Using VPN on Windows Vista

[L. D. James]

I've been using VPN to connect to the office shares for years. Now
the new Windows Vista Home Premium Laptop computer fails to connect.
During times of attempting to connect there have been various errors.
Right now the error that's coming up is error 809, "connection could
not be established because server is not responding...". The Desktop
has no problems connecting.

I tried it with the Firewalls disabled and got the same message.

Thanks in advance for anyone having any input or suggestions on the
matter.

-- L. James

 

[Frankster]

What VPN client are you using? The one in built-in to Vista? Just to be
clear.

-Frank

 

[L. D. James]

What VPN client are you using? The one in built-in to Vista? Just to be
clear.

-Frank

Thanks, Frankstar.

On all computers I'm using the Windows host and client. The VPN server is
Windows Server 2003 Sp1. The two home computers are the built-in client
with the PPTP protocol.

-- L. James

 

[L. D. James]

Reading another thread where a user was having problems with his wireless
but not the cable connection, I tried the cable connection. Now I get Error
919 - .could not be established because of the authentication protocol used
by the RAS/VPN server to verify your username and password could not be
matched with the settings in your connection profile, message.

The computer is an ACER Aspire 5610Z.

I'm currently trying to compare the two protocols and all the settings that
I have on the Desktop and the Laptop.

-- L. James

 

[cvinson]

The computer is an ACER Aspire 5610Z.

Hi - I'm having the same problem - same laptop. My "company" is
telling me they haven't found a work around yet - they say it's a
problem with Vista - this can't be true - well not that Vista can't
have a problem - but that it can't support such a common task - will
be following your thread.

Cristy

 

[L. D. James]

Hi - I'm having the same problem - same laptop. My "company" is
telling me they haven't found a work around yet - they say it's a
problem with Vista - this can't be true - well not that Vista can't
have a problem - but that it can't support such a common task - will
be following your thread.

Cristy

Glad for the comment, Cristy. The Acer support seems to be loco. The
computer comes with 3 partitions. Partition 1 is a hidden partition
that's made for restoring factor defaults. Partition 2 is the Windows
Vista OS. Partition 3 is the data partition.

First I ran their backup/recover procedure to two blank DVD's. Then I
installed Windows XP on partition 3 (without formatting). Booting to
Windows XP worked, but the dual boot failed. I didn't get the option
to selectively boot to Windows Vista. I thought the DVD's would
restore Vista on partition 2, so I started the process. After running
for more than an hour and indicating 22 minutes left, the restoral
failed. They the computer wouldn't boot to either XP or Vista.

This time I installed Vista on Partition 2, and XP on partition 3.
Now I had a perfectly dual booting system. However, at this time the
wireless network adapter wouldn't be recognized. I added a PCMCIA
wireless adapter card. The VPM worked perfectly (on the XP side).

So I decided to use the dual boot, and contacted Acer for drivers for
the card. They said the drivers for XP were on the computer and I
would have to get it back to factory default. They said it already
had a dual boot and they would show me how to get to it.

Because of the failed DVD backup, and they don't ship driver disk (or
anything else), the only way to get it back was to exchange the
computer. So the computer was exchanged. Then I called to have them
walk me though getting to the dual boot so that my client could use
his VPN.

This time they said it wasn't possible and that a Windows XP
installation would void the warrantee. I won't go into all the
details they included such as they have problems with Vista and
drivers. Everything worked under XP, but you can't install XP because
it would void the warrantee. They said everyone is having problems;
you just have to wait until they get the bugs out of Vista.

So, my client is locked out of his VPN.

I'm still at it, and if I learn how to fix the problem, I'll pass it
on. If you learn anything, please update me with it.

-- L. James