Download and Installation - no problems.
Online registration - no problems.
BUT On first execution, I get the message: Powerdirector was not activated because a connection to the activation server could not be established. Check you internet connections .....
After checking various chat groups and 'advice columns' on the 'net, (yes, the PC does have access to the internet), the general advice seems to be either:
Download the installation files again, in case they were corrupted, and then: reinstall from scratch
- as I have been upgrading from version 10, to 11, 12, and now 15, this exercise has been very time consuming.
*** Problem re-occured.
OR (2nd type of advice):
Wipe PC entirely, re-install and update Windows, and install Powerdirector then rebuild your PC .....
**** you have got to be kidding!
My solution:
Note: I have Windows 10, but the following suggested solution should be valid with XP and most other Windows versions as well:
The problem appears to be 'simply' a matter of Powerdirector trying to access the internet as it starts its first execution; Windows tends to block 'unauthorised' access to the internet by any programs, unless told otherwise (a useful security precaution).
So...
a. In Windows, locate the 'Allowed Applications' option.
=> Try: Control Panel => All Control Panel Items => Windows Firewall => Allowed Applications.
if that can't be found, look for an option roughly titled "Allow Application/feature through the firewall'.
b. Next, you need to add Powerdirector to the Allowed Applications list.
=> if the <<Alllow another App>> button is greyed out, first select the button: <<Change Settings>>
then <<Alllow another App>>
b 1. Use <<Browse>> button to locate ther exe file for Powerdirector.
=> try looking in C:\Program Files\Cyberlink\PowerDirector15\ --> PDR or PDR.exe => select <<OK>> etc
c. Get back to Control Panel, or back to start menus.
d. Reboot/restart the PC.
=> Restart may not be strictly neccessary, but when you change/modify settings in Windows,
restarting the PC .... solves problems.
PowerDirector 15 should now be fully working, and will quickly 'activate' itself automatically when first started.