I keep getting this error message. I downloaded UnHackMe and extracted the files. I've downloaded and activated lots of GATD programs and never had this problem. Any suggestions?
Failed to connect. Please try again later.
(21 posts) (7 voices)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Too late. Time's up. I guess I'll just miss out on this one :(
Posted 8 years ago # -
ChrisS
Administrator- Open IE, make sure that it's not set to "Work Offline" (in the File menu), if that doesn't help
- reset IE to its default state (Tools | Internet Options | Advanced then Reset at the bottom of the box). Confirm that IE will actually open a page.Also, you need to be using at least XP SP3 and apparently IE 8 or your PC won't have sufficient security credentials to connect to the activation server. The IE 8 requirement is recent (it may not even be required but a standard XP SP3 VM with the stock IE 6 won't connect for me, upgrading to IE 8 fixes the issue).
If none of that helps/applies you might give some more info about your system (OS, anti-virus, etc).
Posted 8 years ago # -
pluimpje
MemberI had that problem too and am able to recreate it on demand.
It seems that for the download there is a switch to internet explorer , even when using a different browser like google chrome.
So open internet explorer->internet-options->tab advanced->put a check in front of 'use TLS 1.0'. There need to be a check in front of 'use SSL 2.0', 'use SSL 3.0' and 'use TLS 1.0'.
After you have put a check in front of 'use TLS 1.0' you can go to your default browser and click the download button.
I have check it today: When i was trying to download the program with my google browser: When the option 'use TLS 1.0' is unchecked in internet explorer you get the 'fail to connect' error, when TLS 1.0 is checked in internet explorer you can download and install the program without any problems.
Posted 8 years ago # -
krypteller
MemberPluimpje,
You deserve your name!
If you do not know Dutch: if you give someone a pluimpje. you give him a pluimpje. An old fashioned "like".Posted 8 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorI had that problem too and am able to recreate it on demand...
So open internet explorer->internet-options->tab advanced->put a check in front of 'use TLS 1.0'. There need to be a check in front of 'use SSL 2.0', 'use SSL 3.0' and 'use TLS 1.0'.I could be wrong, but I think the original problem was the GOTD setup.exe app not being able to connect to the GOTD servers to proceed with the installation, as the 1st post says: "I downloaded UnHackMe and extracted the files."
Regardless, I checked the default Internet Explorer settings in both my main win7 64 Ult install that I'm using right now, & in my win7 32 VBox VM -- both had SSL 2 & 3 unchecked [disabled], & TLS 1,2,& 3 checked [enabled]. I opened Internet Explorer in my main version of win7, leaving SSL unchecked, unchecked TLS 1, & was able to download today's GOTD using both Internet Explorer & Chrome. I did the same in the VM, & installed the GOTD without problems.
One of my concerns was that while it's enabled by default today, TLS 1 is going to be unsupported in the future -- if it was needed that would likely mean more changes [updates] that might break GOTD for users on say XP &/or Vista.
Otherwise, while I'm glad it worked for you, it *might* be a good idea to Google on SSL as well as TLS 1 to make sure that you're OK with using them.
As the tech used with &/or for the Internets & web has improved & advanced, old code, standards, methods etc. were left in place for compatibility, & well, apparently forgotten to some extent. That has turned out to mean all sorts of security vulnerabilities, so things like TLS 1.0 are going away.
At the same time Internet Explorer has it's own requirements & ways that it works.
support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2851628Assume that you select SSL 2.0 and TLS 1.2 in the Internet Explorer security settings. When you try to access an HTTPS website in Internet Explorer, you receive the following error message: Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage
The issue occurs because SSL 2.0 and TLS 1.2 are not compatible with each other in Windows 7 and later operating systems.Posted 8 years ago # -
pluimpje
MemberI had the problem when trying to download any program from the giveawayoftheday.com website and only this website. So i know it has something to do with this websites.
In vista the latest version of internet explorer (IE9) has, by default a check before SSL 2.0', 'use SSL 3.0' and no check by default before 'use TLS 1.0' by default.
By default i don't use internet explorer, and although SSL2 and SSL 3.0 are checked by default in internet explorer i don't have any problems accessing a https website when those are checked, probably because it's TLS 1.0
Had the same download problem in windows 7 but don't know the settings of internet explorer at that laptop but it was IE 11.
I don't know why the settings in IE have an effect on google chrome for this website. What i read about SSL and TLS is that it is about the way one server sends his info to another server.
If TLS 1.0 is old you might ask the website developer why he has implemented this recent change.
@krypteller, Thanks and by the way I do speak dutch
Posted 8 years ago # -
ChrisS
AdministratorI don't know why the settings in IE have an effect on google chrome for this website.
The activation process uses the IE engine regardless of your default browser.I could be wrong but it seems to me that you're using "downloading" when you actually mean "activating" (or "installing"). You can download with any browser you want but IE must be functional for the program to install.
Posted 8 years ago # -
ChrisS
AdministratorYou really don't provide enough information since there have been a number of site changes over the past months from the Social Media download popups to the more recent design overhaul.
At a minimum, you need to be running XP SP3 (SP2 no longer has sufficient credentials to access the activation server) and use at least IE 8 (earlier versions don't appear to have sufficient credentials).
If your system meets those minimum requirements, and you're not using a proxy server (http://whatismyipaddress.com/), try resetting IE to its default settings (Tools | Internet Options | Advanced then Reset at the bottom of the box)
Posted 8 years ago # -
pluimpje
Member@Chris,
Thanks for enlighting us concerning the activating process using the IE process. So it works the same way as the windows update process (bypassing the default browser setting that is).
I was indeed using the word downloading when i meant activation process (my mistake).
With my settings i only use my default browser, google chrome for visiting the page, download the program, activating the program and installing the program.
What do you mean with 'IE must be functional for the program to install?'. If you mean that is must be on the pc and able to work than i agree to the extend that even when using IE instead of chrome i have to apply my settings to pass the activation proces.
What i do see when opening IE with my settings , is my homepage opening with a security warning saying that i am going to visit pages through a secured connection. When i press ok the address appearing in the adddress bar is
https://www.google.nl/?gws_rd=ssl (where http://www.google.nl/ is my homepage)Thanks for your reply
Posted 8 years ago # -
ChrisS
AdministratorBefore this summer "functional" meant:
- it must not be set to work offline (the most common reason for the "failed to connect" error as many people don't use IE so they don't know it's offline)
- it must be set to the correct zone
- the security settings must be reasonable (firewall grants access, etc)
- and you couldn't use a proxy serverIn most cases if you could connect to a web page via IE then you were OK and, if not, a reset to IE defaults would usually take care of the issue.
However, XP SP2 security credentials are suspect and many websites, including the GOTD activation server, have recently stopped allowing secure access from an XP SP2 PC. Many sites also will no longer accept connections from browsers older than IE 8, presumably for the same security issues. So I'd add:
- you must be able to access a secure website, like your banking site with IE
to the list.Posted 8 years ago # -
aldaba
MemberThanks for the response to my question. So it seems the GAOTD server will not accept connections using IE6??? It always used to until recemtly, as I had no problem before.I will not be upgrading IE6, dont even use it now as Firefox is so much better. I keep IE6 so as to retain my Outlook Express Email account. IE8 does not support it. So the choice is Outlook Express or GAOTD........ Goodbye GAOTD I'll get my downloads elsewhere. Thank you
Posted 8 years ago # -
pluimpje
Member@Aldaba,
Be serious, giving up GOTD because the website doesn't support an outdated webbrowser???IE6, famous for his security risks, was bundeled with XP SP1 and support for Xp ended last year. IE7 came with XP2.
A company has to defend it's servers against DDos attacks and other stuff remember that.@Chris,
With my settings i'm able to access a secure website of my bank and use it to surf to other pages as well. But i'll do a reset never the less and see whether it solves the problem.
After the reset i checked the IE9 settings and SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.0 are checked by default and SSL 2 is unchecked. This means that checking the TLS 1.0 setting as i did was just restoring it to it's default setting. So back to you. Keep up the good work ( sometimes i miss those days where i myself was moderating a software forum)
Posted 8 years ago # -
aldaba
MemberThanks for your comment, I agree IE6 is outdated, as I said I dont use it as I much prefer Firefox. I run XP sp3 as I believe it to be the best OS Microsoft has developed, support is withdrawn to force users into buying a new OS. What happened to Vista, windows 7+8, and from what I hear Windows 10 is riddled with spyware. As something to think about, why cant firefox contact the GOTD for availability of the program on offer.
Posted 8 years ago # -
ChrisS
Administratoraldaba, Outlook Express works fine with IE 8. Since Outlook Express is part of IE 6 you can't install it with IE 8 present (you'll get a "newer version of browser found error") but you can update both IE and Outlook Express once the programs have been installed. If you're having trouble see Updating Windows Internet Explorer 8 and Outlook Express 6.
Backup your system first. You should also investigate moving to a different email program. At some point you're going to have to leave XP behind and it will probably be easier to get the old email into an alternate XP email program's database and move/import that database to a more modern system than trying to import the Outlook Express database. You might consider starting a new thread asking for help getting Outlook Express moved, you need to do it while programs that will install on XP are still available.
Posted 8 years ago # -
ChrisS
Administratorpluimpje, I'm not sure if you're asking why you had the trouble but, if so, it's clear that something reset the IE defaults. It could have been an old toolbar/add-in that was having a problem but I think it more likely that either a "helpful" system improvement utility "fixed" your system or it's the result of a poorly written program.
Many programs use IE for their help system and if you're not connected to the internet when accessing help they set IE to "work offline", find the needed files, and some then fail to reset IE to its normal state upon exit. It's possible that a program adjusted your settings for its own reasons and then either failed to reset them at exit or the program ended abnormally which prevented the reset. Unless it happens again I wouldn't worry about it.
Posted 8 years ago # -
pluimpje
Member@Chris, i was indeed asking why i had to put a check before TLS 1.0. But since the reset showed me that, by default there should have been a check before TLS 1.0 in the first place and that this website is using IE engine during the activation process my problem is answered and solved. Since i only had problems with this website when activating, using different window versions and others where having the same problem as well i was convinced that the website was the problem so i looked for a way to solve the problem. But i now know where to look at should it ever happen again. Thanks for your help.
Posted 8 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorI will not be upgrading IE6, dont even use it now as Firefox is so much better. I keep IE6 so as to retain my Outlook Express Email account.
Depending on the site, it's questionable if you could use ie6 if you wanted to -- as Internet servers update their software, ie6 is not only unsupported, but simply won't work. ie8 will soon be in the same boat -- already many sites will not support it.
That said [& the reason for writing this], Outlook Express was sort of re-branded as Live Mail, which works all the way up to 10. It's offered as an optional update in my XP Mode VM [XP Pro SP3].
I run XP sp3 as I believe it to be the best OS Microsoft has developed, support is withdrawn to force users into buying a new OS.
Maybe yes, maybe no -- little to be gained by debating that point, as people have proven since 7 came out years ago. What is not debatable is that support for XP has been at a very low level for quite some time -- it has never received many of the security oriented updates in 7-10, because it would have required some major re-writing of XP's code.
What that means is that as Internet servers update to get rid of old code that contains serious vulnerabilities, XP is going to have a harder time connecting with them. It also means you're running a less secure OS, but while that isn't open to debate either, the point is moot -- if there was a way to force users to upgrade, Microsoft would have done it a decade ago.
What happened to Vista, windows 7+8, and from what I hear Windows 10 is riddled with spyware.
Again, maybe, maybe not... If that aspect worried you run *nix + Wine &/or a Windows VM. A related potential solution for stuff you can do online would be the Chrome OS written about in a couple of other threads. It'll run from a USB stick or as a VM, & if you don't sign in, but run as Guest, nothing is retained. Run it from a VBox VM & you can alter your MAC address every time you fire it up.
As something to think about, why cant firefox contact the GOTD for availability of the program on offer.
Microsoft originally built Internet Explorer into Windows. Rather than do things twice, Windows uses code that's part of Internet Explorer to connect online. So while technically Internet Explorer is being used by whatever software -- & a bunch of software uses Internet Explorer files -- those files are actually part of Windows.
That's also why Firefox or Chrome or Opera etc. could not work in place of Internet Explorer. They're separate add on software so Windows doesn't, can't use them to connect online. Or put another way, software can use code that Windows itself provides.
Posted 8 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorBut since the reset showed me that, by default there should have been a check before TLS 1.0 in the first place and that this website is using IE engine during the activation process my problem is answered and solved. Since i only had problems with this website when activating, using different window versions and others where having the same problem as well i was convinced that the website was the problem so i looked for a way to solve the problem.
Purely FWIW...
As in my earlier post, I unchecked TLS 1.0 & the GOTD activation worked just fine. That means that the GOTD servers do not require it. The way this stuff basically works is that there are multiple methods available to establish a secure connection. When I unchecked TLS 1, then obviously something besides TLS 1 was used. That however didn't appear to happen in your case, pluimpje.Maybe the reset fixed it so that whatever alternative means of establishing a secure connection were restored? Maybe not? It's up to you of course whether you'd want to try it with TLS 1.0 unchecked now or not.
The software & protocols used across the Internets is changing, with old, less secure code & methods actively being purged. If you run something like a separate banking app, it might have altered settings on purpose, turning off something they feel is less secure. Or maybe it was something along the lines of an update that didn't quite take?
At any rate, *if* TLS 1.0 is still required, the problem **may** rear its head again, & I stress MAY. Assuming your system hasn't been breached or compromised, if you use up to date versions of Chrome or Firefox for stuff like banking they'll use their own security code & mechanisms. If you use something that relies on Internet Explorer code to do sensitive stuff like banking, perhaps a double check to make sure the secure connection end of things is working properly might be in order?
If something isn't working establishing a connection to the GOTD servers, & that forces a downgrade to TLS 1.0, then it could be that those servers don't have a more secure method compatible with your system. You might have something better that GOTD servers do not offer currently, or it could be something at your end that's turned off or broken. If I was doing banking using Internet Explorer code, I'd want to make sure nothing regarding Internet Explorer was broken.
Otherwise a possible concern *might* be next year, as they do away with TLS 1.0. It's possible that with whatever updates to their server software, some newer or better methods of establishing a secure connection will be added to GOTD's servers, and your system might use one of those rather than TLS 1.0. If not, then you may have to revisit the issue.
Posted 8 years ago #
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