F-Secure FREEDOME

FREEDOME VPN displays an error message about netsh.exe failing

This topic describes what to do if netsh.exe fails.

FREEDOME VPN uses the netsh.exe component from the Windows operating system. If something fails with netsh.exe when making a VPN connection, FREEDOME VPN shows the following error message: Your encrypted VPN connection cannot be created because of issues with network configuration (netsh.exe fails). See the help article for more information and possible solutions.

This topic describes two possible reasons why netsh.exe may fail.

A common reason for netsh.exe failing is that for some reason the DNS Client service in Windows has been disabled. This service needs to be enabled and running when FREEDOME VPN is in use. To make sure that the service is running, do as follows:

Click the Windows search bar in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
In the search box, type
```
Services
```
and press Enter to start the Services app.
When the app has started, scroll down the list of services until you find the DNS Client service and make sure that the service is running. If the DNS Client service is not running, complete the following steps to enable the service so that it will always start when the computer is started:
1. Click the Windows search bar in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. In the search box, type
```
Regedit
```
  and select Run as administrator. Enter your administrator username and password if prompted.
3. Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > Dnscache.
4. Double-click the Start entry and set the value data as
```
2
```
  (can be either hexadecimal or decimal).
5. Restart the computer to take the change in effect.
6. Once the computer has started up, try to open a FREEDOME VPN connection again.

Another reason why netsh.exe may fail is that the IP Helper service has been disabled. Also this service needs to enabled for FREEDOME VPN to work. If the service is not running, complete the following steps to enable the service so that it will always start when the computer is started:

Click the Windows search bar in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
In the search box, type
```
Services
```
and press Enter to start the Services app.
When the app has started, scroll down the list of services until you find the IP Helper service and make sure that the service is running. If the IP Helper service is not running, complete the following steps to enable the service so that it will always start when the computer is started:
1. Click the Windows search bar in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. In the search box, type
```
Regedit
```
  and select Run as administrator. Enter your administrator username and password if prompted.
3. Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > iphlpsvc.
4. Double-click the Start entry and set the value data as
```
2
```
  (can be either hexadecimal or decimal).
5. Restart the computer to take the change in effect.
6. Once the computer has started up, try to open a FREEDOME VPN connection again.