I have SP-2 and connect to work via VPN, so your problem might be something
else.
I do recall the IT folks stressing to me that the VPN would only work if I
had no other connection to the internet. That is, Internet explorer,
Netscape, Firefox must NOT be running. This might have been a security
thing, specifc to my company, but I have noticed that it does seem to be
true.
I am using a cable modem, and the pC is directly connected to it. Others at
work use DSL. I know of no one trying VPN via a 56K modem. In theory it
might work, but our IT folks do not recommended it.
I do recall one SP-2 thing that can interfer with some internet activity,
and that is the XP firewall. Mine is off, since I use Zone Alarm (free
version). I do recall ZA asking for permission to let some program or two
connect ot the internet the first time I made a VPN connection.
Other than that, there are security setting specific to each computer
network, and you need to know those for your work network. For example, I
must first log-in to the network in general, then a second time to my
assigned work computer (by IP address). After that the desktop from my work
computer appears on my home PC's monitor.
Since each network can be different from a security viewpoint, ask your work
IT group for some help.
