OK, the intersting thing here is that you have established that to have a valid connection right? You can see his machine and he sees yours but you can't go anywhere on the systems with the connection?
If that is the case sometimes there is some MTU/RWIN settings that set the packets too large to get through the "narrowed" VPN link. A VPN link is an "encapsulated" link, literally a tunnel instead of an open bridge so the packets can't be the same size. For example it's like trying to drive a 13 ft tractor trailer through a 11 ft high tunnel. You have to go through with a smaller rig.
I just realized something, is the ATT (Comcast) cable or DSL? Most cable installs cannot handle VPN protocols (because of the above, you get speed but not enough overhead to add VPN or other Protocols), another reason DSL is superior.