XP is invisible because of Cisco VPN client

[guest]

Situation: one of your computer cannot be pinged. You cannot connect to it with
Remote Desktop or access the shared folders on it. However, it can ping
other computers and its own IP address and the computer can be pinged in
the Safe Mode with Networking.

Based on my experience, the issue is most
likely caused by a firewall program. Although you have turned off the
firewall, some firewall component may still interfere the network
communication. In order to narrow down the cause, I suggest we remove turn
off the Windows Firewall and remove any third party firewall program
installed on the computer:

1. Click Start, click Run, type firewall.cpl and click OK.
2. Select "Off (not recommended) and click OK.
3. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
4. Locate the firewall program and remove it.
5. Restart the computer.

If the issue persists, let us try the following steps to troubleshoot the
issue:

Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility
========
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.

The System Configuration Utility dialog box appears.

Step 2: Configure selective startup options
========
1. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab,
and then click Selective Startup.
2. Click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.
3. Click the Services tab.
4. Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box.
5. Click Disable All, and then click OK.
6. When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.

Step 3: Log on to Windows
========
1. Log on to Windows.
2. When you receive the following message, click to select the Don't show
this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows start
check box, and then click OK:

You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way
Windows starts.

The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or Selective
Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility to run
every time Windows starts.

Choose the Normal Startup mode on the General tab to start Windows normally
and undo the changes you made using the System Configuration Utility.

- Thank you Kevin, I had forgotten about MSCONFIG - very helpful!

Naturally the service that caused the problem was the very last one that I
re-enabled.

A service called 'Cisco Systems, Inc. VPN Service' was causing the problem
("C:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\cvpnd.exe"). The strange thing is
that the same service is running on my PC without the same problem occurring.

- Thank you for your quick response.

I understand that you have narrowed down the cause to a service called
"Cisco Systems, Inc. VPN Service". However, the same service runs on your
own computer with no problem.

From a Windows XP standpoint, I suggest you remove and reinstall the Cisco
software to test the issue. If this does not resolve the problem, you may
keep this service disabled and only enable it when necessary.

Considering it is a service associated with the Cisco software, the problem
may be related to the customized configuration of the software. It is
recommended to contact Cisco for further assistance on this problem since
we do not have the enough resource.

Thank you for your understanding.

For your convenience, I have included the contact information as below:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/support/index.html

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site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you.
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