Windows 7 64 bit VPN client problems

[fossellag]

Hi there,

I am currently running Windows 7 Professional 64 bit and Cisco VPN client 5.0.07.0240. I am able to connect to my corporate network and work ok however connecting is a very long process!

Connecting in terms of time is broken down as follows:

Opening VPN client program: 70 seconds.

Click connect and wait for user credentials dialogue box: 30 seconds.

Enter credentials and click ok then "Authenticating user": 90 seconds.

"Negotiating Security Policies": 60 seconds.

User Credentials box re-appears, re-enter credentials as dialogue box is empty and click ok: 90 seconds.

"Authenticating User" and then connection establised: 120 seconds.

I have a colleague running 64 bit Windows 7 (ultimate edition) who is using the same version and doesn't have these issues!

Any ideas anyone?!?

Cheers,

Gary

[fossellag]

I can confirm that both our installs were clean and not upgrades.

I will try the first two steps mentioned. I know that the DVD drive spins up shortly before launch because it's one of those drives that sounds like it's taking off when it spins!

Uninstalling and re-installing would be no problem. Would it best if I re-install the same version or install 5.0.07.0290 (currently running 5.0.07.0240 - same as colleague).

I will post again soon with the firewall disabled and the vpn service re-started...

Gary

[fossellag]

Connected with the 2 steps suggested - didn't make any difference to times - logs attached anyway...

[Namit Agarwal · Accepted solution]

Gary, thanks for the update. So disabling the firewall and restarting the vpn service did not help . Could you please try and install the version 5.0.07.0290 ?

Before you do that I would like to know if you are importing the .pcf files for the VPN Client. If yes, please try and recreate a .pcf file on the PC and then try and use that file to connect. Also I see that the existing .pcf file you are using is a read-only file. Could you change that and give write permissions to the file and try connecting. If thess two steps do not help then lets install the version 5.0.07.0290.

Thanks,

Namit

[fossellag]

Hi Namit,

I had been importing the pcf files and as you correctly pointed out - for some reason they were read only files.

I modified this and the program launched within seconds. I still get asked to authenticate twice however the response is almost instant! (I've again attached logs).

Thanks for all your help!

[professorguy2006]

.pcf file must be read-only to prevent the known bug whereby the client overwrites the .pcf with blanks and the connection entry "disappears" from the client.  If you fix your speed problem by changing the .pcf to readable, be prepared to re-install the .pcf after it is destroyed.  But that is probably the lesser of 2 evils.

[professorguy2006]

The reason the .pcf file is read-only is because there is a different known bug with Cisco VPN

clients whereby if certain conditions are met, the .pcf file is blanked and the client no lo

nger knows the address and PSK required to find the VPN concentrator.  To fix this, the correct

procedure is to make the .pcf read-only.  If this fixes your problem, be aware you are going to ha

ve another problem within a few months.  Clients will complain that the connection entry is missing and you'll find t

he .pcf is empty.