Initialization of trial period failed

[Former user]

I just installed the app on my Windows 11 machine to give it a try. The installation completed successfully, but I get a "Initialization of trial period failed" message when I open the app. I always get this error, no matter how many times I retry.

[Vladimir Kraus]

I am really sorry to hear this because this is a very serious problem. You are the first one to report this problem kind of issue. Until now, registering trial periods was probably working correctly.

Initialization of trial period requires internet connection because it creates a unique stamp (containing a combination of time and your computer unique ID) which is generated on server and then stored in HiFile application and which allows checking time and does not allow multiple starting of trial periods on the same computer.

To resolve this issue, please double check your internet connection and check that HiFile is not prevented from reaching the internet (e.g. is not blocked in firewall etc.). If you are using internet in your work, your connections may be limited so HiFile cannot reach the server. If possible try connection through some other internet connection, e.g. mobile or wifi. Once the trial period is registered, HiFile will not need internet connection any more until you decide to register the license or for getting updates. I.e. HiFIle can work off-line for majority of time.

If changing the internet connection does not help, please write me an email to [e-mail] and we will try to solve it somehow. Please do not give up on HiFile… I am pretty sure we will manage to solve it somehow together.

[Vladimir Kraus]

I also checked the server logs and I did not find any suspicious message related to “trial” endpoint. My tests for registering trial period of Windows 11 machine also succeeded. So my opinion is that the web request did not get it through from HiFile application on your computer to the server. There may be many reasons for it. It could be an error in HiFile but it could be also problem with the internet connection on your side. As I wrote above, please double check your internet connection and whether HiFile is not blocked somehow. In any case I will implement better diagnosing of the issue and more detailed error messages related to server responses. Should be implemented in 0.9.8.29.

You can also try it this way:
1) try registering trial period at start

2) if it fails (which does, as you say), then it should display a dialog which allows you continue after 30 seconds of wait time - so then wait 30 seconds and close the dialog

3) then go to Help->Check updates to see whether HiFIle can download any updates. If it can, it will say either that update is available or whether you have the latest version.

4) if downloading the information about updates fails too, then you really have some connection issues. If downloading updates works fine but trial period fails, then there is something really strange which we will need to investigate further.

In any case, please contact me directly at [e-mail] to solve the issue. Thank you for your help.

[Vladimir Kraus]

One more question: Are you behind a proxy server? This might be the source of the problem… HiFile will definitely be improved so that it can communicate also via proxy servers, it is a high priority. Please stay tuned.

[Vladimir Kraus]

HiFile version 0.9.8.29 should support automatic obtaining system proxy configuration and should also have more details about networking errors. Hopefully this version will solve your problem (if proxy was the problem) or at least will provide more detailed information about the issue.