Spore won't start!! Vista help needed!

letmesleep · 29-06-2009, 06:26 PM

whenever i try to start the game i keep getting some annoying window come up saying:

"the game can not start

There seems to be a problem contacting the license server. Ensure your internet connection is active and try again in a few minutes."

I don't know much about technology, but i do damn well know that I'm connected to the internet!

can anyone tell me why this keeps coming up, and more importantly how to stop it so i can play? please try to be as specific as possible (cos as I've said, i dunno anything

) and thank you in advance!!

nuke555 · 29-06-2009, 08:27 PM

i dont really know a fix to this solution or anything but have you tried going into
Start>computer>C:>program files>Electronic Arts>SPORE>sporebin>then right click on Spore app and click "Run as administrator

Hope this helps

letmesleep · 30-06-2009, 12:05 AM

thanks, but I've already tried that :S

Ashtaroph · 01-07-2009, 06:26 PM

do a quick test of your firewall, temporarily disable it then retry running the game, sometimes a firewall can block the game totally, if this sorts it then your have to learn to set a rule in your firewall, please remember to re-enable your firewall asap, as its not good to run a pc without :-)

letmesleep · 02-07-2009, 02:04 PM

how do i do that? i don't even know what a firewall is, let alone how to disable it :S

limabifrost · 02-07-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting authorized communications. It is a device or set of devices configured to permit, deny, encrypt, decrypt, or proxy all (in and out) computer traffic between different security domains based upon a set of rules and other criteria.

Thanks wiki

You'll probably have ZoneAlarm or Norton Antivirus or something like that as a firewall. Windows have them built in too.

Ashtaroph · 02-07-2009, 05:31 PM

at the bottom right corner of your screen letmesleep your see some little pictures, there called icons, hover your mouse over each 1 until a little name pops up, that will tell you what each icon is and usually gives an indication of what it does, 1 of them maybe a firewall, if so itll say what firewall it is, of course its also a possibility that as you dont know what a firewall is and your a vista user your may only be using the default windows firewall and not an independant program, once you,ve established that come back here and let us know :-)

letmesleep · 02-07-2009, 11:23 PM

okay, i have norton antivirus so would i need to disable that, or would something called HP total care advisor also be something i need to disable?

limabifrost · 02-07-2009, 11:57 PM

I've not had Norton for years so can't remember exactly what to do, but if you want to see if that's causing the problem, you could close it down (there may be a pause function if you right click on the icon in the bottom left) and try loading up the game. If it works ok then the firewall's the problem. Try this, let us know, and we can work on from there.

Just remember to turn it back on when you're done testing Spore as otherwise you may get viruses etc..

Ashtaroph · 03-07-2009, 06:03 PM

Norton Antivirus wont be causing the prob, if thats all that popped up then i doubt you have a seperate firewall program on your pc, HP total car advisor is i'm assuming Hewlet Packard own advisory tool, that shouldnt cause an issue either, please dont be offended by this but i'm assuming that your a fairly new pc user so my best advice would be to get a friend who knows a bit about pc security and get him to check your firewall settings.

29-06-2009, 06:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
letmesleep Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 9	Spore won't start!! Vista help needed! whenever i try to start the game i keep getting some annoying window come up saying: "the game can not start There seems to be a problem contacting the license server. Ensure your internet connection is active and try again in a few minutes." I don't know much about technology, but i do damn well know that I'm connected to the internet! can anyone tell me why this keeps coming up, and more importantly how to stop it so i can play? please try to be as specific as possible (cos as I've said, i dunno anything ) and thank you in advance!!

02-07-2009, 11:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
limabifrost Forum Moderator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dorset Age: 22 Gender: Female Posts: 4,522	I've not had Norton for years so can't remember exactly what to do, but if you want to see if that's causing the problem, you could close it down (there may be a pause function if you right click on the icon in the bottom left) and try loading up the game. If it works ok then the firewall's the problem. Try this, let us know, and we can work on from there. Just remember to turn it back on when you're done testing Spore as otherwise you may get viruses etc.. __________________ Limabifrost Forum Moderator Feel free to call me Emma Forum Rules

29-06-2009, 08:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
nuke555 Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 9	i dont really know a fix to this solution or anything but have you tried going into Start>computer>C:>program files>Electronic Arts>SPORE>sporebin>then right click on Spore app and click "Run as administrator Hope this helps

30-06-2009, 12:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
letmesleep Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 9	thanks, but I've already tried that :S

01-07-2009, 06:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ashtaroph Rookie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gloucestershire Age: 48 Gender: Male Posts: 195	do a quick test of your firewall, temporarily disable it then retry running the game, sometimes a firewall can block the game totally, if this sorts it then your have to learn to set a rule in your firewall, please remember to re-enable your firewall asap, as its not good to run a pc without :-)

02-07-2009, 02:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
letmesleep Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 9	how do i do that? i don't even know what a firewall is, let alone how to disable it :S

02-07-2009, 05:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ashtaroph Rookie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gloucestershire Age: 48 Gender: Male Posts: 195	at the bottom right corner of your screen letmesleep your see some little pictures, there called icons, hover your mouse over each 1 until a little name pops up, that will tell you what each icon is and usually gives an indication of what it does, 1 of them maybe a firewall, if so itll say what firewall it is, of course its also a possibility that as you dont know what a firewall is and your a vista user your may only be using the default windows firewall and not an independant program, once you,ve established that come back here and let us know :-)

02-07-2009, 11:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
letmesleep Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 9	okay, i have norton antivirus so would i need to disable that, or would something called HP total care advisor also be something i need to disable?

03-07-2009, 06:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ashtaroph Rookie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gloucestershire Age: 48 Gender: Male Posts: 195	Norton Antivirus wont be causing the prob, if thats all that popped up then i doubt you have a seperate firewall program on your pc, HP total car advisor is i'm assuming Hewlet Packard own advisory tool, that shouldnt cause an issue either, please dont be offended by this but i'm assuming that your a fairly new pc user so my best advice would be to get a friend who knows a bit about pc security and get him to check your firewall settings.