Download the exe file..run it ..go through install..start it..Cannot connect..error 20717, which is the same thing I got last week.
Asked about it then, but no responce???
What about now? Thx

can you post the exact error message you're seeing? I will investigate this further.

I'm having same problem. GE was working for a couple days and then I satrted getting the following at startup:

"Error
We were unable to connect to the Google Earth servers to activate your account.
Please verify that your internet connection is working properly and retry your account activation.
For more info visit http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=20717"

The support link suggests checking firewall and adware. I haven't made any recent firewall changes and I ran Spybot and Ad-Aware and still cannot connect. Please advise.

I also experience the exact same error...can't connect.
The connection functioned Friday...but hasn't, since.

I'm guessing this isn't a client-side problem, but a server comm issue.

Is there some sort of comm logging that can be turned-on, for testing purposes?

Too bad, it's a cool app!

Here's an idea: Multiple install and reinstalls do not clean up after themselves in the the registry. If you're careful and you know very well what you're doing, uninstall first, then try Regedit and find the Googleearth entry in HKEY_CURRENT-USER --> SOFTWARE --> GOOGLE --> GOOGLE EARTH PLUS and delete it. Then reinstall.

I'm suggesting this because I think it's what made it work for me. I kept getting authentication errors for a few days. Uninstall/ reinstall didn't work. Re-download and install, didn't work. I tried all the suggestions I coud find, including: Disabling antivirus, disabling popup blocker, disabling proxy setting in IE, disabling firewall altogether, rebooting the wireless router. None of them worked! Until I deleted that one entry in the registry.

Let us know what happens. And please remember, you touch registry at your own risk! Backup before changing.

I wish GE was a little more explicit as to the cause and a little more careful about cleaning up.

Tried your suggestion, without luck.
I'm feeling confident that it's not on the client end, but instead a server problem.

Does anyone know if this project is being worked on in Kirkland?

Probably, at least in the marketing sense.

Are you using any proxy in IE settings? Google Earth uses the same network settings as Internet Explorer. It could be the reason why Google Earth can't connect to the authentication server.

Can you also post the error code you're seeing at the bottom of the message box? Is it error ffffffffc000000c or something else?

Also having the same problem. I've been using the programme successfully for close to a week then......"Error
We were unable to connect to the Google Earth servers to activate your account.
Please verify that your internet connection is working properly and retry your account activation.
For more info visit http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=20717"
I've checked all the various suggestions in the Help area but still can't get into the prog. Am I going to be forced into the Registry to take action as suggested in a previous post? Personally I am pretty much convinced this is a server-side error. Any other views?

Still no connection...same error ffffffffc000000c.
Too bad.