Connection Error - Cannot authorize Digital Editions on PC running Win 8.1

Downloaded and installed ADE version 4.0. Running on Windows 8.1.

Just keep getting "Connection Error"- Digital Editions could not connect to the activation server. Please make sure you are connected to the internet."

I am always connected, so that is not the issue.

I have a browser session open on Adobe site, including this one!

Firewall is also switched off now.

After repeatedly hitting the try again button, it does advance to a screen that says authorizing but the green bar just moves across the screen from left to right over and over for hours...nothing else happens.

Please help!