Windower unable to connect to lobby server

When launching XI using the windower, I sign in to POL proceed through the menus till I launch XI. After the game launches, and I accept the initial disclaimer, the game hangs with the progress bar at slightly less than 50% and displaying the text "Connecting to lobby server". I have tried disabling my firewall, forwarding ports required for XI, as well as DMZing my computer so all ports should be accessible. The game still hangs at the same exact spot regardless. Launching the game directly using POL standalone causes no issues, and logs in just fine.

Any ideas on how to resolve this?

I'm having this issue as well. I've tried disabling Windows Firewall and my antivirus, as well as every compatibility mode and nothing. Everything loads up fine, when I accept the terms, it hangs at "Connecting to lobby server" and sits there forever. POL doesn't hang or report any issues. Running the game without Windower everything works fine.

I have tried both the official Windower release as well as the current Development Windower.

Currently running Windows 8.1 x64

Update:

I was able to get it  to work by uninstalling BitDefender. Even with BitDefender disabled it was blocking the connection. Arathas do you happen to use BitDefender as well? (I was using the free edition).

hello, I'm also having the same problem and I just happen to also have bitdefender.

was uninstalling bitdefender the only solution?

Update:

Been playing for days now with no problem and the issue was absolutely the anti virus Bitdefender. I have been talking to Bitdefender support and have found an alternative to completely removing the anti virus.

I'll be using my Bitdefender total security 2015 as reference

Turn off firewall and anti virus "on-access scanning" and "active virus control" using protect icon.