Cannot create a VPN connection using PPTP from 2003 Server

I have a Windows 2003 Server machine that periodically 'reaches out' to
another server on the Internet by creating a VPN connection. The
connection uses PPTP and has been running fine until recently. When I
manually try to connect using PPTP I receive error 609: A device type was
specified that does not exist. Using L2TP returns the standard '...could not
establish connection...' error. This is expected since the remote machine is
not configured for L2TP.

Intenet connectivity is OK. Can ping out. Web sites on this server can be
reached from outside the firewall.

Other machines on the LAN execute the same process OK.

Device Manager on the problem box looks to have the WAN Miniport (PPTP)
driver installed OK.

Is this a case where the WAN Minport (PPTP) device needs to be re-installed?

Other machines

3 weeks ago i had a similar problem with an 2003 server with isa 2006
installed. Same simptoms. In RRAS all PPTP ports were missing. Turns out it
was caused by security update 953230. Running the vb-script from this article
solved my problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956570/en-us


--
Kind regards,

Kees Alderliesten


"Bob Lin (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> VPN WAN miniport is corrupted even you can see it. You may wan to remove and
> reinstall it. This post may help.
>
> Can't see neither L2TP nor PPTP miniports
> I also tried the netcfg trick. No change except that I now can't see >>
> neither L2TP nor PPTP miniports in Device Manager. I can still create a ...
> http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...php?f=2&t=1922
>
> --
> Bob Lin, Microsoft-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
>
>
> "JG@HG" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:CB6A7FF4-63D1-4CAD-B658-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have a Windows 2003 Server machine that periodically 'reaches out' to
> > another server on the Internet by creating a VPN connection. The
> > connection uses PPTP and has been running fine until recently. When I
> > manually try to connect using PPTP I receive error 609: A device type was
> > specified that does not exist. Using L2TP returns the standard '...could
> > not
> > establish connection...' error. This is expected since the remote machine
> > is
> > not configured for L2TP.
> >
> > Intenet connectivity is OK. Can ping out. Web sites on this server can
> > be
> > reached from outside the firewall.
> >
> > Other machines on the LAN execute the same process OK.
> >
> > Device Manager on the problem box looks to have the WAN Miniport (PPTP)
> > driver installed OK.
> >
> > Is this a case where the WAN Minport (PPTP) device needs to be
> > re-installed?
> >
> > Other machines
>

The netcfg command does not seem to be available to me in Windows Server
2003. I see it in Vista, but not W2K3. Is this something that can be
downloaded?

Thanks

"Bob Lin (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> VPN WAN miniport is corrupted even you can see it. You may wan to remove and
> reinstall it. This post may help.
>
> Can't see neither L2TP nor PPTP miniports
> I also tried the netcfg trick. No change except that I now can't see >>
> neither L2TP nor PPTP miniports in Device Manager. I can still create a ...
> http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...php?f=2&t=1922
>
> --
> Bob Lin, Microsoft-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
>
>
> "JG@HG" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:CB6A7FF4-63D1-4CAD-B658-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have a Windows 2003 Server machine that periodically 'reaches out' to
> > another server on the Internet by creating a VPN connection. The
> > connection uses PPTP and has been running fine until recently. When I
> > manually try to connect using PPTP I receive error 609: A device type was
> > specified that does not exist. Using L2TP returns the standard '...could
> > not
> > establish connection...' error. This is expected since the remote machine
> > is
> > not configured for L2TP.
> >
> > Intenet connectivity is OK. Can ping out. Web sites on this server can
> > be
> > reached from outside the firewall.
> >
> > Other machines on the LAN execute the same process OK.
> >
> > Device Manager on the problem box looks to have the WAN Miniport (PPTP)
> > driver installed OK.
> >
> > Is this a case where the WAN Minport (PPTP) device needs to be
> > re-installed?
> >
> > Other machines
>

I found the following post on the Internet that describes how to re-install
miniports on Windows Server 2003 using devcon:
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread18016.html.

Cutting to the chase the steps are:

1. Download devcon.exe from some Microsoft site. You can google for it.

2. Open netrasa.inf in c:\windows\inf (c:\winnt\inf on win2k I guess)

3. Look for the section [Msft.NTx86]

4. In the DeviceID column, you can see the installable devices.

5. Run this command to install the WAN Miniport (PPTP):
devcon.exe install c:\windows\inf\netrasa.inf MS_PptpMiniport

6. You can install the other devices similarly. I think you will need
MS_L2tpMiniport, MS_PtiMiniport, MS_NdisWanIp, MS_PppoeMiniport additionally

Doing this addressed the '609: A device type was specified that does not
exist' issue, but now a different error has popped up.

I now get the following: TCP/IP CP reported error 31: A device attached to
the system is not functioning.

If I pass a bad username or password the connection asks for the correct
credentials so it looks like the PPTP connection is being established, but
not completed.

I found this MSKB article and tried it, but still no joy:
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=951013

This is a registry change, but no reboot was specified. Is a re-boot
required? Anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks


"JG@HG" wrote:

> I have a Windows 2003 Server machine that periodically 'reaches out' to
> another server on the Internet by creating a VPN connection. The
> connection uses PPTP and has been running fine until recently. When I
> manually try to connect using PPTP I receive error 609: A device type was
> specified that does not exist. Using L2TP returns the standard '...could not
> establish connection...' error. This is expected since the remote machine is
> not configured for L2TP.
>
> Intenet connectivity is OK. Can ping out. Web sites on this server can be
> reached from outside the firewall.
>
> Other machines on the LAN execute the same process OK.
>
> Device Manager on the problem box looks to have the WAN Miniport (PPTP)
> driver installed OK.
>
> Is this a case where the WAN Minport (PPTP) device needs to be re-installed?
>
> Other machines

Thanks for the quick response.

RRAS is not configured on this server. This server is acting as a client
only so RRAS is not needed.

If I apply the registry changes specified in MSKB article
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=951013 do I need to re-boot
the server for changes to be applied?



"Bob Lin (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> Thank you for the update. You may try to re-do the RRAS. Or this post may
> help too.
> RAS Error 31 A device attached to system is not functioning -
> http://chicagotech.net/netforums/vie...7b227c6#p10601
>
> --
> Bob Lin, Microsoft-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
>
>
> "JG@HG" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:204D304B-0A65-4FB6-83A2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I found the following post on the Internet that describes how to re-install
> > miniports on Windows Server 2003 using devcon:
> > http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread18016.html.
> >
> > Cutting to the chase the steps are:
> >
> > 1. Download devcon.exe from some Microsoft site. You can google for it.
> >
> > 2. Open netrasa.inf in c:\windows\inf (c:\winnt\inf on win2k I guess)
> >
> > 3. Look for the section [Msft.NTx86]
> >
> > 4. In the DeviceID column, you can see the installable devices.
> >
> > 5. Run this command to install the WAN Miniport (PPTP):
> > devcon.exe install c:\windows\inf\netrasa.inf MS_PptpMiniport
> >
> > 6. You can install the other devices similarly. I think you will need
> > MS_L2tpMiniport, MS_PtiMiniport, MS_NdisWanIp, MS_PppoeMiniport
> > additionally
> >
> > Doing this addressed the '609: A device type was specified that does not
> > exist' issue, but now a different error has popped up.
> >
> > I now get the following: TCP/IP CP reported error 31: A device attached to
> > the system is not functioning.
> >
> > If I pass a bad username or password the connection asks for the correct
> > credentials so it looks like the PPTP connection is being established, but
> > not completed.
> >
> > I found this MSKB article and tried it, but still no joy:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=951013
> >
> > This is a registry change, but no reboot was specified. Is a re-boot
> > required? Anyone have any other ideas?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
> > "JG@HG" wrote:
> >
> >> I have a Windows 2003 Server machine that periodically 'reaches out' to
> >> another server on the Internet by creating a VPN connection. The
> >> connection uses PPTP and has been running fine until recently. When I
> >> manually try to connect using PPTP I receive error 609: A device type was
> >> specified that does not exist. Using L2TP returns the standard '...could
> >> not
> >> establish connection...' error. This is expected since the remote
> >> machine is
> >> not configured for L2TP.
> >>
> >> Intenet connectivity is OK. Can ping out. Web sites on this server can
> >> be
> >> reached from outside the firewall.
> >>
> >> Other machines on the LAN execute the same process OK.
> >>
> >> Device Manager on the problem box looks to have the WAN Miniport (PPTP)
> >> driver installed OK.
> >>
> >> Is this a case where the WAN Minport (PPTP) device needs to be
> >> re-installed?
> >>
> >> Other machines
>