VPN Forum access and IP addresse Tests

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 05:44 PM

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Nathan (hide.me Support)
Oct 12, 19:34 UTC
Hello Alan,
I'm sorry for the inconvenience, those were hyperlinks which you can click on and it will lead you directly to those public sources. When you hover with your mouse over it you will notice a link to which it is leading.

This article here also might help is this one: https://social.technet.microsoft.com...ovistasecurity
Some information is this article here https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/ticket/839 which suggest to ignore that error.
I'm sorry for the confusion, I was referring to these articles and I will also provide direct links for other articles mentioned in my previous reply:
You can check and follow the recommended steps these articles below.
https://www.kapilarya.com/error-1068...art-windows-10
https://www.kapilarya.com/remote-acc...-in-windows-10
It is mentioned in OpenVPN github section here https://github.com/OpenVPN/openvpn-gui/issues/303 that OpenVPNServiceInteractive error looks like a local issue.
For some users uninstalling both OpenVPN and TAP adapter helped as in this article here: https://forums.openvpn.net/viewtopic.php?t=25770
With this article you can see how to check if you have administrator privileges https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001093.htm but from what you mentioned it seems that's not a problems.

On your Windows XP machine can you do the following commands in command prompt, press 'Windows Key + R' and then type in cmd in the Run box and hit Enter. Now type in the following command in Command Prompt, enter this both when you are not connected to VPN and also while connected to VPN:
nslookup hide.me
nslookup hide.me 8.8.8.8
route print
And on your Vista computer, uninstall your previous OpenVPN client and download and install this OpenVPN version and try connecting with it later. If you're using 32-bit version download this one here: https://build.openvpn.net/downloads/...-I001-i686.exe
In case you're using 64-bit version try this one here: https://build.openvpn.net/downloads/...001-x86_64.exe
Regarding this screenshot https://imgur.com/KMk8m1F - VPN client Adapter is adapter for SoftEther and TAP Windows Adapter V9 adapter is for OpenVPN.
Please check that you are not connecting both SoftEther and OpenVPN connection at the same time.
Also, on Windows XP and Vista please try (this configuration file), you can also try it on other computer and let me know if it is working better.
Sincerely,
Nathan

Doc.AElstein@t-online.de
Oct 22, 12:37 UTC
This is a follow-up to your previous request #9298971 "AW: [hide.me Support] Re: [..."
Hello Nathan.
Thanks for your last reply.
( I have been away for a while so am only just now looking again at my VPN
stuff, so sorry that the feedback is a bit late.
I have not had time to look thoroughly further at my XP/SoftEther issue yet. I will do this and then report back to you in another EMail. )

Mainly this Email is concerned with my Vista/OpenVPN issue…
_.___

Regarding the issue with starting Services on some of my machines.
Looking at some of the articles seems to suggest that I may need to fiddle around with some clever stuff on re booting etc. So I think I will leave that issue for a while. My guess is that the issue with starting Services on some of my machines is not too directly relevant to my main remaining VPN issues. So I do not want to risk doing any damage messing around with things outside my computer knowledge capabilities…
Maybe I will re look at the issue with starting Services on some of my machines at a later date.
_._____

Regarding OpenVPNServiceInteractive issues.
Once again I think this may not be so important or relevant directly to my main remaining VPN issues. As it has been mentioned a few times that the error can be ignored, then , for now, I will ignore that issue.
_._____

Regarding Tap issues and de installing / re installing things
I have de installed / re installed, restarted things, de activated / re activated things many more times than I can remember…. I am coming to the conclusion that if you use VPN then de installing / re installing ,
restarted things, de activating / re activating things is something that you need to do constantly….. continually I get strange sporadic internet problems more and more often since I have been using VPN. Often a strange
new problem goes away after de installing / re installing, restarted , de activating / re activating things.
So I am routinely doing all sorts of de installing / re installing, restarted things, de activating / re activating things. That often solves a new problem, which I get more of, the more I use VPN. But so far the main two issues that I have are not effected by after de installing / re installing, restarted things, de activating / re activating things.
_._____

Brief Update on my XP OpenVPN issue and the new device, TheDocIsHere@xp
As I mentioned in my last Email, I had made a new device, TheDocIsHere@xp , and used it briefly and solely for OpenVPN on a single XP operating system machine . As I further mentioned in my last Email, I could do
nothing with that device, since on attempting a connection I got an infinite repeating pop up asking me to confirm the password.
As I was expecting, that problem sorted itself out: a few days later a connection attempt was successful and I note that for that attempt I never once was asked to confirm the password. Also the connection lead to a working internet. It worked for a few hours before the connection disconnected itself. ( I have found that all VPN connection occasionally
disconnect themselves. How often that happens varies randomly and greatly, - it can be anything from a few hours to a few days ) . After the disconnection, any attempt at a re connection appeared to be successful, but I had the usual internet fail due to the time out problem.
A few days later I got a single one off successful internet after a connection again. This then worked for approximately 24 hrs. Then after a de connection, the usual problem came up again: a re connection appeared to be successful, but I had the usual internet fail due to the time out.

So the problem remains with XP that a connection leads to a successful internet approximately once every two days with SoftEther / hide.me on XP.
Attempts to disconnect / reconnect more often than that seem successful, but internet does not work

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 05:55 PM

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Nathan (hide.me Support)
Oct 24, 20:03 UTC
Hello Alan,
I'm glad to hear it is working now on both Vista computers and OpenVPN issues is a bit strange but I'm glad to hear the issue with OpenVPN on your Windows XP machine also sorted itself without additional intervention,
I will also prepare some configuration files for your computers with TCP mode in the settings as some service providers throttle UDP based protocols and TCP based protocol might work better for you.
Try this configuration file from (here) and download this one from (here).
Just make sure you don't start VPN connection on your XP computer with both SoftEther while OpenVPN connection was already active.
Some configuration files (openvpn-berlin and openvpn-berlin-21) won't work on older OpenVPN client versions since the configuration files have tls crypt which is not supported on OpenVPN 2.3 versions. You can download configuration files for Windows XP and Vista from your Members area as it still provides older versions.
Openvpn-berlin and openvpn-berlin-21 configuration files you can use with OpenVPN 2.4. on Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10.
It's nice to hear that OpenVPN consistently is now working on Vista.
Sorry to hear about issues with downloading SoftEther and on one of your computers you can also try using this link to check if there are any issues with downloading - http://www.softether-download.com/fi..._x64-intel.exe
The version you've successfully downloaded and installed is the build from 2016 and as you noticed it does make sense to try out older version as compatibility issues are resolved - https://www.softether-download.com/f..._x64-intel.exe
And you can try this build on Windows XP machine as well.
Since you mentioned Windows updates bring more problems than fixes, recently what happened is just that - check this article for example: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/new...work-adapters/
Thanks for the feedback,I'm glad to hear it's working better now and I hope SoftEther will also improve. If you need any further assistance, don't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Nathan
Customer Relations Manager
eVenture Limited

Doc.AElstein@t-online.de
Oct 26, 16:57 UTC
Hello Nathan
Thanks for the extra stuff and info
Here is some general feedback, and also I have now tried out the things
you suggested in an earlier Email regarding trying some cmd stuff on my
main remaining SoftEther/ XP issue.

_.______

I have tried the two "tcp" config files from your last EMail,
Firstly I tried on one of my Vista machines, ( Acer Arpire lap top 4810TZG) https://imgur.com/f8ni8KI
( That is using OpenVPN 2 3 18-I001 , TAP-Windows 9 9 2
https://build.openvpn.net/downloads/...-I001-i686.exe )
Both were successful connections, (and the internet works with the connections): https://imgur.com/Y6eI6Ar ,
https://imgur.com/sQ1FoCS
( During the Netherlands tcp connection I was asked for a Username and Password. The berlin tcp connection did not ask for a Username and Password ).

Just out of interest here are some more results:
Another Vista.. (Acer Aspire Lap top 7535G )
OpenVPN 2 3 18-I001 TAP-Windows 9 9 2
https://build.openvpn.net/downloads/...-I001-i686.exe
Berlin.ovpn ___ OK
Berlin-tcp.ovpn __ OK
openvpn-berlin.ovpn ___ FAIL
openvpn-berlin-21.ovpn ___ FAIL
Netherlands-ip-tcp.ovpn ___ OK

XP ( LG X120 )
OpenVPN 2 3 18 I001 TAP-Windows 9 9 2
https://build.openvpn.net/downloads/...-I001-i686.exe
Berlin.ovpn ___ OK
Berlin-tcp.ovpn __ OK
openvpn-berlin.ovpn ___ FAIL
openvpn-berlin-21.ovpn ___ FAIL
Netherlands-ip-tcp.ovpn ___ OK

Windows7
Open VPN 2 4 7 I607 Win 7 TAP-Windows 9 23 3
https://swupdate.openvpn.org/communi...-I607-Win7.exe
Berlin.ovpn ___ OK
Berlin-tcp.ovpn __ OK
openvpn-berlin.ovpn ___ OK
openvpn-berlin-21.ovpn ___ OK
Netherlands-ip-tcp.ovpn ___ OK

Windows8.1
OpenVPN 2 4 7-I607-Win10 TAP-Windows 9 23 3
https://swupdate.openvpn.org/communi...I607-Win10.exe
Berlin.ovpn ___ OK
Berlin-tcp.ovpn __ OK
openvpn-berlin.ovpn ___ OK
openvpn-berlin-21.ovpn ___ OK
Netherlands-ip-tcp.ovpn ___ OK
Note: I have just de installed the above win 10 version, since it was originally installed by me in error as I had mistakenly thought that my new computer was Windows10. I have now installed the one recommended for
Windows 8, so I repeated the experiments:
Windows8.1
Open VPN 2 4 7 I607 Win 7 TAP-Windows 9 23 3
https://swupdate.openvpn.org/communi...-I607-Win7.exe
Berlin.ovpn ___ OK
Berlin-tcp.ovpn __ OK
openvpn-berlin.ovpn ___ OK
openvpn-berlin-21.ovpn ___ OK
Netherlands-ip-tcp.ovpn ___ OK

( In all cases , in the connection to Netherlands-ip-tcp.ovpn , a Username and Password is asked for.
In the successful connection for openvpn-berlin.ovpn and openvpn-berlin-21.ovpn a Username and Password is asked for. ( https://imgur.com/hoW7853 )
In all cases , in the connection to Berlin.ovpn and Berlin-tcp.ovpn , a Username and Password is Not asked for )

My results are consistent with your comments about OpenVPN client versions and configuration files.

_.______________________-

I have download and made a back up of all the current Windows OpenVPN
config files from the hide.me Members area.

_.______________________-

I have a Question: How will the new config files that you are developing
effect my use of SoftEther on my older systems?

_._______________________-

Regarding the two SoftEther downloads that you mentioned in your last
EMail. I have tried them on my Vista computers. All download OK. The
results from attempting to run them are as follows:

_
https://www.softether-download.com/f..._x64-intel.exe

The above downloaded file runs OK on all my Vista Computers.

_
http://www.softether-download.com/fi..._x64-intel.exe

The above downloaded file will only run on one of my Vista computers. On two of my Vista Computers, it will not run. ( one of those two computers is the computer which would also not run the latest SoftEther Client exe file)

( I broke off the instillations shortly after they started running, as I was not sure what they are supposed to do.
( Currently I have a working SoftEther version on all my Vista computers. Most have the SoftEther VPN Client Build 9696. The one that I had to use an older exe file to install has SoftEther VPN Client Build 9634
.
I may experiment further with different versions , as well as possibly I may also do some experimenting with updates: installing and/ or deleting updates. This I would find interesting to do, as I have solved a lot of problems in the past on the Help Forums that I sometimes participate in by tracking down updates that break things, but it is quite a lot of work, and as I have now OpenVPN consistently now working on Vista, I will leave further Vista work as a project to do later when I have more free time. )
)
_.______________________________________________--
_.________________

XP Issure…
So, back to the XP / SoftEther remaining issue.
( [size=2] This is the issue whereby it appears that a connection will give a working internet only once at approximately a couple of day intervals. Attempts more often than that at a dis connection / connection, appear to be successful, but the internet will not work

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 06:26 PM

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So at this point, both my xp computers are in a similar state:
They have a working internet without VPN and an attempt at a SoftEther connection appears successful but the internet does not usually work

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 06:15 PM

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Nathan (hide.me Support)
Oct 27, 23:38 UTC
Hello Alan,
You are more than welcome, regarding the connectivity problems with SoftEther on your XP devices, can you please open Command Prompt ( cmd ) on your Windows XP computers and enter the following command both when you are not connected to VPN and while connected to VPN and after the VPN connection and also upon reconnection:
ipconfig /all then press enter
route print and press enter
Right-click the window's top bar-> Edit -> Select All -> Copy and paste the results in text file and attach it here or to a new email.
Regarding your other question, configuration files are needed only for OpenVPN client and won't affect SoftEther at all as configuration files can be used only for OpenVPN setup. And as you noticed, just make sure you are not connecting both OpenVPN and SoftEther at the same time.
I assume you also tried to "Disable UDP acceleration" in the SoftEther clients Advanced Settings and bumping up the "Number of TCP connections" to 8 and connecting with these settings and it didn't result in any improvement .
Sincerely,
Nathan
Customer Relations Manager
eVenture Limited

Doc.AElstein@t-online.de
Oct 28, 21:13 UTC
Hi Nathan,

Regarding your earlier suggested SoftEther adjusted Advanced settings
("Disabled UDP acceleration" and bumping up the "Number of TCP connections"
to 8 )…
I tried this a few times several weeks ago, and never noticed any improvements. Since then most of my experiments have been with normal
Advanced settings. But on one XP computer I still have the advanced settings alongside with normal settings for a couple of servers.
Occasionally I have repeated a few experiments with the advanced settings and have still not noticed any improvement. I will continue to occasionally try them in case they may have any effect.

_.____________

Regarding the "ipconfig /all" then "route print" cmd suggestion from your
last Email….
On the two computers that I have done most experiments, I will need to wait a few days before I can include in the results for a new connection which produces a working internet, since I have had a single working connection
on those within the last day or so: Because of that, I would expect that any attempt at a connection will result in the internet not working with a time-out error

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 06:31 PM

Your request has been updated. Reply to this email.

Nathan (hide.me Support)
Nov 25, 11:28 UTC

Hello Alan,

Thanks for the information and regarding SoftEther standalone client, always download the official version from their website: http://www.softether-download.com/en.aspx

You can check and scan the files using Virustotal website and a you can see on the link - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/...f893/detection - the Google antivirus VirusTotal https://www.virustotal.com/ does not recognize it as a threat.

The Google antivirus VirusTotal - https://support.virustotal.com/hc/en...9-How-it-works does not recognize it as a threat. VirusTotal is a website that provides free checking of files for viruses. It uses over 70 different antivirus products and scan engines to check for viruses that the user's own antivirus solution may have missed, or to verify against any false positives.

I haven't encountered any of these issues, this might be a false alarm but you can remove it and install the one from the official website.

Regarding previous connection issues with SoftEther, also restart the SoftEther service from the Windows services list. Press and hold the WinKey and R button on your keyboard and that will launch the Run window. Next type in services.msc and click on OK and restart the SoftEther service.

When you will have time in the SoftEther VPN setup also try using this IP address 194.36.108.21 instead of the host name for Berlin in the SoftEther setup.

But if you are still having issues after disconnecting type ipconfig /release in command prompt and connect again.

And in case this doesn't help, disable and re-enable SoftEther VPN adapter as you have done on previous occasions. If you will need any further assistance just let me know.

Sincerely,
Nathan

Customer Relations Manager
eVenture Limited

image

Doc.AElstein@t-online.de
Nov 23, 13:21 UTC

This is a follow-up to your previous request #9352757 "AW: [hide.me Support] Re: A..."

Hi Nathan,
I am replying to your Email Nov 6, 00:13 UTC, - I am a bit late as I was
very busy mostly away from computer things…..
_.___________
<……………How many devices (computers/phones) do you have active on your
network? Could be an issue with the router and DHCP and the older version
of Windows……………….>.
Regarding your question about how many devices (computers/phones) I have
active on our network…
Mostly I only have a few computers. Those actively using the internet
varies at any one time from 0 to approximately 7. ( They are not always in
use, but its been my experience that things of the electronic / computer
nature , go more often wrong on restarting, so in my family we just leave
are computers all switched on most of the time. ( Most of my older
computers I have modified physically such that they have a much more
powerful cooling system, which seems to increase there life expectancy,(
and sometimes their performance ) , considerably ) )
Currently we only have one smart phone in the family which automatically
connects to our Router when it is in the house.. That Smart phone is not
used much at home.
An old fixed cable telephone and an old answer machine is also connected
permanently to the Router, but they are hardly ever used.
( Most people in my family have a fairly basic/ older type mobile phone
which as far as I am aware has no interaction what so ever with the
Router).

My Router is a German Telecom ( Deutscher Telekom) "Speedport W405V TypA".
I have a flat rate for internet use.
Previously, I have sometimes been downloading large files on a couple of
computers which took a long time whilst other computers were surfing the
internet. I never noticed any issues. My guess is that I under use the
potential which I have with my router. My house is quite large, and the
local Telekom office that supplied my Router told me that I should be able
to use many computers simultaneously without noticing any performance
issues.
A far as I know there is no limit to the number of devices that I can
connect to my router. I have an extra splitter on my router which in total
I think gives me 7 fixed cable LAN RJ45 connection possibilities. In
addition, the router has a WLAN function constantly switched on. Most
computers seem to work the same with either the WLAN activated or via a
fixed LAN RJ-45 cable connection
Here is my typical set up at home: https://imgur.com/330yiMb

( I have an independent USB internet "Dongle". I rarely use this anymore .
It is mainly now my "reserve" internet connection in case of power
failures, or for a Router failure , etc. I used to use it when
travelling, but in the meantime, WLAN is available almost everywhere now in
Germany).

I do not really understand what DHCP is.
But sometime when I was experimenting with the various VPN issues, I
disconnected all other internet connections except the computer I was
experimenting with. Then I repeated various experiments. I never noticed
any differences.

So my guess is that my main issues were not related to other devices
connected to my Router.

I have sometimes experienced effects / other minor short term issues
which might be related to different computers connected simultaneously to
my Router when doing VPN stuff. However these issues were less of a
problem: Restarting computers and/or restarting the Router usually solved
such short term issues.

My Router is quite old, ( approximately 7 years old). My internet
connection to my house comes through very old, ( > 40 years old ) copper
telephone cables.

Shortly I will be travelling away from home for a couple of weeks. I know
that at one location they keep their internet always updated to the very
best and newest stand. I will take an XP computer with me, and if I have
time, I will re try some of my experiments, especially the SoftEther/XP
ones.

_.__________________

The SoftEther/XP issue is the only one I don't have a consistent good
solution to currently.
I can mostly get a working connection now after a bit of fiddling around
with the fixes which we have discussed. But the various workarounds we have
discussed are sometimes a bit varied in what they do and in their success
at getting a working VPN internet connection.
I am not confident that I fully understand the problem there yet.
I would like to investigate it a bit more.
I will not have time for some time to look again in detail at this. When I
do, I might try to automate some of those Command things that you helped me
with, ( the various ipconfig stuff, etc. ). I have a feeling that the
workarounds were sometimes more successful if I managed to type the
different commands very quickly after each other.
So automating the commands might help, or at least automating parts of the
experiments might help give more consistent results.

_.__________________________-

<……….. we can't recommend the use of XP and I would recommend to use at
least Windows 7 since you already have it set up. If I remember correctly
Windows 7 VPN setup was working quite nicely……………..>
Regarding your comments about Win7 and security issues with older operating
systems……
My work background is not in computing, but is in research and design at a
fairly "state of the art" level . My instinct is to keep up to date with
newest versions, for example keeping software up to date and at the latest
stand.
My own experience with Microsoft, however, is that over approximately the
last 10 years, their development in the software that I have been using has
introduced problems and bugs which outweigh any security advantages.

My most reliable solution is often earlier versions of software, and in
addition the ability to reinstall operating systems and all software easily
and routinely. This ability to re install easily and quickly seems to get
more difficult with both newer software, in particular newer operating
systems on newer computers.
This "Wiping a computer clean" regularly via full reinstalling of all
software is an option I am trying to get more confident in, since I
personally see this as a very good option to combat possible security
problems that might arise.

I see the use of
_ VPN to "hide me"
and
_ the ability to "wipe a computer clean" easily
for my personal computer usage at home a good option.

I appreciate that in a working environment, one is forced often by external
factors to keep more up to date.

At home I use Microsoft Excel and Excel VBA and VBA a lot. I have become
quite confident at it.
Almost all the new features in Microsoft Office introduced in the last 10
years , as well as an infinite amount of unused features and
possibilities, are all possible to achieve via the VBA that has been freely
included as standard in all the Excel versions since over the last 20
years.
Over the last 10 years, many serious Bugs have been introduced by newer
Excel versions and associated updates. Microsoft often are even unwilling
or unable to fix many of these issues. ( I seriously wonder if Microsoft
are deliberately trying to kill off some things!!! )

_._______________________--
_._______________________--

<…………... If I remember correctly Windows 7 VPN setup was working quite
nicely…………>
Regarding your comments about Windows 7 and my VPN set up.
You are correct: You helped me solve all issues there and it was working
quite nicely.
But I have not yet had time to try fully out this option, as it has taken
me some time to look at all the Vista / XP / SoftEther / OpenVPN issues. (
And I think I still need to do a bit more work when I have time to fully
master the XP / SoftEther issue ).
However I do intend looking fully at this at a later date……
I have one device spare, so I may name that something like
"TheDocIsHere@hidemeclient", and then occasionally experiment with that in
the meantime.
For the time being , I will stay with SoftEther and OpenVPN, mostly just
because so far I have the most experience with those, and also because I
would like to look a bit further at the XP/SoftEther issue

_.____________________________-

_.___________-___

"Trogen issue SoftEther" on a Windows 7 computer

I am not too concerned about the following issue, but I just thought I
would mention it in passing…..
_.... A recent scan with Microsoft Security Issues revealed potential
problem on one of my Windows 7 machines. https://imgur.com/wer1RmE

If I understand correctly, it is warning me about something in my SoftEther
installed software.

I did a quick google search, and found articles like

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi...erpoapt.certms

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi...Id=-2147241414

https://www.vpnusers.com/viewtopic.php?t=41194

I get the impression that this may be a false alarm?
I may delete those Trogan things and see what happens…
Do you have any info on these things?

_._______________________________

_.________________________________________________ ____________

Finally, not important, and just out if passing interest…
I personally need to make very detailed notes of anything I do on a
computer, since I have long periods away from the computer and tend to
forget things easily.
For most people these notes are much too long and boring, ( I don't enjoy
reading them myself half the time, LOL ! … )
Strangely, over the years, a small minority of people have found these
notes even more useful than myself, and they encourage me to share them.
So I sometimes post them in the various help forums in which I participate.
But initially, usually I do a sort of "beta" version in a "Scratchpad" Test
Forum which where only a few people I know ever go near (
http://www.excelfox.com/forum/forumd...p/17-Test-Area
)
I leave them there for a few months, then re look at them with a clear mind
at a later date, and possibly then modify them before posting in other
regular Forums, in Tips/Tutorial Sub forums such as these :
http://www.excelfox.com/forum/forumd...s-and-Formulas

http://www.excelfox.com/forum/forumd...ips-and-Tricks

I have started some notes on my recent VPN work
OpenVPN :
http://www.excelfox.com/forum/showth...ll=1#post11652

SoftEther :
http://www.excelfox.com/forum/showth...ll=1#post11605

General notes on VPN :
http://www.excelfox.com/forum/showth...ll=1#post11598

You are welcome to make any comments on those or suggestions of anything to
add.
But I expect it will be some time before I get around to posting them in a
regular Forum.
I might in the meant time add a section on the Windows 7 and higher
solutions , such as your App

_.___________________________
_.___________________________
_.______________________

So mostly all that above was just some feedback for you out of passing
interest.
I probably will take a break from experimenting a lot with the VPN stuff
for a while.
I will be using VPN often, and sometime I will make a log/ notes and or do
the occasional experiment.

Later I will look again in a bit more detail in the solutions for Windows 7
and higher.
I will try to refine the SoftEther/XP fix/workaround as well, possibly
using VBA automation. I do not know if that is possible yet.

_.__

Alan

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 06:44 PM

Hello Nathan.
First of all , best wishes for the new year to you.

I am responding here to your last Email from Nov 25, 11:28 UTC
Thanks for the extra info. that you gave in that Email.

_.__________

And now some more feedback concerning the connection issues with SoftEther on XP operating system.

I was travelling in Germany and abroad, and repeated some of my SoftEther on XP experiments when using a variety of different internet connections. I did not notice any significantly different characteristics to any experiment when compared to doing them at home.

I took some time to look at the possibility of automating ( via VBA programming ) some of my experiments. This turned out to be quite simple, requiring only fairly simple coding. This has made experimenting both easier / quicker and gave more consistent results. In the same coding, I was also able to automate measuring all the IP addresses associated with a connection.
( http://www.eileenslounge.com/viewtop...=33775#p261628 )
( https://tinyurl.com/rwt2kx8 , https://tinyurl.com/yhrwdsdb ) (The last couple of links are to some of my own notes which I might use in a Blog at a later date )

I tried out ( at home ) some other XP machines that I have not used for a few years. So far the results of any experiments are similar on any machine. So that makes 7 XP machines in total that I have experimented with at some time or another.

_._______________________-
I have mostly looked at Berlin connections, both berlin.hide.me , and the Berlin host name ( number ) which you gave me in your last Email , ( 194.36.108.21 ) …………
So.. Regarding what you said in your last EMail………
( …<……..in the SoftEther VPN setup also try using this IP address 194.36.108.21 instead of the host name for Berlin in the SoftEther setup…………>…..)

Here are some of my latest conclusions
Conclusions 1: Firstly, Similar characteristics of berlin.hide.me and 194.36.108.21 are the following:
_(i) For any connection in SoftEher in XP, a connection will almost always result in a non working internet ( Almost always I get a timeout error after a connection in SoftEher in XP )
_(ii) Occasionally a connection does work. This is usually only the case if a computer has not been used for a few days, or more importantly, a single working connection may be possible the first time using SoftEther and XP if on that computer no attempt has been made at a connection using SoftEther for a few days. ( This is only successful if the first connection is successful: For any connection, if the connection should fail/disconnect and reconnect automatically, then the second and any subsequent re connections will always lead to an internet non working having the timeout problem … see next point _(iii)…….
_(iii) If I have a current working connection, but then disconnect, and re connect to the same host, I will no longer have a working internet. In other words. If I have a working internet, then disconnect, then reconnect to the same server, then the previously working internet will now give me the timeout error.
_(iv) I note that if I disconnect, reconnect, disconnect , reconnect etc. the 10.***.**.*** address remains the same in XP fror SoftEther, even if I wait a long time in between the disconnect and reconnect.
In some cases, the 10.***.**.*** address will however be different if the time in between is very long, such as a few days. One possible conclusion here is that every new connection must have a new 10.***.**.*** address in order to result in a working internet connection. Since a disconnection followed by a reconnection always seems to have the same 10.***.**.*** address in XP, this could explain why I rarely have a successful internet after making a connection, since usually the 10.***.**.*** address does not appear to change. ( I note in passing here, that if I disconnect , then reconnect the same server in SoftEther in Vista or Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, then the 10.***.**.*** address is always different . ( I continue to have no timeout problems in SoftEther in Vista and Windows 7 or Windows 8.1: Connections using SoftEther in Vista and Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 continue to mostly always result in working internet via hide me VPN)

Conclusions 2: Results from ipcongig/ release & ipcongig/ renew
Since automating these commands, I have been able to get more consistent and better results.
_a) I am coming to the conclusion that it is necessary after a connection is stable to do a quick ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew. It is further important that the connection remains initially connected whilst this is done:
It almost always occurs that a connection is broken as a result of doing these commands. If the commends are done too slowly, then the connection seems to break before the commands are finished. In such cases the result is that the reconnection results in an internet with the timeout error. Without automation of these commends, the results are far less consistent, since by manually doing the commands it is difficult to accurately control the time at which they are done.
If an automatic reconnection is made immediately after these commands is done, then often this results in a working internet. ( We note again that the 10.***.**.*** address will be different to the previous 10.***.**.*** address in the case of a successfully working internet. If the current 10.***.**.*** address and that of a previous connection are the same, then we will usually have the timeout error and so have no working internet. )
It is a consistent result of doing a ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew , that the 10.***.**.*** address is renewed. In XP the 10.***.**.*** address is never renewed as a result of disconnecting and re connecting. As mentioned previously, in Vista or Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 , the 10.***.**.*** address is always renewed as a result of disconnecting and re connecting
_b) I am coming to the conclusion that the previous 10.***.**.*** address and the one after a reconnection must be different in order to get a working internet. If they are the same, then we will usually have the timeout problem. However, obtaining a different 10.***.**.*** address is not a guarantee that a connection will work. It is required, but so are other things:
It is further important that a connection is stable, and that only one automatic reconnection is done after the quick ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew. If the connection is unstable as is often the case after the first connection, then getting a working internet gets rather messy, involving a lot of fiddling involving trying doing to do a quick ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew at the right moment… and / or waiting a long time until the connection is stable and remains connected.

Conclusions 3: berlin.hide.me Versus 194.36.108.21
It appears to me generally that using 194.36.108.21 is much more stable. It is less likely to disconnect ( and then automatically re connect ). Because of this improved stability, the fixes are more likely to work.
For the case of berlin.hide.me I can have a "good day" or a "bad day". On a "bad day", a connection via SoftEther on XP results in the connection frequently disconnecting (and reconnecting automatically ) . Thus instability causes two problems:
_1) The fix is more difficult to do, since the connection may break in between the commands which gives less consistent results.
_2) For every disconnect and reconnect, a fix is usually needed. So more often the fix must be applied.
Occasionally on a very bad day, it has proved impossible to get a connection using XP SoftEther and berlin.hide.me. ( On such cases, as at othe times, I have occaisionally cross checked berlin.hide.me using other systems and Clients ,and connections were always possible in those other systems)

Because 194.36.108.21 appears more stable, I can develop a coding to do the required fix, and have a better solution, all be it requiring extra coding. Since I often have Microsoft Office open on my computers, it is fairly convenient for me to do the fixes via VBA coding. I can for example have a code running in the background which occasionally does a ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew:
For the case of a working connection using 194.36.108.21 , doing a ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew will result in both a disconnection and a new 10.***.**.*** address on re connection.
For the case of a non working connection using 194.36.108.21 , doing a ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew will result in both a disconnection and a new 10.***.**.*** address on re connection, and in addition usually the reconnection will result in a working connection.
In other words, doing a ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew will "repair" a non working connection via 194.36.108.21 ,and if the ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew is done on a working connection via 194.36.108.21 , then it does no harm: it simply changes the 10.***.**.*** address

If I am using berlin.hide.me and I have a code running in the background which occasionally does a ipconfig / release & ipconfig / renew, then it might occasionally fix a non working connection, but it could on other occasions cause a working connection to fail due to it causing multiple connections and re connections.

So generally the use of host name 194.36.108.21 is a an improvement and works better for me in SoftEther in XP, compared the host name berlin.hide.me.

If you have any other number alternatives to use in place of other Server host names, then I would be very interested to see if they also give me better results.
( Is this number related to the IP address at which I finally appear when "hiding" via hide.me?

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 06:55 PM

Final results for first half of master File after second consolidation

Using Excel 2007 32 bit

_Row\^Col	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O
1	S No	Item	Price	Qty	Total	Distributed	Task1	Task2	Task3	Task4	Completed	Consolidated	Comments	Team Member	Checked
2	1	ABC01	$ 55.00	22	$ 1,210.00	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02.04.2018	02.Apr.2018		Raghu
3	2	ABC02	$ 13.66	7	$ 95.62	02.Apr.2018	JT1	JT2	JT3	JT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		John
4	3	ABC03	$ 12.99	5	$ 64.95	02.Apr.2018	GT1	GT2	GT3	GT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Greg
5	4	ABC04	$ 8.51	12	$ 102.12	02.Apr.2018	MT1	MT2	MT3	MT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Margaret
6	5	ABC05	$ 7.22	62	$ 447.64	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02.04.2018	02.Apr.2018		Raghu
7	6	ABC06	$ 3.99	35	$ 139.65	02.Apr.2018	JT1	JT2	JT3	JT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		John
8	7	ABC07	$ 333.45	99	$ 33,011.55	02.Apr.2018	GT1	GT2	GT3	GT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Greg
9	8	ABC08	$ 11.99	1	$ 11.99	02.Apr.2018	MT1	MT2	MT3	MT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Margaret
10	9	ABC09	$ 741.99	101	$ 74,940.99	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02.04.2018	02.Apr.2018		Raghu
11	10	ABC10	$ 55.00	22	$ 1,210.00	02.Apr.2018	JT1	JT2	JT3	JT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		John
12	11	ABC11	$ 13.66	7	$ 95.62	02.Apr.2018	GT1	GT2	GT3	GT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Greg
13	12	ABC12	$ 12.99	5	$ 64.95	02.Apr.2018	MT1	MT2	MT3	MT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Margaret
14	13	ABC13	$ 8.51	12	$ 102.12	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02.04.2018	02.Apr.2018		Raghu
15	14	ABC14	$ 7.22	62	$ 447.64	02.Apr.2018	JT1	JT2	JT3	JT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		John
16	15	ABC15	$ 3.99	35	$ 139.65	02.Apr.2018	GT1	GT2	GT3	GT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Greg
17	16	ABC16	$ 333.45	99	$ 33,011.55	02.Apr.2018	MT1	MT2	MT3	MT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Margaret
18	17	ABC17	$ 11.99	1	$ 11.99	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02.04.2018	02.Apr.2018		Raghu
19	18	ABC18	$ 741.99	101	$ 74,940.99	02.Apr.2018	JT1	JT2	JT3	JT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		John
20	19	ABC19	$ 55.00	22	$ 1,210.00	02.Apr.2018	GT1	GT2	GT3	GT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Greg
21	20	ABC20	$ 13.66	7	$ 95.62	02.Apr.2018	MT1	MT2	MT3	MT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Margaret
22	21	ABC21	$ 12.99	5	$ 64.95	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02.04.2018	02.Apr.2018		Raghu
23	22	ABC22	$ 8.51	12	$ 102.12	02.Apr.2018	JT1	JT2	JT3	JT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		John
24	23	ABC23	$ 7.22	62	$ 447.64	02.Apr.2018	GT1	GT2	GT3	GT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Greg
25	24	ABC24	$ 3.99	35	$ 139.65	02.Apr.2018	MT1	MT2	MT3	MT4	02.Apr.2018	02.Apr.2018		Margaret
26	25	ABC25	$ 333.45	99	$ 33,011.55	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02.04.2018	02.Apr.2018		Raghu

Worksheet: OriginalData

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 06:57 PM

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 07:01 PM

Data files after final (second) consolidation:

Using Excel 2007 32 bit

15

ABC15

$ 3.99

35

$ 139.65

02.Apr.2018

GT1

GT2

GT3

GT4

02.Apr.2018

Greg

19

ABC19

$ 55.00

22

$ 1,210.00

02.Apr.2018

GT1

GT2

GT3

GT4

02.Apr.2018

Greg

23

ABC23

$ 7.22

62

$ 447.64

02.Apr.2018

GT1

GT2

GT3

GT4

02.Apr.2018

Greg

27

ABC27

$ 741.99

101

$ 74,940.99

02.Apr.2018

GT1

GT2

GT3

GT4

02.Apr.2018

Greg

31

ABC31

$ 8.51

12

$ 102.12

02.Apr.2018

GT1

GT2

GT3

GT4

02.Apr.2018

Greg

35

ABC35

$ 11.99

1

$ 11.99

02.Apr.2018

GT1

GT2

GT3

GT4

02.Apr.2018

Greg

39

ABC39

$ 12.99

5

$ 64.95

02.Apr.2018

Greg

Worksheet: Tabelle1

Using Excel 2007 32 bit

_Row\^Col	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	N
11	37	ABC37	$ 55.00	22	$ 1,210.00	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02. Apr 18	02.Apr.2018	Raghu
12	41	ABC41	$ 7.22	62	$ 447.64	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02. Apr 18	02.Apr.2018	Raghu
13	45	ABC45	$ 741.99	101	$ 74,940.99	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02. Apr 18	02.Apr.2018	Raghu
14	49	ABC49	333.45 €	99	33,011.55 €	02.Apr.2018	RT1	RT2	RT3	RT4	02. Apr 18	02.Apr.2018	Raghu
15	50	ABC50	11.99 €	1	11.99 €	02.Apr.2018							Raghu
16

Worksheet: Tabelle1

Using Excel 2007 32 bit

28

ABC28

$ 55.00

22

$ 1,210.00

02.Apr.2018

MT1

MT2

MT3

MT4

02.Apr.2018

Margaret

32

ABC32

$ 7.22

62

$ 447.64

02.Apr.2018

MT1

MT2

MT3

MT4

02.Apr.2018

Margaret

36

ABC36

$ 741.99

101

$ 74,940.99

02.Apr.2018

MT1

MT2

MT3

MT4

02.Apr.2018

Margaret

40

ABC40

$ 8.51

12

$ 102.12

02.Apr.2018

MT1

MT2

MT3

MT4

02.Apr.2018

Margaret

44

ABC44

$ 11.99

1

$ 11.99

02.Apr.2018

Margaret

48

ABC48

3.99 €

35

139.65 €

02.Apr.2018

Margaret

Worksheet: Tabelle1

Using Excel 2007 32 bit

26

ABC26

$ 11.99

1

$ 11.99

02.Apr.2018

JT1

JT2

JT3

JT4

02.Apr.2018

John

30

ABC30

$ 12.99

5

$ 64.95

02.Apr.2018

JT1

JT2

JT3

JT4

02.Apr.2018

John

34

ABC34

$ 333.45

99

$ 33,011.55

02.Apr.2018

JT1

JT2

JT3

JT4

02.Apr.2018

John

38

ABC38

$ 13.66

7

$ 95.62

02.Apr.2018

JT1

JT2

JT3

JT4

02.Apr.2018

John

42

ABC42

$ 3.99

35

$ 139.65

02.Apr.2018

John

Worksheet: Tabelle1

**DocAElstein** · 04-02-2018, 07:17 PM

Code for anwser to this Thread:
http://www.excelfox.com/forum/showth...e-folder/page2

Code:

Option Explicit
Sub consolidateToo() '   http://www.excelfox.com/forum/showthread.php/2238-Copy-data-from-Unique-files-into-Masterfile-all-the-files-in-the-same-folder?p=10595#post10595
Rem 1 ThisWorkbook Info
Dim MWs1 As Worksheet: Set MWs1 = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets.Item(1) 'Worksheets("OriginalData")
Dim DtaFName As String: Let DtaFName = VBA.Dir(ThisWorkbook.Path & "\" & "*.xlsx") ' Search criteria set to all Files with .xlsx extension in the same Folder as this workbook, Dir returns first file name that fits criteria
Dim LrMWs1 As Long: Let LrMWs1 = MWs1.Range("A" & MWs1.Rows.Count & "").End(xlUp).Row
Rem 2 main Loop for all data files
    Do While DtaFName <> "" ' ==========================================
     Workbooks.Open filename:=ThisWorkbook.Path & "\" & DtaFName
    Dim WBDta As Workbook: Set WBDta = ActiveWorkbook
    Dim WBDtaWs1 As Worksheet: Set WBDtaWs1 = WBDta.Worksheets.Item(1) ' use variable to reference the first worksheet ( counting tabs from the left ) of last opened and therefore active( to be seen ) file
    Dim arrIn() As Variant: Let arrIn() = WBDtaWs1.Range("A1").CurrentRegion.Value
    '2a) loop for all data rows, copy data from completed rows to master file, ( add date to inputed data array '_-##)
    Dim Rw As Long ' --------------------------------
        For Rw = 2 To UBound(arrIn(), 1) ' loop through "rows" in data array
            If arrIn(Rw, 11) <> Empty And arrIn(Rw, 12) = Empty Then ' Condition for completed work not yet consolidated
             Dim arrCsDte(1 To 1, 1 To 7) As String: Let arrCsDte(1, 1) = arrIn(Rw, 7): arrCsDte(1, 2) = arrIn(Rw, 8): arrCsDte(1, 3) = arrIn(Rw, 9): arrCsDte(1, 4) = arrIn(Rw, 10): arrCsDte(1, 5) = arrIn(Rw, 11): arrCsDte(1, 6) = Format(Date, "dd.mmm.yyyy"): arrCsDte(1, 7) = arrIn(Rw, 13) ' 7 "columns" of data to be added to master file
             MWs1.Range("A2:A" & LrMWs1 & "").Find(what:=arrIn(Rw, 1), After:=MWs1.Range("A2"), LookIn:=xlValues, Lookat:=xlWhole, searchorder:=xlByRows, searchdirection:=xlNext).Offset(0, 6).Resize(1, 7) = arrCsDte() ' We look down the first column in the master file to find the cell comtaining the   S No   We apply the offest property to thast cell to get across to column G and then the resize property gives us the range of 7 columns to which we may apply the values in the array filled for the row data
             Let arrIn(Rw, 12) = arrCsDte(1, 6) '(Put the current date in the array made from data range        '_-##)
            Else ' Datá row is completed and consolidated , so nothing to do for this row
            End If
        Next Rw ' End loop for all data rows --------
    '2b) Update and close current data workbook
     Let WBDtaWs1.Range("A1").Resize(UBound(arrIn(), 1), UBound(arrIn(), 2)).Value = arrIn() ' reassign the values from the input data array back to the range as this now has the consolidated date in it
     WBDta.Close savechanges:=True
    '2c Serch for next data file name
     Let DtaFName = VBA.Dir() ' Unqualified Dir returns next found file with previos search criteria, but only returns each file name once
    Loop ' Do While DtaFName <> "" again ==============================
End Sub