Disable Windows Internet Connection Sharing

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is a Windows feature that allows your Windows computer to share its dial-up connection to the Internet with other Windows computers nearby. The VPN  client will not install on Windows 98 or Windows ME if ICS is installed, and it will not install on Windows 2000 if ICS is enabled (ICS cannot be uninstalled from Windows 2000).

To remove or disable ICS, follow the appropriate instructions below. Once ICS is removed, you should be able to install the VPN  client.

Windows 98

1. Click on the Start button. From the start menu, choose Settings and then Control Panel.

2. In the Control Panel window, double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.

3. When the Add/Remove Programs window appears, click on the Windows Setup tab. You will see a list of components, each with a checkbox to the left of the component.

4. Click on the Internet Tools component (click on the component, not the checkbox next to it) so that it is highlighted, then click on the Details button.

5. A new list of Internet Tools components will appear. You should see Internet Connection Sharing listed near the top. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox next to Internet Connection Sharing by clicking on the checkbox. Once Internet Connection Sharing is unchecked, click the OK button.

6. You will be returned to the first Add/Remove Programs window. Click on the Apply button at the bottom of the window. You may see a box appear telling you that it is updating Windows. Once that box finishes, you may be prompted to restart your computer (go ahead and do so). If not, click the OK button to close the Add/Remove Programs window, and then restart your computer manually.

Windows ME

1. Click on the Start button. From the start menu, choose Settings and then Control Panel.

2. In the Control Panel window, double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon. (Note: in some cases, Windows ME hides some of the Control Panel icons. If you do not see an icon labeled Add/Remove Programs, then click on the blue highlighted text view all Control Panel options on the left side of the Control Panel window).

3. When the Add/Remove Programs window appears, click on the Windows Setup tab. You will see a list of components, each with a checkbox to the left of the component.

4. Click on the Communications component (click on the component, not the checkbox next to it) so that it is highlighted, then click on the Details button.

5. A new list of Communication components will appear. Scroll down until you see Internet Connection Sharing listed. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox next to Internet Connection Sharing by clicking on the checkbox. Once Internet Connection Sharing is unchecked, click the OK button.

6. You will be returned to the first Add/Remove Programs window. Click on the Apply button at the bottom of the window. You may see a box appear telling you that it is updating Windows. Once that box finishes, you may be prompted to restart your computer (go ahead and do so). If not, click the OK button to close the Add/Remove Programs window, and then restart your computer manually.

Windows 2000 and Windows XP

1. Click on the Start button, choose Settings, and then choose Network and Dial-up Connections.

2. A window will appear that displays your dial-up connections. Right-click on the dial-up connection that you use and choose Properties from the pop-up menu that appears.

3. In the properties window, click on the Sharing tab.

4. Make sure that the Enable Internet Connection Sharing for this connection option on the Sharing tab is unchecked (if it is already unchecked, then click the Cancel button and repeat steps 2 and 3 for your other dial-up connection until you find the connection that does have ICS enabled).

5. Click the OK button.