IL2 1946 Can't Connect to the Internet

[TTU McSlash]

Hi Guys-
McSlash here, 3300+ hours in IL2 1946 and just coming back from some time off.
While away from the game I had some comp issues, installed an SSD Drive and reloaded Windows 7.
I had some backup copies of IL2 4.08, 4.09. and 4.10, stored away which I moved to an external drive to protect them during the reinstall of windows.
Now I do not know if I lost files in that move, but I have since updated the backup 4.10 to 4.11.1 and 4.10.1 with UP, so I have two active games.
Now when I try and open the game from the desktop shortcut, I get this, a message that I need an internet connection to activate the game . . . Who are these guys, "activemark", I never saw anything like this in my previous five plus years of playing?



Internet, I can't even open the game for solo play, or to check settings.

If I click on either of those buttons it tries to connect and fails, then tells me to close the window and try and connect manually. Of course I am connected all the time.

Now why isn't the game seeing my internet connection, what am I forgetting to do?
Is there a file I should look for?

Tried connecting to a server through Xfire, same message.
Also, I have a desktop Shortcut, and the file is accessible in Windows Explorer, but if I go to Start/all programs, IL2 is not listed . . . though it is detected by Xfire.
(sigh)

McAfee Firewall is set to give IL2 All Access.

The game is Digital download, and I still have access to the original files, just trying to avoid the DL and then all the patches from 4.08 up.

[majorfailure]

Seems to be some DRM software, see here:
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=31075
Possible solution here:
http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.ph...f1b9fef5d217ab