First you want to enable VPN on server in network connections using create new connection select advanced network connectionor enable remote access in routing and remote access. You will want to look at your WAN side of the server as see what IP address your ISP is giving you (write this down). If you have a router connecting your server to the Internet you will have to build a routing table in the router to reach the server through remote access.
If you have a Dynamic service such as PPPOE you might as well forget VPN.
You will never get it to work properly because of your ever chaning IP.
You will now want to grant yourself access to the server in either properties of my computer or under active directory in your user profile.
Just a little side note. if your user name is the same for laptop and server the passwords have to match or you will not be granted access to any files on the server. You can still connect VPN, but that is it. The server will be the harest part to setup.
In your laptop you will want to go under network connections and create a VPN connection. Choose connect to the network at my workplace next=> Choose Virtual Private Network connection next=> Give the connection whatever name you like next=> Host name is the IP address you wrote down from either the server or the router(whatever one connects to the internet). That should be it.
Just some recommendations if you are new at this. First shut off all firewalls while trying to make this connection. You will have to enable all of your firewalls when you are done and open ports for the incoming connections. Usually it is port 1723 or 1721 I believe, but you may want to change it to 8182 or 8989 to keep from pissing off your ISP. Second If you laptop has a modem for dial-up, dial out from business phone line and try to connect to server coming back in the high speed network. Makes it easier to trouble shoot from one location. Last you can always try to connect from the LAN side of the server to verify that you connection settings are correct.
If you have any more questions just ask.
