VPN connection defaulting to a Dial-up connection

[multiweb (Marc)]

I thought I'd take a chance here as I couldn't Google any useful info on the issue. The web is littered with this issue and no answer.

Win 7 Pro 64 bit + ADSL Router/Modem

My VPN stopped working this morning for no reason. Trying to recreate the connection with host, user/pwd etc... will return an error 797 pointing to a missing modem. I read posts all day about this problem but couldn't find any answer.

Has anyone here got a solution that works? I have a sneaking suspicion it's a registry issue but where to dig is the problem. I know it's not a driver issue. So far the only thing that nearly worked was to system restore to a week ago. The connection worked once then reverted to the same modem BS.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Try this one

http://www.conetrix.com/Blog/post/Fi...Windows-7.aspx

Here is another one incase the above one isn't the answer

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...-4d99c146d4ea/

[multiweb (Marc)]

Thanks Warren but I've been through all these and more with a fine tooth comb. Done that already. Doesn't work. I'm after first hand experience and hopefully a solution.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Thanks Warren but I've been through all these and more with a fine tooth comb. I'm after first hand experience and hopefully a solution.

Sorry Mate it is one I have never come across hope you get somewhere and I will keep thinking it over incase something clicks for me. GOOD LUCK

[acropolite (Phil)]

Marc, your information is a bit scant, there are many ways to establish VPN, what client are you using, what is used for the VPN server etc.

If you're using a windows VPN client and you have another machine my suggestion would be to see if you can establish the VPN on the other machine.

Are other VPN clients similarly affected; if the VPN server is a router based then it may be that the router just needs a reboot.

If your VPN is set up between 2 routers check that both have the correct static IP's if you can look at the logs and see if you can get an idea as to what is happening.

You used the term modem, is your setup using a modem/router in bridging mode? If so can you browse the web normally before attempting the VPN connection.?

It may also be that there is a routing issue within the wan and the VPN can't establish because of that.

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Hi Marc,

I take it this is why you were ringing me. Can you ping the address you are trying to connect to? Can you browse with IE or Firefox to the server you are trying to connect to? Is your VPN tunnel to a name or ip address?

I take it you are trying to connect one of the www servers you manage? Do you have others you can connect to?

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by acropolite

Marc, your information is a bit scant, there are many ways to establish VPN, what client are you using, what is used for the VPN server etc.

Hi Phil, I gave a minimum of information as I don't want to cloud the issue with other variables that I've ruled out. It is a local problem. The target server is working fine and I can access the VPN via other machines with the same or different OS. On this particular PC I use the native RASPPPOE in win7.

Originally Posted by acropolite

If you're using a windows VPN client and you have another machine my suggestion would be to see if you can establish the VPN on the other machine.

Yes see above.

Originally Posted by acropolite

Are other VPN clients similarly affected; if the VPN server is a router based then it may be that the router just needs a reboot.

No. The router is not the issue. It is also rebooted everyday. Yes, other clients can see the VPN fine. The target is working.

Originally Posted by acropolite

If your VPN is set up between 2 routers check that both have the correct static IP's if you can look at the logs and see if you can get an idea as to what is happening.

I can ping the target through the router and from the PC.

Originally Posted by acropolite

You used the term modem, is your setup using a modem/router in bridging mode? If so can you browse the web normally before attempting the VPN connection.?

Yes I am online. I don't have a modem. The VPN connection assumes I have a (missing) modem on creation. It is a bug during the connection creation. Not a hardware issue.

Originally Posted by acropolite

It may also be that there is a routing issue within the wan and the VPN can't establish because of that.

No routing issue as I can access the VPN from the same PC in a virtual XP machine. So a local conf issue in win7.

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Hi Marc,

I take it this is why you were ringing me. Can you ping the address you are trying to connect to? Can you browse with IE or Firefox to the server you are trying to connect to? Is your VPN tunnel to a name or ip address?

I take it you are trying to connect one of the www servers you manage? Do you have others you can connect to?

Hi Trev, yeah that's what I wanted to have a chat to you about.
None of my servers no. I use linux and SSH. I know better....
A customer's windows box located in Sydney. I tried both VPN to IP and name. I temporarily worked around by setting the database connections and FTP in one of the legacy XP machines I run in VMware and use the VPN within the VM then I use unity to embed it in my Win7 desktop. I made the host drives available to the VM. It's a bit slower but it works fine. But I'm interested in resolving this problem nonetheless.

The first error I got was an error #609 which is a phonebook issue, then an error 797 which is a missing (non existing) modem. I rolled back to a previous restore point with a clean boot at a time it was working.

The connection was back then ok. After rebooting I could see the VPN original connection. But editing the parameters or trying to connect would fail and again modify the VPN dialog box as a modem dial-up connection so back to square one. This has to be a registry issue. But I haven't had the time to dig out the keys. There's a lot of this on Google if you type 'VPN connection defaults to a dial-up connection'.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by acropolite

It may also be that there is a routing issue within the wan and the VPN can't establish because of that.

Your comments got me thinking and I think you've nailed it Phil. I've been focusing on the VPN connection creation when it's not the issue. There is indeed an issue but with the home network. Looking into it this week-end. The VPN defaults to a modem dial-up setup because it can't see the internet through the LAN. That's the problem. The internet is connected but the map shows as 'Unindentified Public Network' and no internet connection.