DEO Posted January 1, 2015 Report Posted January 1, 2015 This topic has been covered quite extensively in the past. I went through mostly all the post, but I cannot seem to find an answer. I have a stand alone computer and this past week this error has come up EVERY time I attempted to start the program. I have tried and re-tried with no success. Does any one have a solution. I have some urgent filings coming up to take care of.. Thanks Deo Quote
jklcpa Posted January 1, 2015 Report Posted January 1, 2015 I have a stand alone computer and this past week this error has come up EVERY time I attempted to start the program. I have tried and re-tried with no success. So even with clicking retry several times, you aren't ever able to open the program? Quote
DEO Posted January 1, 2015 Author Report Posted January 1, 2015 I am not even able to open the program Quote
Tax Prep by Deb Posted January 1, 2015 Report Posted January 1, 2015 Did this start after installing 2014? Do you still have the disk in the machine? If so remove the disk and the problem should go away. Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 1, 2015 Report Posted January 1, 2015 Don't use the disk for installation. Download the latest install file from the support site. If reinstalling with the other program still there does not work, you will have to delete the old program before reinstalling. This is more than using the uninstall function of Windows. 1 Quote
Abby Normal Posted January 2, 2015 Report Posted January 2, 2015 Did you view Task Manager to see if ATX 2013 Server is running? Or are you trying to run 2014? Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. I found that running ATX Admin Console will start the server service if it is not running. Quote
pikester1967 Posted January 2, 2015 Report Posted January 2, 2015 I had the same problem last year with the February update on my stand alone computer. Problem was malware preventing the software to connect. Try downloading this free software, run it and then try a reinstall from the web-site. https://www.malwarebytes.org/ Regards, Pikester Quote
Pacun Posted January 5, 2015 Report Posted January 5, 2015 I had the same problem last year with the February update on my stand alone computer. Problem was malware preventing the software to connect. Try downloading this free software, run it and then try a reinstall from the web-site. https://www.malwarebytes.org/ Regards, Pikester I like this. It sounds like computers are busy and that's why they cannot connect. It happens to me when I open ATX and the computer has not fully boot up. I like your suggestion but Jack thinks it is a Programming issue on ATX. Quote
RDennis Posted January 5, 2015 Report Posted January 5, 2015 I switched to Drake for 2013 returns for two reasons. I took over a friend's practice and he had used Drake for about ten years prior to 2013. I was also frustrated by printing issues and other software issues, including crashing numerous times with ATX 2012. I purchased the 2013 ATX Payroll Compliance Software and Drake for 2014. I also had the ATX 2014 software disk sent to try out, and as a result was able to download the 2013 program. I notice that the printing issues seem to have been solved. However, as others have noted, I have rarely been able to open the 2013 program because of the server issue. I have to totally turn off the computer, reboot and open nothing else except the 2013 ATX program. Most of the time that will work, but not always. I have not loaded the 2014 software as yet. Dennis Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 5, 2015 Report Posted January 5, 2015 I switched to Drake for 2013 returns for two reasons. I took over a friend's practice and he had used Drake for about ten years prior to 2013. I was also frustrated by printing issues and other software issues, including crashing numerous times with ATX 2012. I purchased the 2013 ATX Payroll Compliance Software and Drake for 2014. I also had the ATX 2014 software disk sent to try out, and as a result was able to download the 2013 program. I notice that the printing issues seem to have been solved. However, as others have noted, I have rarely been able to open the 2013 program because of the server issue. I have to totally turn off the computer, reboot and open nothing else except the 2013 ATX program. Most of the time that will work, but not always. I have not loaded the 2014 software as yet. Dennis Your installation is not configured properly, IF you are using WIN7 PRO. Quote
Abby Normal Posted January 6, 2015 Report Posted January 6, 2015 Try running the Admin Console: C:Program Files (x86)CCH Small Firm ServicesATX2013Sfs.ServerHost.AdminConsole.exe Quote
Gene Horr Posted September 1, 2017 Report Posted September 1, 2017 An old thread, but is top of the list from a Google search. I have had this problem intermittently for several years. Running an earlier year first usually but not always prevented the error. I tried all of the suggestions here, none worked. Opening a prior year program sometimes would allow the current year to run but it wasn't consistent. I finally found a workaround. Going into Services and starting all of the ATX servers listed allows the software to reliably start the first time I click on the link. I don't know the actual cause of the problem but as a WAG it may be that the software needs access to the prior years whenever there is rollover data and this is causing the "cannot connect to server" errors. The software does not automatically start the prior year servers and it is the prior years access that is actually triggering the error. Not access to the current year's server service. Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted September 1, 2017 Report Posted September 1, 2017 36 minutes ago, Gene Horr said: An old thread, but is top of the list from a Google search. I have had this problem intermittently for several years. Running an earlier year first usually but not always prevented the error. I tried all of the suggestions here, none worked. Opening a prior year program sometimes would allow the current year to run but it wasn't consistent. I finally found a workaround. Going into Services and starting all of the ATX servers listed allows the software to reliably start the first time I click on the link. I don't know the actual cause of the problem but as a WAG it may be that the software needs access to the prior years whenever there is rollover data and this is causing the "cannot connect to server" errors. The software does not automatically start the prior year servers and it is the prior years access that is actually triggering the error. Not access to the current year's server service. This is a very old thread. Your answer to the problem is NOT the case. Quote
Abby Normal Posted September 5, 2017 Report Posted September 5, 2017 On 9/1/2017 at 11:48 AM, Gene Horr said: Going into Services and starting all of the ATX servers Well, yeah, if your server service isn't running, ATX won't start. Also, I learned this, this year: Make a copy of and then delete: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\CCH Small Firm Services\ATX 2016 Server\Sfs.ServerHost.exe.config Quote
Lee B Posted September 5, 2017 Report Posted September 5, 2017 ATX programs have always been a major resource hog. When the ATX program is installed, it sets up 4 different database servers on both standalone and networked systems. IMHO the program starts and tries to access the servers before the servers have spun up which generates the error messages, which is just bad programming. Earlier this year when I would get this message, I would wait a minute and it would always start up on the second try. Since I have installed a SSD hard drive on my Win 7 Pro 64 bit system with 6 Gigs of Ram, this error has not happened. By the way, since I have installed the SSD, my system is ready to go from a cold boot in less than 1 Minute. 1 Quote
Robin Posted October 4, 2017 Report Posted October 4, 2017 AbbyNormal, As I have encountered this issue today, and have tried opening prior years with no problem, tried the ATX 2016 Admin Console suggestion (2016 doesn't even appear on the list but 2013-2015 does), I am about to try your suggestion of copying and deleting the file which you posted above. So if I understand correctly, I search for the file in the directory you list, then delete it then merely paste the copied file to the same directory? Sounds like the original file might be corrupted?? Thanks for your help, I am beyond frustrated for this to be occurring with the deadline approaching!! Quote
Abby Normal Posted October 4, 2017 Report Posted October 4, 2017 2016 Admin Console is in: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\CCH Small Firm Services\ATX 2016 Admin Console\Sfs.ServerHost.AdminConsole.exe You delete the file and let ATX create a new one. It's safe to just outright delete the file and not make a copy somewhere. The deleted file will be in your Recycle Bin. Quote
Robin Posted October 4, 2017 Report Posted October 4, 2017 UPDATE on my recent "unable to connect to server" issue for ATX 2016. Apparently, Norton released a security update within the last few days, which did not play nice with the 2016 software, so none of the fixes in the Knowledgebase or the forums works in this case. Eric (my original contact & Scott ( to whom it was escalated to) from ATX support had me up & running within a few minutes he accessed my computer. Also,, he put in a safeguard so 2017 will also be accessible. KUDOS to ATX support!! 1 Quote
Abby Normal Posted October 4, 2017 Report Posted October 4, 2017 Yay! I'll have to add 'turn off your security software' to my recommended steps. 1 Quote
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