does it help to report a problem ? « Giveaway of the Day Forums

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does it help to report a problem ?

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Started 3 months ago by Bigun
Latest reply from RunesageMagik

Bigun
Member

Does it help to report a problem here on the forums? Is there anyone that registers a reported problem and then tries to find a solution? If a problem recurs is it given any priority in searching for a solution?

I have had the same problem eight to ten times over the past month or so. The problem is not being able to connect to the server when I try to activate a agiveawayoftheday offer. I am having the same problem with two computers. Both computers are able to connect to the Web and download the offer. And yet, throughout the day when I try to connect to the server to activate an offer (not every day) I get an error message saying that the activation module can not connect to the server. Today time ran out again and I was unable to activate Cleanse Uninstaller since the time I first downloaded it around Noon today.

Most of the time I connect to the GOTD server just fine to download. My problem, when I have one, is always with the activation process not connecting to the server.

I have posted this topic several times on the forum. Is anyone looking for a cause and solution? Or should I just move on? Please some answer.

Posted 3 months ago #
maizeydaze
Member

Bigun, that's strange. I've never had a problem with connecting for activation. I usually activate & install immediately after downloading. There have been times over the past couple of weeks that GOTD has been down for several hours and I could not connect to the site at all. Not sure if it was down sometime today or not.

Posted 3 months ago #
Lee
Moderator

It's life.

I too have had trouble connecting to activation server.

I try again later.

Best thing to do is activate it as soon as you get it and make sure you get it 12 hours before period is over.

Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM
LeKanaw
Member

Salut Bigun
Yes, I noticed that u have asked the question b4.
Also noticed that several ppl offered different & diverse solutions.
Have u tried them ALL? And nothing works? There are several threads on the subject, generally the problem gets solved.

It is a bit strange, the big majority must be dwlding/activate without problems, otherwise I'm sure we could hear the screams ;-)
Could it be a specific ISP or regional problem?
It's just my 2cents, I don't have that problem - for the almost 7 months I've been dwlding, it only happened once (w a game).
I know this doesn't help u, sorry. Good luck!

Posted 3 months ago #
BuBBy
Administrator

The usual problem with NEVER being able to connect during activation is Internet Explorer is set to "Work Offline" (and the user has a secondary browser to download the giveaways).

There are a few others to do with having proxys specified - but these raise a different error message (invalid key)

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2103?replies=37#post-18729

And to answer your question, "Does it help to report a problem" - well it certainly beats the alternative of keeping the problem a secret. Nobody can help you fix it if they don't know you are having the problem. ;)

Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM
RunesageMagik
Member

Bigun, I've run into a problem at the activation point just once out of dozens of GAOTD downloads, but I have noticed that GAOTD/Wordpress is suffering from many more brief but irritating downtimes than ever before. Sometimes it takes second to clear up, sometimes hours.

There's a possibility that the culprit is your ISP or the line between you and the nearest substation (i.e., brief outages, maybe due to water in the line, vines strangling the line, $*!& squirrels nibbling on the lines or a defective junction on the pole) You could ask them to do a line test. Do you make a regular practice of clearing your temp file cache and other detritus using something like CCleaner or ATF Cleaner? Are you on DSL? I understand it can be very sensitive to line degradation. Firewalls tend to get flakey... mine sporadically reports it's blocked the ISP's IP one second and then a second later lets it through. Baffling. Then again, mayhaps you're just really really unlucky with your timing.

Seems most users similarly experience few or no problems, else you'd probably see a flurry of "me too" responses instead of just a couple. As overworked as the guys behind the curtain say they are, however, I doubt you're going to get a clear answer unless many many more complaints roll in. If I've learned one thing about computers and the Net, it's that no two seem to display web sites or react to software the same way.

Posting the same message in multiple locations isn't nearly as likely to get an answer as providing a helluva lot more detail in one post, including -
a log of the incident times,
specs on your OS, browswer, PC and active processes (firewall/security appls) and
exactly (not paraphrased) what your browswer window or pop up is reporting.

If nobody can help, and few chime in with similar problems, that's kinda like a hint saying you're unfortunately on your own. Frustrating, yes, but none of us are magicians.
(well, I am, but only with rabbits and hats)

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

I did it again!!!

I typed a detailed post giving all of the many steps that I have taken to identify the source of the problem, etc. > hit the ESC key I think and lost it all. Why don't I lean??

My main point was: I am sure that this is a server problem. I asked the question "does anyone have the power, and are they willing to take the time, to asked the server's technical support people to look into the matter"?

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

I think that there might be two servers at GOTD operating independently of one another.

Tonight, every time I connect to "http://www.giveawayoftheday.com" I get a red, McAfee, pop-up. I do not get the McAfee warning when I try to connect to the "activation server" (URL unknown).

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

I hit the escape key to clear a menu - poor thinking all around. I made very good technical cases for my contentions relating to the origin and solution possibilities of my failures to connect to the activation server.

The steps I listed did make a good case (actually several cases) - the spelling was atrocious and would have embarrassed a second grader. I am a scientist not a speller. I say this in case the post makes its way to the forum one did not long ago before spell check ever had a chance to run.

I appreciate all of the comments above directed toward me.

Posted 3 months ago #
BuBBy
Administrator

To simplify the problem solving, quit/shut down all your popup/warning/alarm/filter type things - check that Internet Explorer isn't set to "Work Offline" (The activation module uses Internet Explorer libraries to connect)

Then come back reporting exactly what error message you get when you try to run activate/setup.

The fact Activation works for practically everyone (and we are talking about tens of thousands of people) and the people that in the past it didn't work for - when we fixed the problem it was something else they were running or some setting they had turned off.

Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM
Bigun
Member

#BuBBY

Sorry I omitted the error message. The message indicates that it is a GOTD comment - not something stored on my computer in IE or Windows. I have two computers with different operating systems that give me the error.

The error message is as follows:

"Activation module failed to connect to giveawayoftheday.com. Software activation is not possible at the moment. Please try again later or check your firewall settings."

In the past the error message has included the phrase " activation server".

I am using a "clean boot", no firewall, no anti-virus program, fresh install of Windows XP Pro one one of the computers. My ISP is "Comcast.Net"

I want this giveaway offer (Desktop Icon Toy). My desktop icons keep getting scrambled.

I have tried to activate this offer throughout the offer period. I have many more constructive comments on the issue if ever wanted. Technical support intervention would be great.

Thank you.

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

BuBBY

I wonder if my IP is being blocked.

Posted 3 months ago #
BuBBy
Administrator

What browser are you using to connect to the forums etc? If not Internet Explorer - can you try to connect using IE?

I have just downloaded and activated todays giveaway without any problems - so there doesn't appear to be any problem with the servers being unavailable. (ie. it appears to be at your end of the line).

Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM
Bigun
Member

I have been using IE7 all day long. Not set for off line. I reinstalled IE7 2-days ago on one of my computers.

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

Notice --- I am able to connect to THIS server. I tried the activation 3-more times since my last post.

Posted 3 months ago #
BuBBy
Administrator

Is there anything specified in the "Connections" tab of Tools->"Internet Options"?

Do you have any type of proxy server or VPN setup? You mentioned you have two computers connecting to the internet - if you go back to simplify your setup so only on computer connects directly to the internet (isolating your network setup as a possible cause)

Is there anything you have had to install that is non-standard (eg firewalls) that might be blocking activate.exe

Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM
graylox
Member

Bigun, I activated this proggy 4 times just to please you - at no time there were any problem. I'm sure the mistake is on your site of the cable.

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

Nothing in answer to all.

Only one computer has been connected. They have been connected individually - one at a time via cable modem to comcast.net. New modem driver installed last week

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

I uninstalled IE7 and re-installed it. No add-ons are installed. McAfee Spyware reinstalled itself and enabled itself twice. It is not enabled now - nothing is. Activation is not working when IE7 is open or closed.

BuBBY, do you know what out of IF is being used? If I reinstalled IE6 and had it as my only installed browser - should that work?

Posted 3 months ago #
BuBBy
Administrator

I have a default install of IE7 installed with no probs. Undoubtedly many users are still running IE6 or have not installed IE7 - and they can still connect.

I'm trying to think of the easiest way you can get a report of your network configuration and what running processes are running on your pc, while you try to connect.

Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM
Bigun
Member

Bubby

I can do a screen print. I tried to print one on the forum several days ago and I could not copy any format to the dialog box

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

McAfee Spy Blocker has re-established itself as an add-on several times. It is not showing as being enabled at the moment (There are some add-ons that "don't need permission to run" that I can not disable through the Add-on Manager.

Remember that I said McAfee started giving me a pop-up warning about the main GOTD site today? Something seems to block me from connecting to the activation server. McAfee or am I blocked by the server?

I don't have a spell checker. It is "disbled".

BuBBY,...... thanks for trying to help. I appreciate it very much.

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

BuBBY

I am not running a network now. Only connecting one computer at a time. I have to shut everything down and swap the computers. I don't think I have been using the machines networked for a few days - not at all today. I pulled the network yesterday when I was working with "Cleaner Uninstaller".

Posted 3 months ago #
Paali
Member

Bigun, you said you installed IE7 just a few days ago. Have you installed all updates and patches aswell? It's worth a shot!

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

I have project paper to finish before morning. I will do some uninstalling and reinstalling Sunday afternoon and get ready for the next time a GOTD offer requires activation before installation. If after that, I still can't connect - I will give up. I can connect to every server associated with GOTD except the activation one. There must be something unique with it.

I thought that I had gotten rid of every McAfee product that I had installed on my computer because...well not important. But, "Spy Blocker" must still on the computer or deep inside IE7. When I disabled McAfee using the Add-On Manager of IE7, a few times I got a pop-up at the bottom of the IE7 screen as soon as I entered the http://www.giveawayoftheday.com website. The popup said "this website wants to add an add-on". The pop-up was associated with the little block next Blue and Green globe next to the word "Internet" on the bottom, right side of the IE7 screen. The pop-up did not name - names. This is NOT the same as the red, McAfee warning pop-up that I started getting when I entered the GOTD website today.

Posted 3 months ago #
BuBBy
Administrator

The activation servers don't block any clients. There would be no reason or benefit of doing so.

Try shutting down McAfee - and check the startup properties of any McAfee services as "Disabled".

Also if you have a large number of toolbars and addons that come as "extras" with other products, they may be intercepting network traffic.

Try to download the current version of "Spybot Search and Destroy", then update, immunise and scan - to check for any unwelcome "passengers" on your computer.

Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM
Bigun
Member

Paali:

I don't know. I don't know if I reinstalled IE7 before or after Microsoft issued the last updates this week (I think I got the updates through auto-update on Monday of this week instead of Tuesday.

I only re-installed IE7 on one computer. The IE7 installation on the other computer is several weeks old

Posted 3 months ago #
Bigun
Member

Thanks all:

I need to leave this issue for a few hours. I spent too many hours on this thing yesterday and today.

One day next week, I will uninstall Windows XP Home and reinstall it after a HD format. Lot of old junk on the HD.

Posted 3 months ago #
BuBBy
Administrator

Another thing to try - which it sounds like you have already started - is ditch everything McAfee related. As it is easier said than done (their uninstalls can leave your computer in an even worse state than when you started) the following Forum thread might be of assistance:

http://community.mcafee.com/showthread.php?t=219412

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=107083&lc=1033

Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM
RunesageMagik
Member

Only skimmed the posts since yesterday. As I said before, it sounds like the problem is on your side but have you determined (by looking at your firewall log) if your PC is even calling out or if it's being blocked internally? (yeah, I see you can reach the download page, but that's a different address from the activation address) If so, can you get McAffee to cough up its black list or at least see if it offers an option of blocking silently or alerting you to what it is blocking? Enabling that while surfing can be a pain in the neck, but for this diagnostic, it might show them to be the culprit. Determining WHY they chose to block, and HOW to delete the activation addie from their list or uninstall so they can't would be the next step.

Posted 3 months ago #

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