Make sure you download the patch.

Run in window.
when you want to 'minimize' the screen, open note then click your internet tab thing, or it'll crash.

If you still have this problem, I can run some solutions by you until it works. o: <33

Hm.

Well, bouncing off of the previous mention, do you have the latest (and greatest!) version (3.31) downloaded?

If so, when you open the game and go to "network" (I believe) on the menu screen, is the box selected to "connect automatically?" Are you logged in? If both, click "connect" and wait for a while. The box in the lower left will be red when disconnected, orange when connected to the network and the pictograms are loading, and green after the pictograms have spread (the other users have loaded into the game).

When shutting down the game, do you click the white "x" on the lower right?

I can't tell much more without a bit of feedback. o: I'll reply as soon as I can. <3

Hope for the best!

o:

About the logging in bit: up at the top of the information that pops up when you click "network" on the menu should be a box for your username and password. Here, put in "Mahkia" (or the name of the account with whatever pictogram you wish to use use) and your password for that account. Then log in. Once logged in, connect. c:

Hopefully that does it. If not, let me know. ;D

That is...

Very odd.

Perhaps the game did not install correctly? I would try uninstalling everything relating to the game (that version and any others you may have), reinstalling the newest version, and trying again. The absence of the login boxes is truly unusual. D:

My apologies for my lack of other ideas currently. I really do hope it works.

Hmm.. I tried uninstalling everything and reinstalling, and the boxes still don't show up. O_o This is very confusing. My computer runs the game, though, so I wouldn't think it would be an incompatibility issue..

Thank you for all your help. :> Hopefully a solution will happen along!

You only get the boxes to log in if you are connected.

Here's a suggestion: check if Internet Explorer is set to "work offline". It can't be set to this for the game to connect. Weird, I know. |D

I really thought that would be the solution, because I had Internet Explorer disabled on my computer, but I re-enabled it, restarted, went through its set up, made sure it wasn't set to Work Offline, and I STILL can't connect. D:

Thank you all for working so hard to help me, though. I really appreciate it. Just makes me want to be a part of your community even more! XD

Oh, and the game still crashes whenever I try to exit, whether it's the stand alone version or the screensaver. I've tried running it as administrator, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. :C

Nope, I have Windows 7 Ultimate. :> Thank you for being so determined to help me. XD

Colleges and schools generally use Proxies to control what is allowed on the network. My college uses one to block most games and TEF doesn't have an option for proxy settings.

I suggest you post about this on the support forum with everything you've tried so far and your computer and network specs. Michael will likely have a solution, if someone else doesn't.

I wonder if you may need to mess with some settings in Internet Explorer. I can get TEF to connect on any school machine at my university this way. >> << >>
Click on Tools, go to "Internet Options", click on the "Connections" tab, click the "LAN settings" button, and check off "automatically detect settings". See if this works.

Pega, I'm trying that next time I go to school.

\: This is frustrating. Somehow, it's going to work. It just has to. D:

Do you have access to any other computers so you can see if it works on that one? If all the other settings are the same, you could do so to see if it is, in fact, your computer.

I tested it on my netbook, and I was surprised that it does in fact run, albeit with some settings turned down, but it still gives me an error when I try to connect. I'm thinking it must be my connection. Is there a port I need to open up on my router, or something? I'm not running a firewall, and I have cable with a generally strong connection, so I'm not really sure what the problem could be.

Well, I'm hoping a solution will come along! You've been an awesome help, though. :>

Weeeeeeell..

A bump in the hopes that somewhere out there lies a solution! Do the devs frequent this site, or just the help forums? I've posted over there, but folks have been more helpful over here. XD; Even though my problem still isn't solved yet..

Are you still having problems?

Perhaps when you venture to another friends' or family members' house, sneak on your computer/a computer and find a way to test your current methods? o:

-Running out of suggestions.-

Its been about 3 years since this forum started and the problem still exists.

Update : After changing the Compatibility to Windows 95, it finally stopped crashing whence connecting.
I'm using Windows 8, just switched the Compatibility mode for Endless Forest.

For me anyways, don't know if this works for all

I have also the same problem>.<