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karenw53688120
karenw53688120
Participant
May 24, 2016
Answered

Can't authorize Digital Editions - says could not connect to activation server

  • May 24, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 6769 views

I'm running Adobe Digital Editions 4.5 on a Windows 7 computer.

I was using Adobe Digital Edition unauthorized to read library eBooks, then decided to authorize it so I could access my library books elsewhere as well. I downloaded some books, then I started getting authentication errors. I couldn't erase the authorization through Adobe Digital Editions to try to redo it, I kept getting errors. I followed the instructions for editing the Registry, which removed the old authorization, and now I can select "authorize your computer". But when I enter my Adobe ID and password, I get the error message:

"Digital Editions could not connect to the activation server. Please make sure you are connected to the Internet."

My computer is connected to the Internet - that's how I'm connected to this discussion. I have uninstalled and re-installed Adobe Digital Editions, and the same thing happens.  Any suggestions? I prefer Adobe Digital Editions to alternatives, but if this activation problem can't be fixed I won't have any choice.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer karenw53688120

I read through other similar posts and found one that said they uninstalled 4.5 and installed 3.0 instead. I did that and was able to authorize ADE (no problem connecting to the internet) and download eBooks from our library again. 

4 replies

B
briank99751229
Participating Frequently
December 9, 2016

Success!!!!!

None of the prior steps helped me at all.  However, what I just did that worked was to delete ALL versions of ADE on my computer and reinstall version 4.0. 

I had updated from v3.0 to v4.5.2 to deal with the ASCM files type but got in the same endless loop of failure to authorize or failure to connect to authentication server, both errors (falsely) suggesting I was not connect to the internet.

The registry editing, DE-authorizing/re-authorizing, shutting down windows firewall/Norton antivirus etc. just cycled me through these error messages without solving the problem. 

I don't even know when v4.0 was downloaded or if it was automatic at some point, but by uninstalling v3.0 and v4.5 and selectively installing v4.0 everything worked the way it should.

I must say I found the chat people with whom you connect when you click the Help tab in ADE was worthless (actually worse than worthless since the snarkily pointed out it was free if necessary software and therefor not supported) and the Forum articles simply cycled me through useless and sometimes scary (deactivating all my PC's security features) steps without resolving the problem.

V4.0 works as it should.   Now I just have to figure out how to assure it will not auto-update and put me back in server failure hell.

Hope this helps others.  Good Luck out there...

    B
    briank99751229
    Participating Frequently
    December 6, 2016

    THE problem is that version 3.0 cannot deal with the new file type ACSM that our library's service provider (Overdrive) has recently switched to.  That was WHY I updated to 4.5.2.  It previously used ePUB which worked fine for ~18 months, but the problem is still active in my case.

    M
    molly141
    Participating Frequently
    July 20, 2017

    did you ever find a solution to this

    Rafdigital
    Rafdigital
    Participant
    January 9, 2018

    probably network security or firewall. switched my network from wired to the guest wifi at work and was able to authorize. worked for me

    karenw53688120
    karenw53688120AuthorCorrect answer
    Participant
    May 27, 2016

    I read through other similar posts and found one that said they uninstalled 4.5 and installed 3.0 instead. I did that and was able to authorize ADE (no problem connecting to the internet) and download eBooks from our library again. 

      Nanaky
      Nanaky
      Participating Frequently
      May 30, 2016

      Fine that you can solved your problem.

      Nanaky
      Nanaky
      Participating Frequently
      May 25, 2016

      Digital Edition has no access to the server. Check the Firewall or other Securtiy Programs. Also add the Program as sure program to the security programms.

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