I recently update my system to SP2, and also updated Zonealarm to the Pro version. Following these two updates, my spouse's Cisco VPN client won't connect. I've read about doing a manual uninstall of the VPN client and Zonealarm. I've done both, reinstalled the VPN client, still no luck. Primary symptoms include: All network connections get the 'Deterministic Network Enhancer' added to them, which causes other connections to fail. I also find that my network connection changes in XP won't save.... they simply quit responding and I have to kill them. I also find that the VPN virtual network adapter created by the Cisco install won't go enabled... so I'm sure that's the root problem of why the client won't connect. I've eliminated my router and that isn't the problem. I've reset the TCPIP stack and that doesn't seem to matter either. I've used the Windows system tools to validate the Winsock isn't corrupted.... but just can't get the network connections straightened out. Any ideas?

I'm having the exact same problem as described here. I just installed an upgrade from the VPN 3000 client and am unable to fix the situation. When I run ipconfig /release, it can't release anything because it claims my DCHP is on automatic and won't release them. Also, the IP address it gives (169.xxx.xxx.xxx) is apparently an address that Windows uses when it can't connect to anything. I thought the problem might be isolated to my laptop, so like a fool, I installed it on my desktop. I checked the network connection before (it worked) and after (it didn't). Now I have two computers with the exact same problem. I did a reinstall of Windows on my desktop, but no dice - still the exact same problems. I'm running Win2K with all the latest upgrades. The desktop support guy where I work can't figure it out either and recommends totally rebuilding the system. I'm not quite ready to do that just yet, but am getting very close to simply reformatting my hard drive and reinstalling everything to get this rogue software off my boxes. Any other ideas?

I have been experiencing the same problem when I updated our Windows XP machines to SP2. The only sure thing I know that works is to turn off the Windows firewall in control panel. I try adding the Cisco VPN as an exception in the firewall or even adding UDP port number 62515, we still were unsuccessful. I hope this helps at least until Cisco or Microsoft can address this issue with an update.

Dough1, I am having the EXACT same problem with my laptop. I installed VPN and ever since it won't release or renew my IP address through ipconfig. Gives me the same error message. Upon further testing, I got this message with ipconfig /renew: The following error occured when renewing adapter Local Area Connection: An Operation was attempted on something that is not a socket. I am stumped. The network card is a 3com adapter that came with this Dell Inspiron 4100, and I have the latest drivers installed. I know the card works, because I also have PC MacLan installed and my Mac can see the PC fine over the network. I just can't seem to get the IP address to change from: 169.254.254.94 Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

Found a solution. Look here and scroll down to the step-by-step on how to fix the Winsock registry entries: http://www.socketforum.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1139 Seems like VPN corrupts the winsock registry entries for some reason. I did this and all is back to normal.