Troubleshooting Hardware and Software

We all like issues that can be fixed with the press of a button and don’t require too much technical knowledge. Unfortunately, the VPN Error 812 isn’t one of them. It tells you that there is a configuration issue, usually one related to connection authentication. And though the fixes are complex, our guide is anything but.

Fix #1: Tackle the Error 812 by configuring the External DNS settings

If you’ve dealt with the similarly-complex VPN Error 691 in the past, you’ll be familiar with this step. If not, we’ll quickly navigate you through it for a fix that is often all that’s needed to fix the Error 812, as difficult as it might seem.

Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run menu. Once it’s up, type in ncpa.cpl, find your VPN connection, right click on it and go into Properties.

First, make sure that the Primary DNS is set to Domain Controller and then head to the Secondary DNS to modify the External DNS settings.

The Primary DNS’ range should be set to 8.8.8.8, and if it isn’t, set it and restart the VPN after confirming the settings. While this usually fixes the problem, there are still steps to take if Error 812 keeps coming up.

Fix #2: Modify the Network Policy settings

Because the Error 812 often comes up after an update, a few quick tweaks to the Network Policy might do the trick. In the Network Policy menu, find the Tunnel type Condition and press on the given Condition, which will either be set as L2TP or PPTP.

Whichever Condition you have, select the other one, press OK and then restart the VPN. Try to connect and see if you’re still getting the Error 812. If you are, go back to the Network Policy menu, revert to the original setting and restart the VPN once again before attempting to connect.

Fix #3: Reinstall the VPN, try another VPN or talk to your network administrator

By now, we’ve pretty much covered everything you can do to fix Error 812 with limited access to the network. Since we mentioned that this error frequently appears after an update, one thing you can attempt to do is to reinstall the VPN software on your own machine, and then afterwards all of the other machines in the office as well.

If this error came up as soon as you started using a VPN, one thing to try is to switch to another VPN client altogether. We like Ivacy VPN in our office, as it’s well-suited for enterprise solutions, easy to set up and use and hasn’t given us this or any other errors that complicate things. Alternatively, talk to your network administrator or someone within tech support, as exhausting the aforementioned solutions means that better access and familiarity will likely be needed to resolve things.

Out of the various errors that can plague VPN users, the VPN Error 691 can be among the more technical ones and therefore more challenging to solve. While it generally signals an issue with the username and password you are connecting with, the problem can oftentimes be deeper. Don’t worry, as we’ve covered just about every cause and solution.

Editor’s note: do not mistake VPN Error 619 with the VPN Error 691, although they have similar numbers, it’s a completely different issue.

Fix #1: Create a new connection and see if it’s still giving you an Error 691

We like to start off with easy solutions, and this is definitely the easiest on our list. While Error 619 or something similar can oftentimes be fixed by simply restarting one or more devices, the same is rarely true of Error 691. There is one thing you can do, however.

Navigate to the VPN section in the Network & Internet settings on your Windows machine, delete the VPN connection you are using and then find your way to the “Add a VPN connection” button. Set up a new connection that has PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol) enabled and use it to connect.

If it’s fixed by this point, you’re good to go. Another thing you can do is to change the VPN software that your office is currently using with something like Ivacy VPN, which we’ve ourselves used for a long time and can attest to its functionality. While this can be cumbersome if you’re using a lot of machine, it’s a good attempt at a one-stop-shop fix before you move into more complex ones.

Fix #2: Switch to, or enable, Microsoft CHAP Version 2

While we did say that the above solution is as far as you get in terms of easy ones, you don’t need to haul in tech support just yet. In a lot of cases, the Error 619 can be fixed by simply enabling the Microsoft CHAP (Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol) Version 2 in case you’re still using the v1.

To do this, you can either press the Windows Key + X and select “Network Connections” or press Windows Key + R and type in “ncpa.cpl” without the quotation marks and press OK. From here, make your way to the VPN Connection, right click it and select Properties, go to the Security tab and allow the Microsoft CHAP Version 2 near the bottom of the prompt.

Fix #3: See what’s to do about your logon options and data

If enabling Microsoft CHAP Version 2 still gives you an Error 619 when you’re trying to connect, there could be one or several issues related to your logon data and settings. Depending on where you’re connecting to, you might be required to enter a username and password, and it pays to double-check that these are entered correctly on your machine before trying something else. You might also want to verify that you are connecting directly to your company’s network and not a subsection of it, along with trying to create an entirely new logon ID.

Still getting the Error 619 after all of these?

Go to the same menu we listed above, but hit the VPN Connection tab instead of Security. Make sure that the “Include windows logon domain” is disabled, and if it’s not, disable it yourself and press OK. Here is where you might also want to update your network drivers (by finding your router in the Network adapters section in Device Manager) before heading towards the most technical fix on our list.

Fix #4: Tweak the LANMAN settings

Although doing this isn’t that hard, it does signal that you’re running out of fixes you can do yourself, and if you’re still getting the Error 619 afterwards, you’re more than likely to require external help. In the same Run menu we mentioned above that’s accessed by pressing the Windows Key + R, type in secpol.msc and press OK.

From here, you’ll have to do a bit of navigation, making your way from the Administrative Tools to Local Security Policy, then Local Policies and finally Security Options. Here, open the Network Security: LAN Manager authentication level, and under the default Local Security Setting, enable the Send LM & NTLM responses only setting and press OK. In the same area, head to Network Security: Minimum Session Security for NTLM SSP, then its Local Security Setting and make sure the Require 128-bit encryption is disabled.

After confirming this, you might want to restart your computer depending on how many things you’ve tweaked, and if you’re still getting the Error 619, don’t hesitate to reach out to a tech specialist in your company, as you’ll know you’re dealing with a deeper issue.

Easy errors don’t always translate to easy solutions, and the VPN Error 619 is just about that type of a problem. While getting it tells you that there is a problem with the server or machine you are connecting to, finding out what’s wrong isn’t as straightforward. However, our list of quick fixes should have it taken care of without too much trouble and get you back to full connectivity.

Editor’s note: do not mistake VPN Error 619 with the VPN Error 691, although they have similar numbers, it’s a completely different issue.

First fix for the VPN Error 619: disable or tweak the firewall

We can’t tell you how many times our co-workers were quick to point the blame to our trustworthy Ivacy VPN when they were getting the Error 619, the Error 807 or any of the other most common issues. In reality, the VPN was working fine, but it couldn’t allow any connections through because it was being blocked by one or more firewall software suites.

When tackling this issue, we recommend a gradual approach. Ideally, the firewall on your machine would have been installed by a tech support specialist, and both the Windows firewall and the third-party firewall would have been configured in a way that doesn’t impede any connectivity. So, start by navigating to the Windows Firewall and making a security exception for whichever VPN you are using, both for incoming and outgoing connections. Restart the VPN and see if the error is still coming up.

If it is, try disabling the Windows Firewall, restarting the VPN again and seeing what happens. If this hasn’t helped things, it’s time to look into third-party software. Find out which third-party firewall you’re using (there will oftentimes be several of them installed on a single machine) and repeat the process, uninstalling each of them if an exception didn’t help. There is also the possibility that you have a hardware firewall in your router (or a firewall that covers the entire office), but you’ll likely need help from tech support to tackle this issue.

Second fix for the VPN Error 619: check your proxy

A proxy should generally be redundant if you’re using a VPN, but many forget to remove it and allow for a clean connection. Depending on your office needs, you might also require the use of a proxy on top of a VPN, but it should be fairly easy to figure out if one is causing this issue.

Simply go to the Proxy Server section in your Windows machine and see what’s the lay of the land. The “Automatically Detect Settings” option should be enabled, as it will let the PC detect that a VPN is running and configure the proxy to allow a connection’s passage. From there, turn off the “Use Proxy Server”, and if it was on, hopefully the Error 619 will stop giving you issues.

As is the case with the previous fix, you’ll probably want to check whether the entire office network is set up to use a proxy, as the issue can oftentimes not be localized to a single machine and therefore out of your hands.

Third fix for the VPN Error 619: Tweak your settings

By now, we imagine you’ve reset the router plenty of times, restarted your machine and done all of that stuff. That leaves you with one thing to do before handing the issue over to tech support, and that’s checking your VPN configuration.

In the “Network and Internet” section under your Windows Setting, go to VPN and then try making an altogether new connection with the “Add a new VPN connection” option. The prompt should be fairly easy to navigate through, but whatever you fill in, the most important part is to make sure that the new connection is set as PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol), as this is one of the most frequent causes of Error 619. Afterwards, try connecting with the newly-made VPN connection and see if that resolves the issue.

If nothing has changed, you can try reinstalling the VPN on your end, attempt to connect to a different server and see if other devices on the office network are using the latest version of the VPN. However, you’ll most likely need to forward the issue to someone with more technical knowledge and access to the full office network configuration.

This joy of an issue starts of with these exact words: Error 789: The L2TP connection attempt failed because the security layer encountered a processing error during initial negotiations with the remote computer. Do not mistake it with VPN Error 807 which is a completely different pair of shoes.

In the simplest of terms, the VPN Error 789 happens when your own machine can’t establish a L2TP connection with another. Though the error dialogue might sound confusing with talks of security layers and processing errors, the fixes are actually pretty straightforward and resemble what you might do if you stumbled upon or any of the most common nuisances.

Fix #1: Try some resets to do away with VPN Error 789

We use Ivacy VPN in our office, and though the software is as solid as they come, plenty of co-workers will get the Error 789 and believe it to be a tough-to-solve technical issue. In truth, just like with Error 807 or any of the most common issues, the Error 789 can often be solved by a few unplugs and replugs, be it on the software or hardware side.

Since hardware is the easiest, we suggest you start there. Unplug both your modem and router from your own machine and then unplug both devices from their power source. Wait around 30 seconds and then plug them back in. If the devices are separate, it can be a good idea to add a 30 seconds between plugging each of them back in for optimal results. This will set the network back to default and oftentimes solve Error 789.

If it persists, navigate to the Device Manager in your Windows machine, get to your network adapter, uninstall it with the right click menu and then restart the computer. This will reinstall the network adapter and, more likely than not, fix Error 789.

Fix #2: Verify the certificates and enable IPSec

If it persists, don’t panic: it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to reach out to tech support yet. First, make sure that both the device you are connecting from and the server you are trying to reach out to have the same security certificates. A different security certificate on both machines can essentially act as a firewall stopping the connection.

Another thing to do is to open the start menu, navigate to Run, type services.msc and press Enter. From here, find the IPSec section by scrolling to the IKE and AuthIP IPSec Keying Modules. An offline or malfunctioning IPSec Policy Agent can often cause Error 789, so either enable it if it’s disabled or restart it with the right click if it’s enabled. Set it to automatic start-up through the same menu and either restart just your VPN or the machine as well.

3#: Ensure open connectivity on both ends

By now, you’ll have run out of most easy solutions for Error 789, but let’s try a few things more first. The server your VPN is connecting to should be highlighted as green or alternatively have a full bar, which translates to the best connectivity. If it isn’t, use the drop-down menu to find a closer one.

Likewise, try to connect to another network to see if the ports on your machine are open at all. This can be another computer in your Home or Office network or anything else that you find secure. If the Error 789 persists, you are probably dealing with closed ports on your machine that need to be opened or a firewall that’s blocking most or all traffic.

The last point also signals the end of easy solutions for fixing this error. By now, you’ll most likely need assistance from a tech specialist, be it to open up the machine without causing security issues or to fin whichever deeper-rooted issue is causing this.

Out of the different VPN errors that tend to plague offices, the VPN Error 807 can appear to be among the most straightforward, yet also give users a surprisingly difficult time. It tells you that a connection between two machines is being interrupted, whether due to mismatched VPN clients, an overloaded network or a clogged connection. Do not mistake it with VPN Error 789 which is a different ball play.

The full error text is: “Error 807: The network connection between your computer and the VPN server was interrupted. This can be caused by a problem in the VPN transmission and is commonly the result of internet latency or simply that your VPN server has reached capacity. Please try to reconnect to the VPN server. If this problem persists, contact the VPN administrator and analyze quality of network connectivity”.

Fix #1: Double-check your VPN client in and out.

As much faith as you have in your VPN client, it could very well be the true culprit behind Error 807. For one, a lot of VPN clients use free plans with a limited bandwidth. While this is great for some uses, exceeding the bandwidth can either revert the connection speed back to dial-up times or halt it altogether.

We use Ivacy VPN pro in our office, and so long as everyone’s machine is updated to the latest version, everything works smoothly. Regardless of the VPN you’re using, you should make sure that every machine is running the pro version. Likewise, all machines should be using the same version of the software, as just missing an update or two could lead to problems.

Fix #2: Reset the machines and see if Error 807 goes away

The simplest solutions often work best, and the same is true here. A combination of modem, router and computer reset will oftentimes fix Error 807.

Start by turning off your modem and/or router and then unplugging both devices from the computer and whichever power source it has. Wait 30 seconds, then plug both of them back in and turn the devices on (or the device, if it’s a two-in-one router and modem).

Still getting the error? We’re guessing you’ve already tried turning the VPN itself off and on (if not, be sure to do that first), so try restarting the computer. If nothing’s changed, type “cmd” without the quote marks in the prompt you get after opening Run from the Windows start menu, then type “netsh winsock reset” in the command prompt, again without the quotation marks. This will issue a command to reset the network adapter, and after it’s finished, restart the computer and see if Error 807 is still popping up.

Fix #3: Ensure that the firewall isn’t blocking the connection

As useful as they are from preventing all sorts of malicious attacks, firewalls can oftentimes get in the way and cause just as much trouble as they are helpful. If you suspect that your firewall could be the cause of the Error 807, it should be fairly easy to find out whether this is the case.

Start by figuring out which firewall your machine is using. Oftentimes, a third-party firewall is going to be installed on top of a working Windows Firewall without the latter being properly configured. For starters, navigate to the Windows Firewall and ensure that it has both an inbound and an outbound security exception for your VPN, then do the same with any third-party firewall you might be using.

For a more aggressive solution, you can try temporarily disabling Windows Firewall and the third-party firewall altogether, as well as uninstalling the third-party firewall. While it might seem risky, it won’t really expose your machine that much since you weren’t getting a connection in the first place, and you’ll have a definite answer as to whether security software is causing Error 807.

Fix #4: Run a DISM scan and clean your registry and other forms of history

Usually, when you start getting into the more technical solutions, you know you’re running out of options. The same is true here, but don’t fret just yet. Your Windows machine will have a built-in DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) utility software, and running it will ensure that something hasn’t gone awry during a Windows update or something along those lines.

Still getting VPN Error 807? As a last resort, see what happens when you download a registry cleaner (a lot of people like Ccleaner, though you can use anything similar) and run a full clean, emptying both the registry and a lot of other residual data that might have stuck around. If you’ve tried this and are still getting the error, you’ll know it’s time to haul technical support over so they can take it from here.