I'm trying to set up VPN on my windows XP home edition machine at home so that I may connect to my home network from school to retrieve assignments and such without having to rely or a web server. I have a DSL connection with an actiontec wireless DSL gateway/router connected to my home computer running the VPN server. I have also forwarded the correct TCP ports (1723 I believe, I forwarded 1720-25 to be safe as well as a few UDP ports I heard that it might use, 500 I think) to that computer, added myself as an authorized user to connect, edited the protocols to not be picky about password authentication (advanced settings, enable pap, chap, etc. . . optional encryption) and still cannot connect. The client computer I'm using to connect is a windows xp pro computer, I set the client connection settings similar to what I have set up at home. The problem I have is that when I attempt to connect it says connecting, does that fine, but hangs on verifying username and password until it finally gives error 721: remote computer did not respond. As far as software firewalls I also did what I could to open the correct ports there too short of completely disabling them. I even have my own domain set up thru dyndns.org to make connection that much easier which I know is set correctly with them since my web page resolves when the server is up (which my wife loves to take down for some reason). I've even searched the forums here only to find that people can't connect at all, or can connect and just can't browse the networks (probably my next problem). Honestly I don't know what else to try short of an uzi to the whole setup. . .anybody that can offer some assistance with this would be much appreciated, and more information can be provided if needed.

Michael, When I first attempted to set up my VPN I had similar issues, so let me share my fix, and hope it helps you... First, the firewall itself is a big player, obviously. I had a Linksys, which would not properly pass the VPN through (could be your issue). Secondly, there is a GRE port that has to be opened, and you probably saw this everywhere, and like me, had no clue what the heck that meant (I still do not know, I just know my new firewall, a D-Link DI-604, passes it through!). My VPN does work, and here's what I had to open up in the firewall... UDP on port 500 , TCP on port 1723 , and GRE On many firewalls currently available, there is the option to allow PPTP and IPSEC pass through, which in a D-Link, turning both on, automatically sets things up correctly in the rules list. Another thing to keep in mind - XP Firewall. Disable it and test to see if that is the holdup. Hopefully these little details help. :) Matt