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Remote Access Connection Manager Fails To Start

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Friday, September 7, 2018 8:12 AM | 1 vote

Windows 10 Pro, with latest updates, on a corporate domain.

I am unable to use my VPN as the Remote Access Connection Manager service is not running, despite being set to start automatically.

If I try to start it manually I get an error saying that it could not be started and I should check the event logs. The error in the event logs is:

Log Name: System

Source: RasMan

Event ID: 20030

"Remote Access Connection Manager failed to start because it could not load one or more communication DLLs. Ensure that your communication hardware is installed and then restart the Remote Access Connection Manager service. If the problem persists, contact the system administrator. There was an unknown error."

Other people in my company are experiencing the same issue. We use HP laptops and those with Realtek NICs have this problem, but those with Intel NICs do not.

I have tried removing and reinstalling all networking devices in Windows. I have also tried installing the latest driver for the Realtek NIC.

I have checked that the following registry keys exist and are configured correctly:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RasMan\Parameters\AllowL2TPWeakCrypto = 0

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RasMan\Parameters\AllowPPTPWeakCrypto = 0

I have checked that the services on which RasMan is dependent are running.

I have checked that the SYSTEM account has read and execute permissions on ..\System32\rasman.dll + rasmans.dll + rasppp.dll + rastapi.dll

You can tell I've been at this for a while.

I really don't want to have to resort to a system reset as this is also affecting remote users.

Here's hoping...

All replies (26)

Saturday, September 8, 2018 2:30 PM

What VPN client is this? Is there an update for that? Sometimes Windows updates will cause issues with older VPN's clients.

Monday, September 10, 2018 8:03 AM

Hi,

Try to uninstall the existing network driver and restart computer to load a general driver to check the issue. 

Try to run "DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth" as administrator to make sure you have a good system healthy.

I searched and found an article describe a same issue with yours. Please refer to the steps recorded in this article and check the result. 

Event ID 20030 — RASMAN Service Configuration 

I also would like to know more information about Mr happy asked. It is useful for narrowing down the issue. 

Bests,

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Monday, September 10, 2018 8:26 AM

Hi Mr Happy, we are using the Dell/SonicWall NetExtender client. I have tried the latest version and the preceding version, both of which previously worked OK.

Monday, September 10, 2018 8:39 AM

Hi Joy-Qiao, I am using Windows 10 Pro and not Windows Server 2008 as referred to in the article you suggested.

I checked the registry for the DLL (rastapi) which does exist in the System32 folder.

I obviously don't have Server Manager, but I checked the "Routing and Remote Access" service and it was disabled. I set it to manual start up and tried to start it but, as it is dependent on the Remote Access Connection Manager, it would not start.

Monday, September 10, 2018 9:03 AM

Hi, 

Thank you for your quick reply.

As you are using third party VPN software, so it would be better to ask for help from the product support as they might more familiar with the third party VPN structure and working theory. 

Or we could check if the same issue occur with Windows build-in VPN.

Bests,

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Monday, September 10, 2018 11:55 AM

I am using Dell/SonicWall NetExtender VPN client.

I am talking to SonicWall support about this, but nothing changed with the client software from when it worked to when it didn't. The problem seems to be with a Windows component (RasMan).

The Windows VPN won't work for the same the reason - the Remote Access Connection Manager service cannot be started.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 10:21 AM

Hi,

Please run "DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth" as administrator to check if any corruption system components exists on your existing system. 

As RasMan service is depends on secure socket turneling protocol service, please also make sure this service keeps running status. 

I would recommend to use process monitor tool to monitor the connection process, and check if any specify .dll file was loaded failed during the process. 

Here is also an official article says we should check if communications hardware is installed properly and restart system. If the problem persists, reinstall RAS. (Reference: Event Message)

Bests,

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Wednesday, September 12, 2018 1:39 PM

Hi Joy-Qiao,

I have already tried the DISM tool and SFC and no issues were found.

The secure socket tunnelling protocol is running.

I don't know how to use Process Monitor to "monitor the connection process".

I have checked that the hardware is installed and working properly. I have also tried removing the networking hardware from device manager and allowing Windows to detect and install it again.

I don't know how to "reinstall RAS".

Your ongoing support is appreciated.

Thursday, September 13, 2018 8:26 AM

Hi, 

We could refer to the following detail steps to use process monitor. We should reproduce the issue and then click "Capture" again.

Using Process Monitor to capture system events

I found the suggestion in Event Message about reinstall RAS, is just fit for the previous Operating system version rather than Windows 10. So I think we could check the result of process monitor at first. 

Thank you for all your action, and also I will do my best to support for this issue.  

Bests,

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Tuesday, September 18, 2018 10:01 AM

Hi,

Any update?

Bests,

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Tuesday, September 18, 2018 10:53 AM

Hi Joy-Qiao,

Apologies for the delayed response.

I ran the process monitor trace and the file generated is over 500,000 lines and I don't know what I should be looking for.

Best Regards.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 8:35 AM

Hi,

Try to export the result generated by process monitor and upload it to One Drive, then paste the link here for analyze. When you save it, choose Events to save=All events, and choose "Format"=PML.

Bests,

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Wednesday, September 19, 2018 10:08 AM

Hello,

I have generated the file. I would rather not make it available in a public forum. Do you have an e-mail address I could sent it to ?

Best Regards.

Friday, September 21, 2018 9:24 AM

Hi, 

Please send email to [email protected].

Bests, 

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Friday, September 21, 2018 11:09 AM

Thanks Joy-Qiao,

The file was too big to send, so I have sent you a download link.

Best Regards.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 7:39 AM

Hi,

I have received your email forwarded from our public email administrator, I will analyze the log in the 2 days. 

Bests,  

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Wednesday, September 26, 2018 8:15 AM

Hi,

When I try to open the generated file from your side, the error shows my promon application is not compatibility with your log. Please check which promon version you are using. I am using 3.50.0.0. 

By the way, please check if the Remote Access Connection Manager service run well before use VPN. Then export registry HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RasMan when you not use VPN. and export a new one when you use VPN. Compare the changed parts between them.

Bests,

 

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Friday, September 28, 2018 9:08 AM

Hi Joy-Qiao,

I am using the same version of Process Monitor as you. I have been able to extract the log from the zip file and open it in Process Monitor. Please try downloading the file with the link I sent.

I am confused by your reference to the Remote Access Connection Manager as this is the problem that the thread is about. The RasMan service will not start (see original post).

I can't check the registry in the way you suggested as I can't use the VPN because the RasMan service won't start.

Best Regards.

Wednesday, October 3, 2018 8:53 AM

Hello Joy-Qiao,

Have you been able to check the log ?

Best Regards.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018 8:05 AM

Hello Joy-Qiao,

This issue is having a significant impact and we are looking at the possibility of having to call in remote machines for rebuilding. I would be grateful if you could advise of an alternate course of action.

Best Regards.

Friday, November 30, 2018 12:48 AM

herecomesbrod, have you found any solution to this problem? I'm having the same problem on my wife's computer, and running into all of the same dead ends. My wife and I have identical computers (HP Envy m6-n010dx), and rasman.dll is failing to start on her computer but not on mine. I discovered the problem when I was trying to install a second VPN app on her computer after installing it successfully on mine. The system was refreshed three weeks ago on my computer, but not on hers. Fortunately I was able to create a VPN miniport by installing an older version of our first VPN app. The latest version of that app, and the second app, are not able to create new connections, and when I try, I see the failed rasman event in the event log.

Friday, November 30, 2018 9:28 AM

Sorry Jim but no luck.

I am resigned to reinstalling Windows when I get time. Very frustrating.

Friday, November 30, 2018 10:48 AM

This thread was like an oasis in the desert for me, for me to see that I’m not alone. The NIC on our computers is Realtek also. Have you looked at the optional updates in Windows Update? I see an optional update in mine for some HP drivers, but I’m afraid to try it. Everything else I’ve tried has made things worse. As long as that one VPN connection keeps working, I’m just hanging on to that for now. I’m still searching for solutions though, for possible future use. I’m searching for forums with support for Realtek devices.

Friday, November 30, 2018 12:33 PM

There aren't any outstanding updates for my laptop. I have installed the latest drivers for the network card and WAN miniport with no improvement.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019 2:55 PM

In case anyone lands here looking for an answer, sorry but I only have bad news.

After I was abandoned by Joy-Qiao and failed to find any other solution, I reinstalled Windows and spent a painful couple of days restoring it to the way I wanted it. The Remote Access Connection Manager is now running and the VPN client works.

Sigh. Long live Linux.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019 3:26 PM

I haven't found any better answer either. The problem was solved on my computer when I refreshed the system. I haven't needed to do that on my wife's computer, because by some stroke of luck I got the first VPN app working by installing an older version.