How to fix Cisco Anyconnect VPN Client on Win 8

Symptom:
After installing (or Re-installing) the Cisco AnyConnect Client on Windows 8, unable to initialize the NIC.  Error is “AnyConnect was not able to establish a connection to the specified secure gateway.  Please try connecting again”

The Fix is to correct an error in the Description string for the VPN Connection in the registry.

• Run Regedit
• Navigate to the key Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\vpnva
• Open the properties of the key DisplayName
• The text will look something like this:

@oem20.inf,%vpnva_Desc%;Cisco AnyConnect VPN Virtual Miniport Adapter for Windows x64

• Change the field to:

Cisco AnyConnect VPN Virtual Miniport Adapter for Windows x64

by removing all the text and characters that are on the left of the word Cisco.   

• Exit Regedit and try again.