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Network Connections window is empty. Void. Nowt.

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BionicJohn

BionicJohn

Technical User
Nov 6, 2002
5,022
GB
BIG JOHN NEEDS TECH HELP

OK, you guys, see if yous can help me.

A friend at work has brand new WinXP Dell. It arrived yesterday. He followed all the setupinstructions, and it seems OK.

He completes the wizard to connect via his modem to his ISP, Freeserve.

It dials up Ok.
It says veryifying username and password.
It says can't connect, produces this error - "Error 720: No PPP control protocols configured" - and re-dials. It's stuck in this loop.

So he rings up Freeserve, who after a bit say the Dell is not set up correctly.
So he rings up Dell, who say that as the modem working OK, it's Freeserve's problem.

So he calls me. I search the MSKB and come up with "Error 720: No PPP control protocols configured" at and print it off.

Very confidently I go round to see him.

I get to:
"then double-click Network Connections.
Under Virtual Private Network, right-click the VPN connection, and then click Properties.

But the Network Connections window is empty. Void. Nowt. Nothing.

Where are all the icons and the connectoids?

I try to re-create one using my ISP, BTInternet. Exactly the same. It dials up Ok.
It says veryifying username and password.
It says can't connect, produces the error and re-dials.

Where have we gone wrong? Where are all the connectiods, VPN and the rest? How do I find them and get them to appear?

I don't understand WinXP - very confusing with all that gloss. Now Win2K - kid's play!

Iechyd da! John
01:54 06/08/2003 BST
 
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I am not sure you want a VPN connection, do you really? If your ISP connection produces the same error, it is indicative of something else besides the lack of a VPN connection protocol.

In any case:

Hit the Start button, and then click Help and Support. Look at the topic 'Networking and the Web.'

A step-by-step guide to howto setup a VPN connection can be found here, it is a variation on what you have already done to make the connection attempt to your ISP:
Remember the Help and Support service can also be searched. It is quite a good resource.

But I still do not think you really want a VPN connection. You might consider checking in Control Panel, System, Modem and Telephony Options as a start.
 
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Error 720 (From Help and Support).



Make sure that TCP/IP is installed and enabled for this type of connection. For more information, see To enable a network component.

Make sure that all protocols needed to establish this type of connection are installed. For more information, see PPP operation and protocols.


To enable a network component.

Open Network Connections. Look for your Dialup icon.

Click a connection, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.

Do the following:


If this is a dial-up, click the Networking tab. In This connection uses the following items, select the check box for the client, service, or protocol you want to enable.

Make sure you also have "PPP: Windows 95/98/NT4/2000, Internet" as Type of Dialup Server.


PPP operation and protocols. (See Help and Support).
 
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Hi, bcaster,

> I am not sure you want a VPN connection, do you really?

No, I probably don't, but I expected to see it, according to the the KSKB advice.

> You might consider checking in Control Panel, System, Modem and Telephony Options as a start.

I looked there but it all seemed in order. I'll check again.

Hi, linney,

I did a similar search to yourself and came up with similar pages.

> Open Network Connections. Look for your Dialup icon.

*The Network Connections folder is empty.* I can't find the dial-up icons any where, yet they appear in IE's Internet Options - > Connections.

Something is hidden or missing.

I'll try again tonight. Thanks for your help.

Iechyd da! John
09:16 06/08/2003 BST
 
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>
Sorry, bcaster, that's not the issue. The listed symptons do not occur.

The problem is that dial-up connectoids are hidden. IE finds them, but they are not visible in the Network connections Window.

Is there another way to locate then?

Iechyd da! John
20:28 06/08/2003 BST
 
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In Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View, click the radio button to show Hidden Files and Folders.

They should not be hidden however. Right click on the Folder, Properties, Security, and add "Users" to the Folders permissions.

Strange, though.

I have been assuming you are logging on as the Administrator/Owner of this machine. If not, but as a Limited User, you might want to set up your connections as the Administrator user.
 
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Hi, bcaster,

> In Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View, click the radio button to show Hidden Files and Folders.

You're not going to like this… The Network Connections folder is still empty after enabling viewing of hidden and system files.

I confirm I have full admin rights, and in IE -> Internet Tools -> Connections I can see the two ISP dial-ups I created and VPN.

This is getting crazy.

Iechyd da! John
20:51 06/08/2003 BST
 
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Just make sure you backup (export) any registry key before you go that way. The operating systems are similar enough for these workarounds to apply, but you are right there is always a risk. That is for the individual to consider and way up his options.

The alternative and safer option may end up being a repair install, or even a reformat and install.



Some general things to try.

Try Safe Mode (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?).

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)
 
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Hi, Linney,

This is a three day old PC. Arrived Monday. All that has been done to this PC is run the Internet Connection Wizard.

We're going get on to Dell, and tell them to fix it. and if they kick off, then we will argue it's not fit for purpose.

Sorry, I'm angry - not with you guys because you've given your time and expertise freely, but with Dell and their lack of interest.

Iechyd da! John
21:23 06/08/2003 BST
 
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It is clearly not right.

I would give it back to Dell too.
 
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Hi, bcaster,

This is what it should look like:


I don't like the phrase: "Freeserve has its own unique settings to enable you to connect to the Internet. If any of these settings are incorrect you may experience problems connecting to Freeserve. "

In pictures 2, 3 and 4, we get no icons.

Yet, IE will dial-up to Freeserve, and then not connect.

Iechyd da! John
21:40 06/08/2003 BST
 
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Is it the Freeserve connectoid icons that you are worried about?

It was unclear from the WebSite but it may be that all it installs is an alternative dialer to the XP service, and is reflected in a task tray icon.

If so, there would be no necessity to install a DUN connectoid, and none consequently would appear.



 
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In my experience, after banging ones head for so long - it is often best to simply take care of the problem using the shortest route. If this is a brand new computer - your friend most likely doesn't have a bunch of stuff installed and saved already. The PC surely had to come with a repair/install disk - I'd say use it.

Install the OS from scratch, making sure to select all necessary NETWORK and INTERNET options under CUSTOM INSTALL. This should do it. IF NOT - sail it back DELL's way.

Good luck, TG
 
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Hi, guys, I've been on holiday for about ten days, so here's the update.

As twg66 said, send it back, which is what my friend Jim did.

Dell found a virus, zapped it and all is well. It seems he collected the virus while connecting for the very first time to setup his account remotely with Freeserve.

I find that astonishing, and it shows you can't be too careful. He had an AV app running (pc-cillin?) but it can't have been sufficienty uptodate, and in any case he couldn't really update it until he'd got the ISP account fully operational.

All is now well, and many thanks to all you guys for chipping in and being so supportive helpful.

Call in my local, and I'll buy yous all a pint.

Iechyd da! John
00:55 22/08/2003
 
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Hi Guys, ive got the same problem as you now and i have looked around a bit to see what i can find but i know that if any one can sort this out then it will be one of you incredable people on here. As John said, the folder is empty but everything still works ok but when i looked in the event viewer, it showed this error message:
-----
The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal processing.
HRESULT was 80040154 from line 44 of d:\nt\com\com1x\src\events\tier1\eventsystemobj.cpp.
This may indicate that the COM+ Event System is not properly installed.
Please try reinstalling the COM+ Event System.
-----
Any ideas? I checked my registry and it is fine and i checked the services and they are now fine (i have set the problem services to strat up automatically because the network connections service was restarting on a reboot) but its still not working.

Thanks in advance guys.

Mortis
 
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