Setting up Windows 7 to use the SimplyExpats.net VPN service

1.0 Activate your User Control Panel

The Login window will be displayed as below.

(Your Username and Password are also recorded in your PayPal Account).

2.0 Confirm your Account Details & Activate your Account

Once you have successfully logged in, the SimplyExpats.Net Account Confirmation window will be displayed.

Press the Confirm Details & Activate your Account button.

Once your account is activated, you will be returned to the main SimplyExpats.Net User Control Panel window.

3.0 Configuring your Windows Computer to use the SimplyExpats.net VPN Service

Setting up Windows 7 to use the SimplyExpats.net service is simple.

3.1 Prerequisites

We assume that your Windows 7 computer is up to date, and the Microsoft .NET 3.0 Framework is installed. If this is not the case, our setup program will fail to load. In this case, you will need to manually configure your computer, following the Set Up Guide HERE >> .

Users who use other VPN services should also configure their computers manually.

3.2 Download the SimplyExpats Automatic Configuration Tool

Our Support Department have written an Automatic Setup Wizard to help our Windows 7 Customers to configure their computers.

Download our Automatic Configuration tool from our Website by clicking the link HERE>>, and save to your Desktop.

Double Click on the Setup Wizard to start the Configuration Wizard.

You may receive a message asking if you want to allow this program to make changes to your computer. Press Yes to continue.

The Wizard Self Extractor will be displayed, as below.

Press Unzip to extract the files and load the Automatic Configuration Wizard.

Press Start to configure your computer.

You will receive a message telling you that you will need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Press OK.

You will be returned to the main Automatic Configuration Window. Press Close.

Press Close to close the Self Extractor Tool.

Depending on your System Settings, you may receive a message as below.

This message can be safely ignored, as the Wizard has NOT installed any software, only the SimplyExpats.net Configuration file.

Press This program installed correctly.

Restart your computer now to ensure that the SimplyExpats.net settings are applied correctly.

The set up is now complete and you should be able to connect to the SimplyExpats.net service.

4.0 Connecting to the SimplyExpats.net Service

VPN systems are slightly different from traditional web proxy based systems.
Unlike web proxies, a VPN is an on demand service. You login or connect to the service when you need it, and disconnect or logout when you have finished.
Put simply, you connect to the SimplyExpats.net service, when you require access to Internet sites in the UK, for example to watch UK iPlayers or access UK related websites., and disconnect when you have finished.

Note: Some Windows users have reported poor performance when connected via the VPN. This is due to a known negotiation problem with Windows based systems, and is easily resolved. We have therefore produced a small patch file which will correct the Microsoft settings. Please see section 4.0 below for details on how to resolve the issue, once the VPN Access Service has been connected for the first time.

4.1 Connecting to the Service

To connect to the service, simply click on the SimplyExpats.net Icon that was installed on your Desktop.

The network connection dialog box will be displayed.

Select the SimplyExpats.Net service, and press Connect.

The service login dialog box will be displayed.

Enter your Username and Password in the Login dialog Box, and check the Save username and password option.

Press Connect, and your computer will connect to the SimplyExpats.Net UK Access Servers.

4.2 Disconnecting from the Service

To disconnect from the service, simply click on the SimplyExpats.net Icon, and press Disconnect.

5.0 Disabling your original SimplyExpats.net Web Proxy

Users who have their web browsers configured to use the SimplyExpats.net Web Proxy service, must first disable the original Web Proxy configuration in your web browser.

You cannot run the Web Proxy Service, and the VPN service concurrently.

The original SimplyExpats.net Web Proxy Service can be simply enabled and disabled by following the instructions below.

5.1 Enabling and Disabling the SimplyExpats.net service in Internet Explorer

Load Internet Explorer
Click “Tools” Select “Internet Options”; Select the “Connections” Tab; Press the “LAN Settings” button in the “Local Area Network (LAN) Settings” group box;

Uncheck the Use a Proxy Server for your LAN.

Your computer will remember your original settings, so your original configuration will not be lost.

Press OK to save your changes, and restart your browser.

5.2 Enabling and Disabling the SimplyExpats.net service in Firefox

Load Firefox, and Select Preferences from the Firefox Manu.

Press the Advanced button.

Select the Network Tab, and press settings

Select the No Proxy radio button.

Your computer will remember your original settings, so your original configuration will not be lost.

Press OK to save your changes, and restart your browser.

6.0 Note to Windows Users – Possible performance problems loading pages

We would recommend that Windows users follow the instructions below, ONLY if you experience performance problems.

Our support department is aware that some WIndows 7 users may experience slow loading of Web Pages through the VPN, or timeouts loading pages. We have therefore produced a small patch that fixes the problem as per Microsoft’s recommendations.

Before running this patch, you MUST BE CONNECTED to the SimplyExpats.net VPN Access Service. (See section 2.1 above).

Download the SimplyExpats Patch file from our Download site HERE>>, and save to your desktop. (Note: Right Click on the link, and “Save Target As”.)

Right Click on the Windowspatch Icon as below.

Select Run As Administrator.

The Patch file will be run, and you should receive an OK message as below.

This will fix the known Windows negotiation issue.