Electrum Not Connecting to Any Server

xenon131

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Quote from: jaydub121 on June 25, 2021, 02:24:21 AM

- Are there any security compromises in using the portable version vs. installed version?

Glad to hear your problem was resolved with portable version of Electrum. Regarding your question about security - don't be worry, the portable version has the same security architecture as the installer one. As long as wallets files are under exclusively your control the security of your fund will not be compromised:

Quote from: ThomasV on March 18, 2013, 04:43:45 AM

Don't get me wrong: I am not saying that a portable build is by itself more dangerous than a non-portable version.
However, a portable version does not bring anything more in terms of security.

HCP

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Huh... I wonder why my system keeps complaining about Electrum? It is basically the same... genuine Windows 10 with Windows Defender etc... Although, now that I think about it, I haven't downloaded Electrum in a while (missed a couple of versions), so maybe the Windows system is working now. Who knows? maybe all the "report safe" things I clicked actually worked! Tongue

It's also possible that it was the browser (Edge) being stupid? But I'm almost certain it was Windows system dialogs that were popping up saying that it had been blocked.

Pmalek

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Quote from: HCP on June 26, 2021, 06:48:24 PM

Additionally, I know that Windows Defender complains a lot about Electrum. I am always getting "Windows has blocked this file"-type errors when trying to download/install Electrum.

Honestly, I have never seen it or experienced my computers blocking Electrum. The machine I am on right now uses a genuine Windows 10 operating system and Windows Defender + firewall. I have a 4.0.9 version of Electrum installed on it and it has always worked without any hassle. I don't have any money on it, but I keep it installed just in case.

Windows Defender keeps blocking an office loader (crack) for MS Word every now and then, but never Electrum.

HCP

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As far as I'm aware, Electrum.org was never an issue. It was certain domains/IPs that were hosting Electrum servers. They had been blacklisted by a couple of the more "helpful" Antivirus applications that try to prevent connections to domains/IPs known for distributing malware, being botnet controllers, being malware cryptominer controllers etc.

In any case, given that the portable worked, and the installed .exe didn't... Either the portable was connecting to different servers or it was some weird Windows firewall thing blocking the connections then. Then isn't really anything different between the installed/portable versions from a networking perspective... and Windows can be a bit problematic like that sometimes. Especially, if you click the wrong button when it first prompts to allow/block connections for the .exe on public/private networks etc.

ranochigo

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Quote from: HCP on June 26, 2021, 06:48:24 PM

I'm wondering if this is at all related to issues from several years ago where some Electrum servers were linked to IPs/domains that had been blocked for "malware mining" etc? Huh

Additionally, I know that Windows Defender complains a lot about Electrum. I am always getting "Windows has blocked this file"-type errors when trying to download/install Electrum.

I click "keep", "report as safe" etc... and every new version, the same thing seems to happen Roll Eyes

I know it's due to PyInstaller being marked "bad" and not limited to just Electrum, but honestly, the heuristics are just stupid Roll Eyes

Sounds like a blanket ban as opposed to selective restrictions on the server. The update check communicates with electrum.org/version and if OP was able to access electrum.org in the first place, then the restriction is only specific to the Electrum instance and not on the IPs/domains.

HCP

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I'm wondering if this is at all related to issues from several years ago where some Electrum servers were linked to IPs/domains that had been blocked for "malware mining" etc? Huh

Additionally, I know that Windows Defender complains a lot about Electrum. I am always getting "Windows has blocked this file"-type errors when trying to download/install Electrum.

I click "keep", "report as safe" etc... and every new version, the same thing seems to happen Roll Eyes

I know it's due to PyInstaller being marked "bad" and not limited to just Electrum, but honestly, the heuristics are just stupid Roll Eyes

Pmalek

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Quote from: jaydub121 on June 25, 2021, 02:24:21 AM

Cause there was one other program that I had to abandon because my PC had issues with reaching out to its server for program updates.

Since it's not the first time your system blocks internet access to a program, you could check your Kaspersky protection history and quarantine folder and see if there are any Electrum files there. I don't use Kaspersky, so I don't know the exact steps how to do it there. For Windows Defender you will have to search for 'Virus & threat protection' and then click on 'Protection history'. Take a look at what is in there and restore any Electrum files that you might find. It can't be much different for Kaspersky, they probably just use different terms.

nc50lc

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Quote from: jaydub121 on June 25, 2021, 02:24:21 AM

Quote from: ?? on ??

Quote from: nc50lc on June 22, 2021, 12:49:08 AM

-snip-

Or try ( like me) to use the portable (instead of Windows installer) version of Electrum placed into one of WIN 10 folder (preferably on partition different from that one that holds OS). It carries all dependences and is less affective to WIN 10 whims. Recommendation to add the access to relevant folder via "Controlled folder access" holds on.

Thanks for everyone's help, esp. NC50lc. I downloaded the portable version, and everything works great right out of the box. A couple of questions:
-snip-

Based from your reply, it's xenon131's post that solved the issue.

Anyhow, now it looks like the issue is more of antivirus blocking the installed/stand-alone Electrum's connection and not the Portable Electrum.
If you want clarity and possible fix to the normal versions, follow ranochigo's post about activating the "logs": /index.php?topic=5344767.msg57291656
Do not forget to turn that off after.

HCP

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The portable version is slightly different in that it doesn't store the application/wallet data in the "%AppData%/Electrum" location... instead, it will create a folder called "electrum_data" in the same location as the portable.exe and store all the application and wallet data there.

This allows you to use/run Electrum on say a USB thumb drive without leaving any trace on the main system drive etc. (Nothing listed in Add/Remove programs, no entries in start menu etc).

pooya87

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Quote from: jaydub121 on June 25, 2021, 02:24:21 AM

- I'm using the same seed that I used for the installer version. How does the portable program recognize the same seed? Is it reaching out to the Electrum server to verify, or what?
- Are there any security compromises in using the portable version vs. installed version?
- Does the fact that the portable version works right out of the box narrow the scope of what's going on with my Win10 setup? Cause there was one other program that I had to abandon because my PC had issues with reaching out to its server for program updates.

If seed phrases were sent to servers then Electrum would have been considered an insecure wallet software and nobody would have ever recommended it. As @hosseinimr93 said the seed generation, validation and key derivation all happen on client side (on your computer) and the only thing you send to Electrum nodes is your address which is "public" to get your transaction history.
The point of using portable versions is to have a software that is ready to run without needing any dependencies. This way you won't need to download any packages or worry about missing components needing to be downloaded. Other than that the software is the same and security of it depends on the system you are using it on.

hosseinimr93

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Quote from: jaydub121 on June 25, 2021, 02:24:21 AM

- I'm using the same seed that I used for the installer version. How does the portable program recognize the same seed? Is it reaching out to the Electrum server to verify, or what?

The seed you enter doesn't need to be verified by a server or any other third party. You can generate same addresses even if your computer is offline.
All your keys (private keys, public keys and addresses) are generated using your seed phrase through some one-sided mathematical calculations without any need to a third party.

Quote from: jaydub121 on June 25, 2021, 02:24:21 AM

- Are there any security compromises in using the portable version vs. installed version?

Yes, Visit the link below and read the topic made by ThomasV.
Warning about portable versions

jaydub121

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Quote from: nc50lc on June 22, 2021, 12:49:08 AM

Is your Windows10 in the latest or at least newer build?
Most of the time, issues with inexplicable reason like this are likely caused by an unknown fault in the OS (since your W7 OS works).

Or try to re-install/update your network adapter's driver in the device manager:

Right-click Start icon, select "Device Manager" | or search for device manager.
Expand network adapters, and use "right-click>update driver" on your network adapter.
If it didn't do anything, reinstall it.

You might also want to remove any installed non-active network adapters that may cause connection issues, "view->show hidden devices".
Hidden devices have light-colored icons.

Or try ( like me) to use the portable (instead of Windows installer) version of Electrum placed into one of WIN 10 folder (preferably on partition different from that one that holds OS). It carries all dependences and is less affective to WIN 10 whims. Recommendation to add the access to relevant folder via "Controlled folder access" holds on.

Thanks for everyone's help, esp. NC50lc. I downloaded the portable version, and everything works great right out of the box. A couple of questions:
- I'm using the same seed that I used for the installer version. How does the portable program recognize the same seed? Is it reaching out to the Electrum server to verify, or what?
- Are there any security compromises in using the portable version vs. installed version?
- Does the fact that the portable version works right out of the box narrow the scope of what's going on with my Win10 setup? Cause there was one other program that I had to abandon because my PC had issues with reaching out to its server for program updates.

ranochigo

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Quote from: ranochigo on June 20, 2021, 06:03:19 PM

Go to Tools>Preference and check "Write Logs to File", restart Electrum and try connecting to a server again. Next, go to the data directory (%appdata%/Electrum) or whichever directory you're storing your files. You will see a folder called Logs, open it and open the latest file with a text editor. You can scroll to the bottom and look for any anomalies related to the connection attempt.

Alternatively, you can try using Wasabi wallet. It isn't as easy to use as Electrum IMO but it is definitely better in terms of privacy in the first place.

Try this. Electrum logs communication with the servers which should give some clues as to what is happening.

NotATether

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Quote from: jaydub121 on June 21, 2021, 11:54:02 PM

Finally got access to the Ransome Ware Protection applet. Added electrum-4.1.4.exe to Controlled Folder Access, but no luck.

Did you try checking your proxy settings as I mentioned in my above post?

nc50lc

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Is your Windows10 in the latest or at least newer build?
Most of the time, issues with inexplicable reason like this are likely caused by an unknown fault in the OS (since your W7 OS works).

Or try to re-install/update your network adapter's driver in the device manager:

Right-click Start icon, select "Device Manager" | or search for device manager.
Expand network adapters, and use "right-click>update driver" on your network adapter.
If it didn't do anything, reinstall it.

You might also want to remove any installed non-active network adapters that may cause connection issues, "view->show hidden devices".
Hidden devices have light-colored icons.

jaydub121

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Finally got access to the Ransome Ware Protection applet. Added electrum-4.1.4.exe to Controlled Folder Access, but no luck.

jaydub121

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Quote from: jaydub121 on June 20, 2021, 11:42:57 AM

~

Win10 has sophisticated threats protection system. Try to add the access to folder that holds Electrum: Go to settings, click Windows Security and then Virus&ThreadProtection. Find there Ransomeware protection section and click Manage ransomeware protection. Find "Controlled folder access" section in the opened window and click "Allow an app trough Controlled folder access" (Choose YES in the pop-up window). Click "+Add an allowed app" button, then "Browse all apps" and add Electrum executive.

That's strange. I don't see Ransomeware Protection in the location you suggested. So I typed those words into the search box which does find it. When I try to go there, I get the following response:

"Page not available. Your IT Administrator has limited access to some areas of this app, and the item you tried to access is not available. Contact IT helpdesk for more information."

Well, there is no IT administrator on my PC. It's a home computer I built from scratch with Win10 Pro. I'm the Administrator and only user. What is that about and how do I get around that? I tried logging in as Administrator, but I still cannot enter Ransomeware Protection.

ranochigo

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Quote from: khaled0111 on June 20, 2021, 02:10:22 PM

Also, try to connect to one of the servers using its IP instead of its name. You can find a list of servers by clicking on the red circle. Ping the server to retrieve its IP:

Code:

ping server_name

Some servers disables their ICMP ping and can result in a false negative.

Here's a list that can be pinged:

Code:

electrum.jochen-hoenicke.de
electrum.blockstream.info
b.ooze.cc
bitcoins.sk
electrum.eff.ro

OP, if you're able to access the website, then the update checking should not fail as it is hosted on the same domain. There might be something specifically blocking your Electrum from accessing the internet instead of a filter on your network.

Go to Tools>Preference and check "Write Logs to File", restart Electrum and try connecting to a server again. Next, go to the data directory (%appdata%/Electrum) or whichever directory you're storing your files. You will see a folder called Logs, open it and open the latest file with a text editor. You can scroll to the bottom and look for any anomalies related to the connection attempt.

Alternatively, you can try using Wasabi wallet. It isn't as easy to use as Electrum IMO but it is definitely better in terms of privacy in the first place.

NotATether

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Quote from: jaydub121 on June 20, 2021, 01:38:03 PM

Yes, I've diabled Windows Firewall and Kaspersky anti-virus. Still can't connect. I have a Windows 7 base install on a different partition so I installed Electrum on it. Works like a charm no issues. So, there is some setting somewhere that is stopping Electrum from being able to connect to ouside servers, including Electrum itself (for updates). I either have to re-install Win10, which I really don't want to do, or try another wallet and see if I get the same behavior.

You (probably) don't have to reinstall Windows. Check if other programs, and browsers in particular, can connect to the internet such as Google Chrome. If they can, then it must be outdated proxy settings.

Check your proxy settings in Control Panel > Internet Options. If you see any proxy listed, remove it unless you require a proxy to connect to the internet. On the other hand, if you do need a proxy to connect, go to Electrum, then Tools -> Network -> Proxy and fill in the proxy information in there.

Or you can try while connected to a free VPN like ProtonVPN. This should override any proxy settings set by Windows.

khaled0111

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Since you tried all the above and none of them worked then the problem might be because of Windows itself or because your ports are blocked either by your ISP or router.
I found this solution on GitHub posted by SomberNight (Electrum developer), it should fix your problem if it's due to port blocking:

Quote from: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/5352#issuecomment-493172916

Please try with a Tor proxy on Windows.
Download and run the Tor Browser.
While Tor Browser is running, click orb in Electrum, go to Proxy tab, and check Use Tor proxy at port ...

Also, try to connect to one of the servers using its IP instead of its name. You can find a list of servers by clicking on the red circle. Ping the server to retrieve its IP:

Code:

ping server_name

Topic: Electrum Not Connecting to Any Server (Read 443 times)