ExpressVPN - Unable to sign in. Please check your connection and try again.

[dragon3x]

Hi, I want to use ExpressVPN on my computer. Quick System Info is included at the end
of this message.

I searched MX forums and this is what I found for installing expressvpn:
1 - Boot the computer with systemd
2 - Install expressvpn from MX Package Installer, not ExpressVPN website.
It is what I did before installing.

After install, executing expressvpn at the command line gives the usual documentation list:
************************************************************
>>> expressvpn
NAME:
expressvpn - ExpressVPN command line interface

USAGE:
expressvpn command [arguments...]

VERSION:
3.78.0.0 (8dea65c45)

COMMANDS:
activate Activate account
connect Connect to VPN
...........­­. etc.
************************************************************

To activate:
************************************************************
>>> sudo expressvpn activate
>>> [sudo] password for dragon01:
>>> Enter activation code:
>>> Activating...
>>> Unable to sign in. Please check your connection and try again.
************************************************************

Cannot activate. I got the activation code from ExpressVPN website when I bought the software.
I tried many times. Reboot the computer (systemd). Still cannot activate.
I sent a message to ExpressVPN Help service. Here is their reply:
***************************************************************************
**** In the meantime, do you have a different network such as a mobile hotspot that your device can
**** connect to? This way, we can isolate the issue and see if that works for you.
**** If that still doesn't work for you, let’s perform a clean installation of your ExpressVPN app. This is to
**** ensure that the issue is not caused by problems related to the installation of the app.
**** Uninstall the app.
**** Reboot your device
**** Turn off any security software on your device
**** Install the latest version of the app.
**************************************************************************
They insist I try with "a different network such as a mobile hotspot" but I cannot. My internet connection
is the simplest you can have: a network cable from the internet computer to a modem (not a router)
and a telephone cable from the modem to a telephone outlet. I have only one internet computer and
there is no internet connection problem whatsoever with that computer.
They ask to "Turn off any security software on your device" , how this is done ? Is it required ?

Surely there are other MX users that have ExpressVPN installed and running on their computer,
what special step they took to get this done ?

Thanks for helping.

############################## Quick System Info ##################################
###############################################################################

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-28-amd64 [6.1.119-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-28-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
    init=/lib/systemd/systemd
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0 Distro: MX-23.4_x64 Libretto July 31  2023 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: FUJITSU SIEMENS product: A8NE-FM v: 1.XX serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: ASUSTek model: A8NE-FM v: 1.00 serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Phoenix v: FUJITSU
    SIEMENS A8NE-FM 1010 date: 10/17/2005
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ bits: 64 type: MCP arch: K8 level: v1 built: 2004-06
    process: AMD 90nm family: 0xF (15) model-id: 0x23 (35) stepping: 2 microcode: 0x4D
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 smt: <unsupported> cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-2x64 KiB; i-2x64 KiB
    L2: 2 MiB desc: 2x1024 KiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2211 min/max: N/A cores: 1: 2211 2: 2211 bogomips: 8845
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass status: Not affected
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; STIBP: disabled; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not
    affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Caicos PRO [Radeon HD 7450] vendor: PC Partner / Sapphire driver: radeon v: kernel
    alternate: amdgpu arch: TeraScale-2 code: Evergreen process: TSMC 32-40nm built: 2009-15 pcie:
    gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DVI-D-1,VGA-1 empty: HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0
    chip-ID: 1002:677b class-ID: 0300 temp: 41.5 C
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X: loaded: radeon
    dri: r600 gpu: radeon display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3360x1050 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 889x277mm (35.00x10.91") s-diag: 931mm (36.66")
  Monitor-1: DVI-D-1 mapped: DVI-0 pos: primary,left model: Philips 220SW serial: <filter>
    built: 2009 res: 1680x1050 hz: 60 dpi: 90 gamma: 1.2 size: 474x296mm (18.66x11.65")
    diag: 552mm (21.7") ratio: 16:10 modes: max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: VGA-1 mapped: VGA-0 pos: right model: Philips 220SW serial: <filter> built: 2008
    res: 1680x1050 hz: 60 dpi: 90 gamma: 1.2 size: 474x296mm (18.66x11.65") diag: 552mm (21.7")
    ratio: 16:10 modes: max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: N/A renderer: N/A direct-render: N/A
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD Caicos HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 6450 / 7450/8450/8490 OEM R5 230/235/235X OEM]
    vendor: PC Partner / Sapphire driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:aa98 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Creative Labs CA0108/CA10300 [Sound Blaster Audigy Series] driver: snd_emu10k1
    v: kernel bus-ID: 05:05.0 chip-ID: 1102:0008 class-ID: 0401
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-28-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,alsamixergui,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: NVIDIA CK804 Ethernet vendor: ASUSTeK type: network bridge driver: forcedeth v: kernel
    port: b000 bus-ID: 00:0a.0 chip-ID: 10de:0057 class-ID: 0680
  IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: ppp0 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
  IF-ID-2: ppp1 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 328.24 GiB used: 257.81 GiB (78.5%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital model: WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 size: 298.09 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: <unknown> type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 3E01
    scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 type: USB vendor: Generic model: USB SD Reader size: 29.55 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 1.00 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
  ID-3: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 type: USB vendor: Generic model: USB CF Reader size: 488.7 MiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 1.01 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
  ID-4: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 type: USB vendor: Generic model: USB SM Reader size: 125 MiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 1.02 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 298.09 GiB size: 292.35 GiB (98.07%) used: 230.87 GiB (79.0%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 142.7 MiB (7.0%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 30.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: radeon temp: 41.5 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2715 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2709 libs: 1455 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 6
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
    1: deb file: ///home/dragon01/Wine_Portable_Files/ Local Mutimedia
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:hawkeye116477:waterfox.list
    1: deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/hawkeye116477:/waterfox/xUbuntu_22.04/ /
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirrors.rit.edu/mxlinux/mx-packages/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera-stable.list
    1: deb https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.vivaldi.com/stable/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/winehq-bookworm.sources
    1: deb [arch=amd64 i386] https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/debian bookworm main
Info:
  Processes: 232 Uptime: 16h 50m wakeups: 0 Memory: 3.82 GiB used: 2.47 GiB (64.7%) Init: systemd
  v: 252 target: graphical (5) default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: BIOS (legacy, CSM, MBR)

##################################################################################

[j2mcgreg]

(1)The firewall in MX 23 XFCE is on by default. Temporarily disable it and see if it's possible to complete the connection. If it works you will have to write a rule that allows Express VPN to traverse the firewall.

(2)This site shows the release date for your HDD was Apr 7, 2010
https://www.amazon.com/WD3200AAJB-00J3A ... B00MBMSP8O
while this site says it was Q4 2013:
https://hdd.userbenchmark.com/SpeedTest ... AJB-00J3A0
so it's at least eleven years old and possibly fourteen. This means that bad blocks on the HDD could be causing the app to be incompletely read by the cpu and thus failing to complete the connection. In any event that HDD should be replaced.

(3)Your HDD is getting full (78.5% used) so you should free up some space before it locks up and won't let you log on to your computer.

[fehlix]

To activate:
************************************************************
sudo expressvpn activate
Enter activation code:
Activating...
Unable to sign in. Please check your connection and try again.
************************************************************

Cannot activate. I got the activation code from ExpressVPN website when I bought the software.
I tried many times. Reboot the computer (systemd). Still cannot activate.

Are you sure you read the activation instructions correctly?
Because I don't think it works for a root account (with sudo).
But I admit I've never done an activation because I don't have an expressvpn account.

[siamhie]

To activate:
************************************************************
>>> sudo expressvpn activate

You don't use sudo for activation. Scroll to the Activate the app section.
https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn- ... mmand-line

[fehlix]

To activate:
************************************************************
>>> sudo expressvpn activate

You don't use sudo for activation. Scroll to the Activate the app section.
https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn- ... mmand-line

Isn't it, just what I wrote one post above?

[siamhie]

To activate:
************************************************************
>>> sudo expressvpn activate

You don't use sudo for activation. Scroll to the Activate the app section.
https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn- ... mmand-line

Isn't it, just what I wrote one post above?

It is, I was just pointing them to the instructions.

[dragon3x]

Hi, it doesn't work.

Here is what I did:
1 - Disable the firewall
2 - Write on the command line: expressvpn activate
3 - Computer >>>>> Enter activation code:
4 - Write on the command line: copy/paste 9999999999999999 (activation code not the real one)
5 - Computer >>>>> Activating...
6 - Computer >>>>> Unable to sign in. Please check your connection and try again.
On ExpressVPN website my account page is open, the activation code is clearly written
and everything seems OK.

I am lost with all this. What can I do now ?

[fehlix]

Hi, it doesn't work.

Here is what I did:
1 - Disable the firewall
2 - Write on the command line: expressvpn activate
3 - Computer >>>>> Enter activation code:
4 - Write on the command line: copy/paste 9999999999999999 (activation code not the real one)
5 - Computer >>>>> Activating...
6 - Computer >>>>> Unable to sign in. Please check your connection and try again.
On ExpressVPN website my account page is open, the activation code is clearly written
and everything seems OK.

I am lost with all this. What can I do now ?

Suggest to try from a fresh Live-booted media (either ISO or USB).
Do use latest official snapshot from November, 15th
First try normal installation MXPI->Network ->ExpressVPN.
In case you got the same activation issue.
Maybe boot again the LiveISO/USB, but this time with enabled systemd. (add bootparamter init=/lib/systemd/systemd)
and install the deb downloaded directly from expressvpn - not using MXPI.
Report back any issue.
Thanks

[dragon3x]

Hi, thanks for your fast reply. At present expressvpn is installed from MX Package Installer. But in the beginning I installed from ExpressVPN website. It didn't work so I went to MX Package Installer. And from the beginning the computer is booted with systemd as it is recommended by ExpressVPN.

Even if expressvpn works with a new ISO/USB it doesn't tell me what to do with my actual MX installation, i.e. what is the problem and what to correct. Before I reinstall a new system I will ask for a refund at ExpressVPN and try a new VPN company.
Surely you know at MX Linux what VPN installs easily and provides a user-friendly interface. I choose ExpressVPN because of speed however it is one of the more expensive and I will easily change if the new one works, and at a lower price.

Thanks for your help.

[fehlix]

Even if expressvpn works with a new ISO/USB it doesn't tell me what to do with my actual MX installation, i.e. what is the problem and what to correct.

Ok, I might not expressed clearly, it would help us, to see whether something with MXPI-installation procedure need to adjusted or not.
So if works with MX LiveMedia, or if it works with MX LiveMedia and systemd only, it would help.
As we have nothing to test activation, b/c we don't have an account to activate, you would help us to help you ;=)