Perhaps the strangest problem you've ever seen

I have 4 connections:
<OL>- Dial up (disconnected, firewalled)</li>
- Local area connection (disabled, firewalled) (Intel)</li>
- Local area Connection 2 (disabled, firewalled) (Cisco) (must be my VPN)</li>- Wireless Network Connection (connected, shared, firewalled)(this is what I am on now)</li>

Oh.
When you installed the Cisco VPN software, were any setup options offered as part of the installation? Can you get to any configuration options for it? And does it appear in "add/remove programs" (in the control panel).
At this point, I would be thinking of opting out of testing this.

Hmm, I don't know if I can opt out at this point. I wasn't actually testing the VPN, I was testing the installation manual, which involved uninstalling the old client and then adding the new one. I wasn't given any choices on how to configure it. I can't remember if I had options on the screen that I was told how to respond to, or if there were none at all.

It is listed in the add/remove programs list.

That'll be the problem, alright.
Up to you, your employer, and the technical services of same to sort it out, if it's their laptop, I guess.
Depends what agreement you have with your employer as to how the laptop is to be used.

You're saying that the problem is that it's listed in the add/remove programs list? Or did I misunderstand you?

I think the problem is that the installed software (which you can uninstall if the company says it's ok to) is likely the source of the problem.
That's why I'm suggesting opt out. Try uninstalling it.
If it wasn't listed in the add/remove list, that could be a problem.

Diana, do you use Zonealarm firewall on that computer?
Check this out. 3rd paragraph under "what's good about zone Alarm.