in the windows firewall option on windows 7 i have both versions enabled but i still get the same error... how would i check what might be using port 80 and port 443?
make sure you're not running another firewall and kill any other programs (tray icons too!) using the internet (except your browser) then run it as an administrator and see if that works.
You can buy it for 10 euros, its not that much compared with the retail release from 60 euros, 10€ for a game is a nice price , you only have the buy the newest EA games though because they all have that online pass.