Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an important way for securely connecting to an office or work network. I have experienced a problem during installation of the VPN on a Windows XP SP3 running computer. The problem was that the New Connection Wizard at Network Connection stage has a disabled or grayed choice for Dial-up connection or Virtual Private Network connection.

Network Connection is dependent on three Windows Service that must be present and running for the choices to be enabled.

Important Windows Service for Network Connection:

• Telephony - Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices and IP based voice connections on the local computer and, through the LAN, on servers that are also running the service
• Remote Access Connection Manager - Creates a network connection
• Remote Access Auto Connection Manager - Creates a connection to a remote network whenever a program references a remote DNS or NetBIOS name or address

Starting Telephony, Remote Access Connection Manager, and Remote Access Auto Connection Manager services would enable the choice of Network Connection in the New Connection Wizard.