[Paul K]

I can't contact the Google Earth servers.

Most likely, a personal firewall program, aggressive antivirus software, or adware is preventing Google Earth from freely accessing the internet via TCP/IP (port 80). Please check your router/firewall settings to set GoogleEarth.exe as an exception.

Tips regarding other common problems our customers have reported appear below:

- If you use the McAfee software, try turning off the firewall or configuring it separately from the virus protection.

- If you use Norton software, check that you have only one "permit" rule set for Google Earth. Norton software allows opposing "permit" and "block" rules to be set for the same application. Doing so results in a "block" of that application.

- Software that blocks popups can interfere with Google Earth. Try disabling this software before launching Google Earth.

- Microsoft's SP2 upgrade automatically enables a Windows Firewall. You might need to configure GoogleEarth.exe as an exception. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click "Start."
2. Choose "Settings," then "Control Panel."
3. Click on "Windows Firewall."
4. Select the "Exceptions" tab.
5. Click on the "Add Program" button and choose "GoogleEarth.exe."
6. Select "OK" and "OK" again.
7. Restart Google Earth.

If you've recently downloaded free software, it's possible that malicious software, commonly referred to as "adware," was bundled with this download and installed without your knowledge. If you suspect that adware is affecting your ability to use Google Earth, please let us know.

So they blame pop up stoppers and firewalls.
Have you read this page?
http://earth.google.com/support/bin/...719&topic=1138