Windows 7 PPTP VPN connection fails to connect [Fireware XTM v11.x, Fireware v10.x]

One reason a Windows 7 PPTP VPN connection could fail to connect, is because of the default VPN connection configuration settings in Windows 7.

When you set up a VPN connection in Windows 7, the default setting for Type of VPN is Automatic. With this default configuration, Windows 7 uses the SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol) for the first connection attempt, before it uses the other connection types. This results in a delay that can cause your PPTP VPN connection to fail. To configure the Windows 7 VPN connection to use PPTP, you must change the Type of VPN setting in the Windows 7 VPN connection configuration from Automatic to Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).

1. From the Windows Start menu, select Control Panel.
2. Select Network and Internet. Then select Network and Sharing Center.
3. Click Connect or disconnect. This is to the right of "View your active networks".
   A list of network connections appears.
4. Right-click the PPTP VPN connection. Select Properties.
5. Select the Security tab.
6. From the Type of VPN drop-down list, select Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).
7. Click OK.

If your VPN connection failure was caused by the incorrect "Type of VPN" setting, this configuration change can resolve the issue.