Unable to fully install Acronis True Image Personal (proxy /firewall prevents installation)

Hi,

First of all after reading through some of the posts on this forum I fear I don't have the tech knowledge required to hold a reasoned discussion but I really am grasping at straws here so here goes.

I attempted to install Acronis True Image Personal which was supplied to me via a UK retailer (Argos) with an external hard drive (OEM version). I'm running windows 7 on my laptop along with microsoft essentials and superantispyware & initially the installation seemed to go well.

However to complete the installtion the software asks me for my e-mail address, home address and activation key.

This is where I hit a problem, when I try to enter the activation key I get an error message which tells me that a firewall or proxy is preventing me from completing the installation.

I don't use a proxy & I'm pretty confident that I've switched off all firewalls by:-
Closing down superantispyware.
Switching off firewall via control panel
Turning off "real time protection" in microsoft essentials menu.

Any ideas how I get round this problem?

Many thanks in advance.