activation failed: could not connect to internet

I have a hd dvr with multi-room viewing and my internet provider is roadrunner and my router is a cisco valet plus.  I am using windows 7 on a sony e series laptop.  I try to activate the directv2pc application and I keep getting the same old message:  activation failed:  could not connect to internet.  When I  first installed the directv app, it scanned and discovered my hd dvr.  I've disabled my firewall and even my anti-virus application when trying to start the app.  I've also uninstalled and reinstalled the app with no success.   Any help would be appreciated.