember the location of the key, but post back and I will track it down if needed.

 

[akorneyev]

There's one copy of that file in SYSTEM32 folder, and one copy of it in SYSTEM32\DLLCACHE, is it something you mentioned? Should I rename them, or keep them as is?

And by the way, speaking of registry - I have a clean copy of Windows 2000, which I just installed, with a bunch of software products, though, but the fact is that it was recently installed, and I'm afraid, the situation is, if I reinstall it again, this option would be disabled by default, on the clean system - is it something with the default settings of Windows 2000?

P.S. Everything works well on another machine with Windows Server 2003 connected to the same broadband-box here locally. It's definitely something with Windows 2000!

 

[John Lewis]

Rename only the copy in SYSTEM32\DLLCACHE.

This should not be the default situation. Generally the connection manager in W2K (especially with SP4) works perfectly. This should be specific to this machine.

I did find the MS KB article that covers this for you, see

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281625/en-us.

Try renaming the file first (this is detailed in the KB article as well), then the registry edit if that does not work.

 

[akorneyev]

Unfortunately, it didn't help. I tried all methods described in the article, and none of hem helped.

I renamed the file in DLLCACHE folder, which left only one RASAPI32.DLL file in SYSTEM32 folder and on the whole hard drive.

Telephony and Remote Access Connection Manager are started.

There is no "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Telephony\Cards\Next" key in the registry.

And still this option is disabled...