VPN connects but cannot ping VPN Server

[Barry]

I have setup a VPN between a Win XP Pro PC at the office and another Win XP
Pro at home. Both are behind nat routers.
The VPN works and authenticates OK, but I cannot explore/browse the shared
files on the servers.
I've tried to open files by \\Servername\ShareName and also by
IpAddress/ShareName.
But then realized I can't even ping the server addresss 192.254.1.97

Can someone guide me as to what's wrong.

Double-clicking the vpn connection icon gives these details:
Type: PPP
Transport: TCP/IP,IPX
Server: 192.254.1.97
Client: 192.254.1.999

Running IpConfig /all, gives these details:
C:\Program Files\Support Tools>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Tstclient
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : config

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : config
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Network
Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-16-6F-zz-xx-yy
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.65
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 01 August 2008 10:22:49
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 02 August 2008 10:22:49

PPP adapter Wel via VPN:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-xx-yy
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.254.1.99
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

Sound like firewall issue. Have check the firewall settings?

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[Barry]

Thanks - I've now read that (by default) Norton Internet Security 2008 does
stop pings (so that explains why I can't ping) but (by default) it DOES allow
file sharing.
So I'm back to my original problem ... I can connect but not browse.

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

Then you may need to re-configure NIS. Or to confirm it id NIS issue, try to
disable it for the test.

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com