VPN Error: This connection requires an active Internet Connection – Windows Vista
Posted by Dave Mellors | Filed under Fixes to problems, How To
- Windows Vista VPN Error
When I try to connect to VPN on my Vista PC I click on “Connect To” and the VPN connection has a cross next to it and an error that reads “This connection requires an active Internet Connection”. For ages I have just been using a workaround that involves going into “Manage Network Connections” and connecting from there instead but it was getting on my nerves and after about 15 minutes of trying I managed to resolve the problem for myself and I have to be honest involved some luck in finding a hidden menu bar.
Instructions:
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Open the control panel
Hidden network menu bar and advanced settings dalog
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Click Network and Internet, click Network and Sharing Center, and then click Manage network connections.
OR if you are using Classic View
Click Network and Sharing Center, and then click Manage network connections. -
Open the Organize menu option and select Layout and then menu bar (This was the hidden bit. Did you know there was a menu bar?).
- You should now see a menu bar with an Advanced menu item. Click on the Advanced Settings item from the Advanced menu.
- In the Adapters and Bindings tab make sure that Local Area Connection is at the top. The chances are if you have installed the Loopback Adapter or virtual machine software (Sun xVM Virtualbox in my case) then that adapter is the top one.
- Reboot PC and try again.
This post is on my blog to remind myself how I got around the problem but I would be really interested to hear if this worked for you or even if it didn’t as your experience might help others.
May 17th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
It’s absolutely outrageous that the advanced options should be buried so deep! I’m just amazed you found it…
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Thank you! I’d been doing same as you were, just working around it, until I finally got frustrated and decided to fix it once and for all… One quick Google search, and you were the first hit! Problem solved!
August 17th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Thanks, i am workring from home, and i was starting to have problems with this, because i was connected via my mobil phone ! but i hope this fixes the problem, now for reboot
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 am
You don’t even need to reboot. Just disable the active adapter (wireless, LAN, etc.), re-enable it, and you’re good to go. Thanks for the solution.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
This also works on Windows 7. The “Manage network connections” has been renamed (why??) to “Change adapter settings”, but from there on it’s the same process.
Alternatively one can just type “Network Connections” in the start menu to bring up the
Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections window.
What clever idiot decided the public would be too confused by the phrase “Manage network connections”, and decided “adapter settings” would be clearer? Someone needs to get out of his or her echo chamber…
September 29th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Thank you for posting this. Like you, I was growing tired of opening up the network connections window to establish the VPN connection and knew there would be some solution somewhere. Your post saved me some time, thanks.
FYI – I was seeing the exact same problem on Windows 7, not Vista. On Win 7, your directions are almost exactly right, with one difference. On Windows 7, rather than clicking on ‘Manage Network Connections’, the link now reads “Change Adapter Settings”.
Thanks again.
February 25th, 2010 at 7:19 am
Excellent and helpful, thanks! Fixed my problem getting VPN to work with Windows Vista running in VirtualBox.
February 10th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Thanks for all the info, people! Misrosoft… pah!! I have the connection problem when installing Smart Board 10 onto a Dell XPS laptop running Windows 7 – when it tries to download the Gallery content it stops with the message ‘make sure you have an active internet connection…’ even though I know the connection is working. Here’s hoping your suggestions work for me.
June 16th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Thanks! That was really annoying me
July 11th, 2011 at 7:19 am
I have this problem when I try to play Yu-Gi-Oh! ONLINE 3 please can you solve it as i can’t follow your information since I’m using Windows XP not Vista.