Ras 720 With E172

[claudiouk]

Hi, I've been succesfully using the mobile broadband with the USB modem E172 for 3/4 months but a few days ago it stopped working and now I can't connect anymore.
This is the error message that I'm getting with Vodafone Mobile Connect:

Mobile connection not possible.

- Set your current mobile device as the default
device in the 'Manage Devices' view
- Ensure that no other programs are using your
mobile device and try again in a short while
- Delete the device in the 'Manage Devices' view,
add it back again, and then try connecting.

If this error persists, please contact Support
at your mobile network operator.

Support information:
RAS error code 720

This used to work before on the same laptop (T60 Thinkpad with Windows XP).
Any suggestion on what the problem could be?

[Jediwannabe]

That particular error on an IBM XP laptop usually requires for the WAN Miniport to be reinstalled. It's a bit of a lengthy and troublesome process though, so I wouldn't be comfortable giving that kind of advice on the forum - best to speak to Vodafone's tech support directly and have them raise a case to the specialists in my opinion.

[Retired-Wayne]

Hi Claudio and welcome to the eForum

I’ve just had a quick search on a search engine and could only find that it would be something to do with your computer that is causing that issue.

Have you tried reinstalling the Vodafone Software?

If this doesn’t work I’d try Jediwannabe’s suggestion as they would be best equipped to deal with this, other than an independent I.T. specialist that is.

Thanks

Wayne

eForum Team

[claudiouk]

Hi Claudio and welcome to the eForum

I’ve just had a quick search on a search engine and could only find that it would be something to do with your computer that is causing that issue.

Have you tried reinstalling the Vodafone Software?

If this doesn’t work I’d try Jediwannabe’s suggestion as they would be best equipped to deal with this, other than an independent I.T. specialist that is.

Thanks

Wayne

eForum Team

I've tried reinstalling the software but with no joy.
How do I contact the tech support?

[Retired-James]

Hi Claudio

You can speak to one of our tech support through customer services on 191. they will be able to give your information specific to your issue and your laptop.

Many thanks

James
eForum Team

[vodabusiness]

It is a very common problem that occurs most frequently on IBM machines.

Jedi Wanabee is correct in saying that it takes a re-installation of the WAN miniport to rectify on the IBM builds and I would also back up the need to discuss with someone to guide you through the process.
Although this really is actually an issue with the laptop and not the modem, Vodafone do try to iron out these problems if it affects the way you use their products.

Essentially what has happened is that your dial up networking adapters have become unbound from the drivers and services that make it all tick.

A dificult & rubbish error that has many forum entries on IBM's tech forums but IBM deny knowing anything about it if you try to make them aware of it through their tech support.

[claudiouk]

Hi,

I've tried contacting the Vodafone customer support, as advised,
but after making me try to unistall and install everything again they said they didn't have a clue, basically they are saying that they are phone experts, not computer experts and being the problem specific to my laptop, they can't support me. I went to a Vodafone shop to try with a different modem and/or sim card but am still getting the same error.
Now, can anyone giving me instructions on how to reinstall the WAN miniport, as suggested by jediwannabe on this forum, so that I can try and do it myself.

Many thanks

Claudio

[vodabusiness]

How confident are you around your PC?
Essentially without going into too much detail the process is as follows.
Please do not attempt this from the info I am about to list, it is just a very brief checklist of what it entails.

Removing two reg entries.
Uninstalling a couple of entries from Device Manager.
Editing an inf file.
Re-adding the same two specific hardware entries that were removed from Dev Manager.
Re-editing the inf file back to its original state.
Running a reset command.
Reboot.
Fixed.

I would oridinarily refuse to just hand out documentation about this process and talk someone through it but if you are OK with PC's, you may not find this tricky. Entirely up to you.

[claudiouk]

I'm perfectly confortable with PCs and all the operations in the list.
If you could post the details I'll try and do it straight away.

Claudio

[vodabusiness]

Probably a good idea to read this through first and familiarise your self with the locations and files before you set about editing etc.
This is specifically for Lenovo Machines, there are other fixes for other manufacturers.

THIS WILL NOT WORK IN VISTA!!



1. REGISTRY EDIT:

First, locate the following location in your registry and create a backup of it in the interest of good practice:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002bE10318}

Once backed up, Expand this entry and you will see a list in numerical order.
The keys in particular you are after from this list contain the Driver Desc with Wan Miniport (IP) and Wan Miniport (PPTP).

For Example purposes only mine are in 0005 and 0008, once you are happy that you have found these, delete the relevant numerical key, so I would be deleting the 0005 and 0008 folders from the left pane.



2. UNINSTALL Miniports from Dev Manager.

In Device Manager, go to View in the top menu and select "Show Hidden Devices".

Open the Network Adapters category, locate and uninstall the Wan Miniport (IP) and Wan Miniport (PPTP) adapters.



3. LOCATE AND EDIT THE netrasa.inf file in c:\Windows\inf

Open the netrasa.inf file in notepad and put a semicolon in front of the text that reads "ExcludeFromSelect =\" which is under the header of

That particulat section should look like this when you have done it:


;ExcludeFromSelect =\

Save the file.


4. REINSTALL THE NETWORK ADAPTERS YOU JUST UNINSTALLED.

Go to Add New Hardware and go through the manual installation of a Network Adapter.
You are going to be selecting to select Microsoft as the Manufacturer and from the model list, Wan Miniport (IP) and then then after that you are going to repeat this installing a Wan Miniport (PPTP).


5. RESET TCP IP STACK.

Go to Command Prompt and run the following command.

nest int ip reset resetlog.txt


6. Go back to C:\Windows\inf ad relocate the netrasa.inf file and remove the semi colon you put in front of ExcludeFromSelect and the save it again.

7. Reboot the PC.

Try to connect but do not be alarmed if this does not connect first time, if it errors, try dialling again.
The first connection attempt usually just rebinds your dial up adapters with the required drivers and services again.

GOOD LUCK.