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Activation key fails to connect

(26 posts) (14 voices)

Started 7 months ago by bem
Latest reply from hotdoge3

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bem

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I have read a good many posts lately about this problem. It only began for me yesterday. All recommendations for remediation are of the basic nature and none have helped me. Yesterday's GAOD finally registered with a new download about 1:30 AM. None of today's from either site will, despite 4 different downloads of each.

I have scrubbed my machines and browsers till they squeak, used different browsers, run with every security feature and firewall turned off, run as Admin while logged in as Admin with UAC off, climbed through my DSL modem's settings repeatedly. Nothing. I'm running Vista Home Premium on one machine and Vista Home Basic on the other. I have never had any problem in the past and have changed nothing about my setups except as noted above. I have no difficulty downloading or uploading files of any kind.

Is there anything I should know about this that I don't understand? Is there any difficulty from GAOD's that I should know about? I truly enjoy this site and would hate to have to give it up but if I can't install the product what is the point?

I am open to suggestions. Especially as I want that Street Racer game.

Thanks to one and all,

bem

Posted 7 months ago #
GMMan

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What's the error message you get? Check your Internet Options control panel applet and click on the Connection tab. If anything seems out of the ordinary, it may be the cause of the problem. Also, do you think you did anything that may have caused this problem?

Posted 7 months ago #
bem

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As the title says, "Failed to connect. Try again later."

If any of these basic concepts were the issue then a) I would not have been able to download and activate on a near daily basis and b) the miraculous last minute activation in the wee hours last night couldn't have happened. I have the security settings on IE so low it won't quit bugging me. I've turned off everything and am running nekkid to the world, so no blocking programs. I'm a system utility fetishist and so have repeatedly scoured all files and registry settings, followed with a reboot, to be sure no cache or other temp is causing problems.

As previously noted, I've been downloading and activating for awhile without any issue, and I have not changed or installed anything since Thursday when there was no difficulty. I've brought the download count on Street Racer to 5 without one success. As noted, this is not one machine but two, both of which worked for this on Thursday. I don't get it.

Posted 7 months ago #
bem

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Well, once again a late night successful install. All it took was 6 downloads, all done exactly the same. I pray this won't be the new standard for me. It will severely limit my willingness to attempt to download and test these programs, an option I don't relish.

How could this be, and what can be done about it? Obviously, none of the normally cited problems were the issue as all downloads and attempts to activate were done the same way under the same conditions. Yet only one worked. Is it a paucity of server bandwidth? Are the downloads so fragile and easily corrupted? If the later, how about a checksum feature?

I am not trying to rag on GAOD, I just want to resolve this problem so that I and others can continue to download and test these programs the way it was intended. A response from GAOD personnel would go a long way here.

Thanks,

bem

Posted 7 months ago #
GMMan

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Both your computers? It sounds like you may have some problems with your router or high-speed modem. Try checking though their configurations and see if their hardware firewall isn't blocking something. Also, how about Windows Firewall? Do you use it alongside your regular firewall?

I have never had a problem with GAOTD, except for trying to download Drive Backup 9 Personal (took forever).

P. S. For some odd reason, the word screenshots came to my mind. I just want to run over there and have a look at what's wrong. I'm usually good at figuring out this kind of problem.

Posted 7 months ago #
bobpsr5810

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I too have sporatic problems getting the setup to give me the activation codes. Especialy on the programs I really want. Like todays. I run set up then get to the Give Away site saying my program activated, yet I received no activation key.

Posted 7 months ago #
GMMan

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bobpsr5810: Not all Giveaways have serials. There are basically 3 types: Plain Setup, Setup and Serial, and Setup and Activate. Today's Giveaway is a Setup and Activate kind. You install the program with Setup.exe, and then register it with Activate.exe. The Activate wrapper places the registration data into your Registry, where the program will read it automatically. As long as the program doesn't tell you to buy it or indicates that it is a trial, you should be good. Other days, the setup and serial kind will usually write the key in the readme.txt file in the package.

Technical note: The original Windows Registry was used to store only file associations. Today, it does that, along with allowing programs to store other info (and potentially create problems).

Posted 7 months ago #
hotdoge3

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Q, "Failed to connect. Try again later." A,It Failed to connect is overload or firewall or IE is off line,it dose not mater if you use firefox it goes out of IE to firewall,as for turn of firewall some time will stop all.

Posted 7 months ago #
bem

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While I appreciate the willingness of others to help, and in fact am relying on that now, it would seem that the main focus of this thread is being overlooked.

It is not a case of newbie confusion. It is not settings of any kind whatsoever in the user's computer. It is an intermittent but frustrating inability to connect with http://208.88.224.199 in order to activate and install. In my case it has gone on for most of a 24 hour period for several days. Today is business as usual. ALL VARIABLES in my house the same for the successes and the failures.

I understand that high volume on the net can cause occasional bottlenecks, but all day and night on random days? There is some bit of knowledge missing here, either about the availability of the server to certain regions at certain times, about variations in the functions of the different kinds of wrapper keys that needs to be adjusted for, or perhaps just a random bug with no current fix. Obviously, I don't know.

One example: Downloaded from both sites simultaneously on a weekend. Both go the same server for verification. One activated immediately, the other wouldn't function. Pulled out an older installer and it went straight to the server and denied install, as expected. The one that hadn't worked still wouldn't. Later that night I decided to try it one more time, same download I had first loaded. Went through in a blink and worked just fine. The only thing that had changed for me was that it worked now. Why not when the others were going through fast and easy?

Thus the frustration. If there is an arcane adjustment on my end that would make one key act like the other I would gladly make it, but is beyond me at this point. If someone with inside knowledge were to tell me that they are aware of the issue but can't fix it, I could live with that. What bothers me is not knowing or understanding the nature of the problem. If I can fix it, I want to. If GAOD can fix it, I want them to. If it can't be fixed, so be it. I just want to understand.

Posted 7 months ago #
Haajee

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Regards
There is another problem:
It activates, Website opens with congratulations, but the program does not accept registration.

Foxonic Professional is behaving even after reboot, Re-activation ...

Posted 7 months ago #
thegrouser

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Member

Failed to connect. Try again later.
On my my new hp 530 Vista Home basic Sp1 laptop,Fully updated, I have never been able to activate any Gotd programs.
I know it is on my machine but I can NOT find the block to the Gotd activation.
I deactivated everything i can find that might block connection;Zonealarm firewall,Avast antivirus,windows firewall,spywareblaster.Run as administer,.
The downloads work fine.I have only had the vista for about 4 months,the XP for about 4 years.
I have very little problem with hp 533w XP SP3; When I do it is on my machine
which I can almost always fix.
No router. Computers make direct connection by dialup not at the same time
Any help appreciated

George Bishop
The Grouser

Posted 7 months ago #
Robert

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Member

Congrats with you new laptop...
In Vista you not only have to be an administer, but you also might need to run the activate or setup.exe (depending on the program) as one ,by right clicking on it and selecting run as administrator.
But you probably did try that.
Also today's program was updated (look for #25 by the Giveaway of the Day project team on the comments page).

Posted 7 months ago #
Txnnok

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Member

I just installed it on Vista 64bit. I didn't bother with admin rights this time for the decompiler since there wasnt an activation box.
I think this is your firewall blocking it. I was trying out zonealarm pro awhile back and was having an issue with it blocking things I wanted to let through. I even tried shutting it down like you did, but it was to no avail. I ended up uninstalling it.
I had better luck with comodo, but right now I am using Bitdefender. I managed to get a free copy of internet security. Don't use their total security, it sucks.

You can try uninstalling zonealarm and see if thats the problem. I know it sucks, but you'll find out if thats the problem. If it isn't then you know something else is the problem.

Using admin rights are not necessary for every application.

Posted 7 months ago #
bem

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Thought I'd weigh in with a follow-up to my problems with activation. Just as suddenly as they began, they suddenly went away. All tips and tricks suggested regarding changes to my computer were of no avail, except to mess with the bulk of my surfing. Put all back to it's usual tweaked state, no difference. Only occasional connections for key validation.

Lo and behold, one day (about 2 weeks ago) I could validate anytime the offer was good, almost as fast as I could ping the server. Its been that way ever since, knock on wood-grain vinyl.

As I said at the beginning, I think this is great site and I am now as before grateful for the freebietunities that come my way. Only thing that still rankles is the lack of any weigh-in on the part of the only people who might have had any real insight, even to say "We don't know." I'll never know what happened/unhappened to me, only that it was external to my house. I didn't cause it, I couldn't cure it, it just is/was.

Sela...

Posted 5 months ago #
watcher13

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Member

Sorry about the problems you've been having, Bem. I'm afraid you're right. A couple of our moderators are also moderate the comments sections and have had some direct email contact with the GOTD staff. Also, a large amount of emails on the undependable email notice problem, I assume using the contact link, got a response from the team on it's blog. But, if you don't already suspect this, that's the bottom line: though many developers find that being involved in their forums builds good feeling, that's not something that GOTD believes in. I'm not saying they're right or wrong. I'm saying that admitting that this is the reality makes some people here uncomfortable. I'm not criticizing that either. But, people who come here should realize that your getting help from the loyal users here, not from GOTD. As I've said many times, there's no evidence one way or the other that GOTD is aware of what's being said here. They prefer to be "that man behind the curtain" and some people would prefer Toto not tug on that curtain.

For whatever that revelation's worth.

I would recommend anyone having problems that no reasonable advice has fixed to contact GOTD directly. A lot of times it's on the user end, but your example indicates that there may be a problem on their end, too. Many folks here suggested that the email problem was on the users end, when it clearly could not have been. I'd say most of the connection problems are on the user end, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are also problems on the GOTD side. After all, they've had documented problems of server congestion to get to the main page or to download that were CLEARLY on their end. I hope it works out, or you can work it out.

Posted 5 months ago #
hotdoge3

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You say used different browsers? but it must be closed,It only needs IE is it set to work offline, check firewall do you get Activation like to go out if so you say yes?

Posted 5 months ago #
watcher13

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I really think bems done all that, hotdoge. Not all problems are on the user's end. Not all problems are even easily solveable.

Posted 5 months ago #
hotdoge3

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If you try all try to go to GOTD now is it OK or very slow if it ok do a clean up and check to see if IE is off Line try with IE to GOTD is it OK, by the way if you take off IE with nLite it still works told you need IE so may be not?
PS firewall setting and Firewall? some info may help turn firewall may stop all some firewalls are like that
watcher13 most find GOTD work %100 I think it on the PC end just a setting over a year the last time GOTD was over load.

Posted 1 month ago #
kempton

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I have had the same problem for several years. I today tried opening IE on Windows XP Service Pack 3 and kept it open while I clicked on activate.exe for today's download of the day. It worked!

Posted 1 month ago #
jacampbelljr

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My post yesterday was ignored/deleted by the moderator?! I had a problem with the activate.exe with the HD Video Converter program yesterday. I was at work and thought it was due to the company firewall, but turns out it may have been a faulty download, since it didn’t work at home either. (Should have done like others in the past and deleted and re-downloaded.) Anyway, disappointed that the moderator didn’t post my comment or reply with the “Try again” suggestion before this offer expired – wouldn't you know it seems like it was the first one I really wanted in days. BTW, developer wasn’t much help either, just kept giving me the instructions to “click activate first, then install”. Gee, really! I know the offer has expired, but not sure why the activate.exe doesn't give me that response - still gives "Failed to connect." Is it worth me sending you the activate.exe file so you can compare it to the original? That way we can rule in or our if it was a download/unzip problem. Thanks!!
BTW, the file size for the Activate.exe is: 996 KB (1,020,700 bytes)

Posted 1 week ago #
watcher13

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jacampbelljr - this forum is run by the members rather than GOTD itself. They're not heavily engaged with what we do here. One of the forum members might take you up on looking at your activate, but probably not. These problem's are usually external to the wrapper. If you want feedback directly from GOTD, you need to go to the bottom of the GOTD page and click the contact link. Although, I'm not sure they'll respond to this one. It's very likely on your end, since so many didn't experience problems with it.

This issue has been dealt with many, many times in these forums. If you type something like "won't activate" in the search box you can see dozens and dozens of threads with dozens and dozens of suggestions as to how to procede if this happens in the future. Of course, there are some suggestions right above your post.

Sometimes the problem is solved by using other download sources. Often, if people aren't getting a good download from the main link, they'll try the mirror link and they'll get a good one. Also, people have been able to get good downloads from the foreign language pages. GOTD has a bunch of them. You can see the drop down language menu right at the top of the page. Don't worry about the software then defaulting to the other language. The developer controls that and, as far as I know, only sends down one version. So it's either already in English or let's you select one of the languages it supports.

Good luck in the future!

Posted 1 week ago #
bigmutt

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Member

"Failed to connect. Please try again later."

It's amazing that this has been a problem for so many people for seven months now, and still there's no solution???

My situation is this: the Giveaway programs ALWAYS install fine on three of my computers but NEVER install on a 4th (my main computer, actually) one.

Doesn't matter which one downloads the program, it's always the same. Of course I've tried turning off ZoneAlarm and antivirus programs, etc. but nothing helps.

The OS of the one that does NOT install the program is XP Pro, SP3. But one of the other ones that DOES work is also the same OS. The other OSs are Vista and Win7; these work also.

So, NO ONE has figured out why some systems just won't install the darn program and others will??

And I guess there's no technical know-how & support from the actual operators of the Giveawayoftheday site??

Rick

Posted 3 days ago #
Whiterabbit-uk

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Games Guru

The programs do come with a no tech support notice. :(

Did you read my suggestion on the other thread that was started recently on this very same subject? Try clearing the internet cache on the computer ou're having problems with and see if that helps. It's only a suggestion. I've had similar problems in the past and that fix worked. :)

Good Luck

W.R.

Posted 3 days ago #
Whiterabbit-uk

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Games Guru

I've stuck this to the front page of the Installation and Activation problems section seeing as we get similar posts being instigated on a regular basis. hopefully, suggestions will be found in the preceeding pages. :)

W.R.

Posted 3 days ago #
notblocklox

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Moderator

@ bigmutt

It's amazing that this has been a problem for so many people for seven months now, and still there's no solution???

To be honest, the problem that some users can't download or install or activate or use a programme is even older than 7 months. Fact is, that most of the thousands of users every day don't have severe or long lasting problems otherwise the site would be down since a long time.

So, NO ONE has figured out why some systems just won't install the darn program and others will??
And I guess there's no technical know-how & support from the actual operators of the Giveawayoftheday site??

Thinking of the fact that every system is unique, what form should the support take? Should the GOTD team check every system of all the thousands of users?

Like WR wrote in the other thread, the fault and the solution is on your site.

graylox

Posted 3 days ago #
hotdoge3

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Member

http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/support/technical-support.htm (FAQ)

http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/s-28464961/cmd/kbresource/kb-6341657529542742174/view_question!PAGETYPE?sf=101133&documentid=347125&action=view

If these steps do not fix the problem, then you will most likely need to set
your Internet Security to Medium.
that you do NOT have any protocols blocked that are required for your
connection (for more specific information, see your network administrator).

1) Turn Gaming Mode on in ZoneAlarm (Try this fist)

Right Click the ZA icon in the System tray.

Select Game Mode.

Solution:

The Privacy settings in ZoneAlarm may be blocking some features that this
website needs to work properly, such as cookies, pop-ups and mobile code.

Please understand by disabling the privacy settings, you are not disabling
the firewall, it is only disabling the added feature of blocking cookies and
advertisements.
Now it will work.

Posted 3 days ago #

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