RV016 VPN Client / Windows XP issue

[sterningredients]

I have an RV016 router and am using the Cisco RV016 router with Quick VPN.

I've spent several hours on the phone with Cisco tech support and they said they've done everything they can to test and resolve this issue.

I have a laptop running Windows XP. I've had windows firewall and the AVG firewall disabled on this in order to go into the VPN connection. It's been running fine for a few days. Then suddenly today it will not complete the connection. It says "Remote Gateway is not responding. Do you want to wait?"

Here's what I've done so far - opened up the router in the remote office for firewall settings. I have completely removed all antivirus software from the laptop then uninstalled and reinstalled the latest version of Quick VPN.

Nothing is working. Just for kicks I even uninstalled the latest version of the VPN and tried the older software included on the CD with the router.

I'm stumped and so are every one of the techs at Cisco.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm pretty new so I need to have it broke down so I can understand.

Thanks

[tchilders]

I have the same issue with an RV016. 

The only way I can connect with QuickVPN is to disable the RV016 Firewall.

I use Windows Remote Desktop to connect to a PC on the LAN, logon to the RV016, turn off the the firewall (on the RV016), then connect with QuickVPN. Once I'm connected I can turn the RV016 Firewall back on.

I have learned to rely more on Remote Desktop (I have different ports for several different PCs and servers) rather than risk leaving the Firewall disabled.  But this works, and I haven't found anything else.

The settings on the laptop seem to be immaterial.... it's just that darned RV016 Firewall!!

[sterningredients]

I gave it a try and still no connection. However, I think I was having a similar problem with one of my other remote users. Instead of completely disabling the firewall - the Cisco tech suggested disabling Block WAN request on the firewall and that did the trick.

The weird thing is I was able to connect several times within the past week with this laptop. Its only today that it began to drop the connection on my laptop. Nothing has changed. There was no windows update - no new software installed - nothing. I'm completely stumped.

I actually use a remote software called LogMeIn instead of remote desktop to do all the configurations between the remote computer and my router.

[sterningredients]

Also, one of the techs suggested using The Green Bow VPN software. I installed the trial version but have no idea how to set up and configure it.

Forget using the 'user manual' its a total joke.

[tchilders]

I tried a 3rd party VPN, too, with no luck... too complex for my time and energy levels.

The RV016 has very little RAM, and I think it is poorly managed, so a reboot will sometimes bring it back into focus (System Management - Restart Router), but it's not a cure-all.