Article ID: 184227 - Last Review: November 26, 2003 - Revision: 3.0

Cannot Connect to H/PC and Virtual Private Network at Same Time

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This article was previously published under Q184227

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) from a desktop computer connected to a Handheld PC (H/PC), you receive the following error message on the desktop computer:

Error 645: Dial-up adapter is in use or is not responding properly. Disconnect other connections and try again. If this problem persists, shutdown and restart your computer.

When you attempt to connect an H/PC to a desktop computer connected to a VPN, you receive the following error message on the H/PC:

Your Connection was dropped because there was no carrier detect signal. Your Serial cable or serial port hardware may not be communicating this signal properly. If you are using a modem, your call may have been dropped or you may need to reset your modem.

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CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Microsoft Dial-Up Networking 1.2 only allows two active connections. A connection to a VPN uses two Dial-Up Networking connections: one for the Dial-Up Networking connection itself, and the other for the connection to the VPN. A Direct Cable Connection to an H/PC uses a Dial-Up Networking connection.

When you start a connection to a VPN, you cannot start an additional Dial-Up Networking or Direct Cable Connection. When you start a Direct Cable Connection, you cannot start a connection to a VPN.

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RESOLUTION

To prevent this issue from occurring, either disconnect from the VPN before you connect the H/PC, or disconnect the H/PC before you connect to the VPN.

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