VPN Screwing With My Static IP

I had a static IP set in my IP4 properties due to the fact that I need to set port forwarding options in my router for some of my apps. I was able to get it configured properly and have been running it without any issues for some time...

...until yesterday.

I installed VPN software (proXPN) in order to provide me an on-demand, renewable IP address. However, after installing I was no longer able to connect to the internet (even after I had completely shutdown proXPN). It was only after I set all my IP4 properties back to Automatic, did I get my internet connection back.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. My connection is back but I'm no longer forwarding the ports I need. If I try to changed it back to use a Static IP address again, my normal "Home" network in Windows 7 changes to "Unidentified Public Network" and can not connect.

Can anyone tell me what about the VPN screwed this up and how I can get my Static IP address back without having to uninstall the VPN (which is a valuable feature I will need for the future)?

 

You don't need to set a static IP address or change your IPv4 settings on your computer to be able to port forward. You can do that in your router. If you turn your IPv4 settings back to "automatic", and assign a static IP through your router for that particular computer, you should be fine.