Overview
If your lab shows “Your virtual machines are starting…” but never loads, or if the VM window stays blank, the issue is often caused by an active VPN connection.
VPNs interfere with the connection between your browser and the cloud-based virtual machines used in EC-Council labs.
This article explains why VPNs cause problems and how to fix the issue quickly.
Why VPNs Cause Virtual Machines to Fail
The EC-Council lab environment uses a secure browser-based connection to interact with your virtual machines.
VPNs commonly disrupt this process because they:
| VPN Behavior | How It Affects Your Lab |
|---|---|
| Encrypted tunneling | Blocks or delays the VM console from loading |
| Packet inspection | Interrupts browser-to-VM streaming |
| Forced routing through another country | Sends the connection to the wrong region |
| Threat-protection filters | Mistake lab traffic as “unsafe” and block it |
| Zero-Trust or corporate VPNs | Prevent the VM window from opening at all |
Because the lab system cannot establish the required browser connection, your VM may:
- Stay stuck on “Starting virtual machines”
- Show a black or blank screen
- Disconnect repeatedly
- Display errors such as:
“There was a problem connecting to your virtual machine.”
Why Switching VPN Locations Does NOT Help
Changing your VPN server (for example, from New York to Dallas) does not fix the issue.
Even when the location changes:
- The VPN tunnel is still active
- The same traffic filtering still applies
- The same encrypted routing still disrupts the VM connection
To successfully load your lab, the VPN must be fully turned off.
How to Fix the Issue
To ensure your virtual machines load correctly:
1. Turn OFF your VPN completely
Disconnect from:
- Personal VPN services
- Corporate VPNs
- Zero-Trust network tunnels
- ISP privacy/VPN tools
- Cloudflare Warp or similar apps
2. Restart your browser
Chrome and Edge work best.
3. Clear your browser cache (recommended)
4. Relaunch the lab
If asked, choose Start Over instead of resuming a saved session.
If the Issue Continues
If you still cannot load your virtual machines:
- Take a screenshot of the loading screen or error
- Include your course name and module number
- Contact EC-Council Support and we will review your lab session and assist further
Summary
VPNs interrupt the secure browser connection needed to load your virtual machines.
Turning off your VPN and restarting your browser resolves the issue in most cases.
If problems continue, EC-Council Support is here to help.
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