"Connect to Internet and try again" error message

[defaultt3f5o46qx86g]

I have disabled my anti-virus, I have disabled both ad-blockers.  I have uninstalled two sketchy installations of Photoshop and Elements 12.  I have uninstalled and reinstalled Elements 2021 and have turned the fricking computer on and off in between.  I'm still getting the error message and I cannot activate.  I'm stuck with a useless program and no capable editing program left.  Frustrated beyond belief.  Please help!

[Greg_S.]

You can try the trouble-shooting steps found here.  Otherwise, I suggest youi contact Elements support. You can start a chat session by clicking on the blue Contact Us button under the Support menu at Adobe.com. Or you can contact Support by telephone using the numbers listed here: https://helpx.adobe.com/contact/phone.html.

[mumbo12]

Hi, finally found out the cause of Elements Help Menu not rcognising any internet connection!

I spotted a program in the Windows Start Menu called Adobe Help which was installed along with Adobe Web Premium CS5.5 years ago. 

If you find you also have this program you could launch it, then click Edit/Preferences/General Settings and find the heading "Display Local Help content only:" and change it from YES to NO.  After doing this, Elements help menu works fine and so does Acrobat Reader's Help link.
The several Adobe Support I communicated with, didn't seem to know this, but I have now let them know.