Dial-up and VPN connections disappeared

[Edgar]

I am using Windows XP with SP1. For some reason last
week my dial-up and vpn connections have disappeared from
Network Connections. Only my two LAN or High-Speed
Internet connections are showing.

When I try to recreate the connection it says that one
already exists with that name. I created a new VPN
connection (with a different name) and created a shortcut
on the desktop. After restarting the connection was gone
from Network Connections, but I can still use the
shortcut.

Any information about this problem would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Ed

 

[Ken Wickes [MSFT]]

Are you seeing all the LAN adapter is the connections folder that you should
be? There should be one for each Network Adapter in Device Manager.

Sometimes a bad LAN connection will keep your RAS connections from showing
up.

 

[Guest]

I'm having exactly the same problem. Right now in my "Network Connections", I can only see the "Local Area Connection" (my active network connection to my cable modem). I just noticed that like probably 1 or 2 more weeks ago. I used to have a the LAC, 1394 Network Connection (Creative SoundBlaster Audigy w/ Firewire port) and 2 VPN connections. Both network adapters (3Com 3CR990-TX-97, 1394 Net Adapter) are showing correctly in the Device Manage

But right now I can only see the LAC but not the rest. If I tried to create a new VPN w/ the same name that I used before, it would say that there's already one exist with the same name. If I use a new name, it would get created, and I can see the new connection in the Network Connection. But if I right click and click on refresh, it would disappear just like the old ones although the shortcut placed on desktop would still work

Also, if I use the shortcut on the desktop to connect (with the target connection disappeared in Network Connection), the connected tray icon does not show up as if I'm not connected at all. On the other hand, if I created a connection without using "Refresh" (so it doesn't disappear) and make the connection, the tray icon will appear (and now refreshing network connection wouldn't make the connection disappear). The only way to tell if you're connected when there's no tray icon is by running ipconfig or checking Networking tab in Task Manager. All of the created but hidden dial-up/VPN connections can actually be seen in Connections tab in Internet Options of IE/Control Panel, and they can be removed or change settings without any problem

In addition, in the properties of my VPN connection, in the Advanced tab, it has this error message
Windows cannot display the properties of this connection. The Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) information might be corrupted. To correct this, use System Restore to restore Windows to an earlier time (called a restore point). System Restore is located in the System Tools folder in Accessories

I did a search on knowledge base on this error message and have tried to restore to an earlier check point but no matter which restore point I tried to restore to, it'll just say cannot restore to the specific check point. So I actually did an in-place upgrade of XP, re-installed SP1a and all the updates, and now it's the same symptom. I didn't get to check if the in-place upgrade fixed the problem before I applied all the patches though

It appears as if only the currently active network connection is displayed. Otherwise, it doesn't get displayed

I hope this explains the problem clear enough...please look into the problem, thanks
English XP Professional w/ SP1a and all critical updates. In Regional and Language Options, Chinese (Taiwan) is used for non-Unicode programs.

 

[daniel]

I have this exact problem on XP Pro. None of my dial-up or vpn connections
show up in 'Network Connections' or in the system tray when they are
connected.

I have a different set of components. ASUS mobo.

Additionally it is impossible to run the 'Network Setup Wizard'.
I suspect you will also be unable to also.


- Help .. anyone?

I'm having exactly the same problem. Right now in my "Network

Connections", I can only see the "Local Area Connection" (my active network
connection to my cable modem). I just noticed that like probably 1 or 2
more weeks ago. I used to have a the LAC, 1394 Network Connection (Creative
SoundBlaster Audigy w/ Firewire port) and 2 VPN connections. Both network
adapters (3Com 3CR990-TX-97, 1394 Net Adapter) are showing correctly in the
Device Manager

But right now I can only see the LAC but not the rest. If I tried to

create a new VPN w/ the same name that I used before, it would say that
there's already one exist with the same name. If I use a new name, it would
get created, and I can see the new connection in the Network Connection.
But if I right click and click on refresh, it would disappear just like the
old ones although the shortcut placed on desktop would still work.

Also, if I use the shortcut on the desktop to connect (with the target

connection disappeared in Network Connection), the connected tray icon does
not show up as if I'm not connected at all. On the other hand, if I created
a connection without using "Refresh" (so it doesn't disappear) and make the
connection, the tray icon will appear (and now refreshing network connection
wouldn't make the connection disappear). The only way to tell if you're
connected when there's no tray icon is by running ipconfig or checking
Networking tab in Task Manager. All of the created but hidden dial-up/VPN
connections can actually be seen in Connections tab in Internet Options of
IE/Control Panel, and they can be removed or change settings without any
problem.

In addition, in the properties of my VPN connection, in the Advanced tab, it has this error message:
Windows cannot display the properties of this connection. The Windows

Management Instrumentation (WMI) information might be corrupted. To correct
this, use System Restore to restore Windows to an earlier time (called a
restore point). System Restore is located in the System Tools folder in
Accessories.

I did a search on knowledge base on this error message and have tried to

restore to an earlier check point but no matter which restore point I tried
to restore to, it'll just say cannot restore to the specific check point.
So I actually did an in-place upgrade of XP, re-installed SP1a and all the
updates, and now it's the same symptom. I didn't get to check if the
in-place upgrade fixed the problem before I applied all the patches though.

It appears as if only the currently active network connection is

displayed. Otherwise, it doesn't get displayed.

I hope this explains the problem clear enough...please look into the problem, thanks.
English XP Professional w/ SP1a and all critical updates. In Regional and

Language Options, Chinese (Taiwan) is used for non-Unicode programs.

 

[Ken Wickes [MSFT]]

Are all your LAN adapters showing up in the connections folder? You should
have one connection for each adapter shown in device manager.

 

[Guest]

I'm not sure what you mean by "LAN adapters showing up in the connection folder" since connection folder only shows connections but not the adapters themselves..

In my Network Connections folder, there's only one single icon for me and it's the "Local Area Connection" associated with my network adapter, and it's under "LAN or High-Speed Internet" category

In my Device Manager, there are two network adapters: 1394 Net Adapter, 3Com 3CR990-TX-97

Before this problem, I had two connections under "LAN or High-Speed Internet", one is "Local Area Connection", the other one is a 1394/Firewire connection

 

[Guest]

You're right, mine is not working either.

I just tried to start "Network Setup Wizard", but after I click on it, it doesn't do anything as if I didn't click on it at all.

But click on "New Connection" it doesn't have problem though.

I have this exact problem on XP Pro. None of my dial-up or vpn connections
show up in 'Network Connections' or in the system tray when they are
connected.

 

[Ken Wickes [MSFT]]

Yes you are missing the connection for your 1394 adapter. Try reinstalling
the drivers for it.

--

Ken Wickes [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I'm not sure what you mean by "LAN adapters showing up in the connection

folder" since connection folder only shows connections but not the adapters
themselves...

In my Network Connections folder, there's only one single icon for me and

it's the "Local Area Connection" associated with my network adapter, and
it's under "LAN or High-Speed Internet" category.

In my Device Manager, there are two network adapters: 1394 Net Adapter, 3Com 3CR990-TX-97.

Before this problem, I had two connections under "LAN or High-Speed

Internet", one is "Local Area Connection", the other one is a 1394/Firewire
connection.

 

[Guest]

yes, I know that I'm missing the connection for 1394, but I don't think it is driver related. Anyway, I did try reinstalling driver, didn't help. Tried disabling it, didn't help for other connections to show up. Removed sound card (it's the 1394 controller on Creative SB Audigy) still didn't help for getting other connections to show

I'm not sure if you're getting the point: all of the connections still work, it's just that they don't show up where they are supposed to be, along with some glitches like non-functioning Network Setup Wizard and Advanced tab in VPN/dial-up properties.

 

[daniel]

Again.
Ditto.

yes, I know that I'm missing the connection for 1394, but I don't think it

is driver related. Anyway, I did try reinstalling driver, didn't help.
Tried disabling it, didn't help for other connections to show up. Removed
sound card (it's the 1394 controller on Creative SB Audigy) still didn't
help for getting other connections to show.

I'm not sure if you're getting the point: all of the connections still

work, it's just that they don't show up where they are supposed to be, along
with some glitches like non-functioning Network Setup Wizard and Advanced
tab in VPN/dial-up properties.

 

[Guest]

No new info?... :/ I hope MS tech support is looking into this...