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What are connection errors in CorrectEnglish?

A connection error in CorrectEnglish™ means that your program cannot connect to our license server to validate your license. Your license must be validated before you can enter the program or submit a document for check.

In other words, something is blocking the program from checking that you have a license/subscription. Firewalls, antivirus programs, and network proxies can create these blockers, disabling CorrectEnglish from running properly.

This can happen for many reasons and may not be related to your Internet connection in general. You can still have a connection error in CorrectEnglish even if your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) works fine.

How do I know if I have a connection error?
How can I have a connection error if my web browser and e-mail work fine?
How do I fix a connection error?

# How do I know if I have a connection error?

Connection errors are the most common issue in getting CorrectEnglish™ up and running, and can occur at many points.

Common signs that you may have a connection error are:

- In the free trial, nothing happens when you click CHECK.
- When you try to register with your order ID, you get a message that says "No products found," but you have not used that registration yet.
- You get an error message that says "Check your Internet connection and firewall settings."
- You get error messages that say "Cannot perform spelling and grammar check," "Cannot perform essay scoring," and "Cannot perform word choice."

#How can I have a connection error if my web browser and e-mail work fine?

The 'blockers' that are stopping CorrectEnglish™, such as firewalls and antivirus programs, are programmed to let identified web-related applications through without any problems. They make 'exceptions' for these applications because they know their primary purpose is to reach the Internet and bring back information.

Because CorrectEnglish™ is a desktop, non-browser application, it often needs to be added to Firewall, Antivirus, and other security programs exceptions lists in order to make the 'call' to our servers. Unknown desktop applications are usually blocked from reaching the web as a precaution against spyware and other programs that 'steal' your information.

In a networked environment (such as school or work), there may be a network firewall or proxy server blocking the call for similar reasons even after you add CorrectEnglish™ to your exceptions list(s). In this case, you will need the help of your network administrator to allow CorrectEnglish™ to reach the Internet.

# How do I fix a connection error?

Check your firewalls. A firewall may be preventing CorrectEnglish™ from accessing the server.

Open your firewall control center. This may be your Windows firewall, accessible in your computer's Control Panel on the Start menu. Or, you may have another personal or network firewall set up.
See if your firewall is turned on.
If you would like to leave your firewall turned on, you simply need to add CorrectEnglish™ to your firewall exceptions list. (The following instructions are Windows Firewall specific.)

Make sure Exceptions are allowed. Click the checkbox next to "Don't allow exceptions" to uncheck the box.

Click the Exceptions tab or link.

Click Add Program.

Select CorrectEnglish™ from the list. If CorrectEnglish™ is not on the list of programs...

Click Browse.
Click My Computer.
Click Local Disk C:.
Click Program files.
Click the Vantage Technologies folder.
Click the CorrectEnglish folder.
Click the CE CorrectEnglish icon.
Click Open.
Select CorrectEnglish™ from the programs list.

Click OK.

Check your AntiVirus programs. Your AntiVirus may also include a built-in firewall, in which case you will need to repeat steps like above to add CorrectEnglish to your exceptions or ‘safe’ list.

Authored by: Lindsay Mack This question has been viewed 1701 times so far.

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