When you try to log in to the eFileCabinet Client and get an error that says “Error Communicating with the Server. Please refresh your server list." perform the following troubleshooting steps: 
 

1. Check to make certain your eFileCabinet server is running.  This is done from the server machine.  Go to the bottom right-hand corner and right click on the eFileCabinet Icon.  From the menu, select either Start or Restart, whichever is displaying in the space provided.

2. Check to make certain you are logging in to the server using the correct IP address.
(If your computer has more than one network adapter (ie. wireless card, ethernet), then it is possible that your server may show up multiple times with different IP addresses. If this is the case, trial and error is the best way to figure out which IP address is the correct one. Once you find the correct one, eFileCabinet software should remember it.) 
a.       This test requires that you know the IP address of your server, you can sometimes find this out by opening eFileCabinet and looking at the “Server:” field (the IP address is usually a number in the following format ###.###.###.###, for example, 192.168.1.2 or 10.10.10.5).

b.      Once you have the IP address go to Start>Run… and type “cmd’ or type into the search “cmd” (no quotation marks).
c.       This should bring up the DOS prompt in the DOS prompt type “ping <Server IP Address>” (no quotation marks, example “ping 192.168.1.2") and hit the enter key.
d.      This should “ping” the server 4 times, you should receive back a response all 4 times, and if it can’t communicate it will usually say “Destination host unreachable” or No Reply 4 times. 

e.      If there is no communication with the server from that machine, your company's IT staff will need to look into the issue.
f.        If you get 4 replies and it seems there is communication between the 2 devices, continue to the below Solution.

3. Checking Windows Firewall:
a.       Go to Start>Control Panel>Windows Firewall.
b.      In the upper left-hand corner, click on “Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall” (or click on the Exceptions tab in XP).

c.       Here check the list for efcClient.exe, if it is here ensure all the boxes for it are checked, hit Ok for this window and test connection from eFileCabinet.  If it isn’t listed here continue to next step below.
d.      Hit the Add Program button (you may have to hit the Change Settings button in Windows 7) and browse to C:\Program Files (x86)\eFileCabinet 5\Client and select efcClient.exe and hit Ok.

(Note: If running version 4, make sure that e4search.exe, e4serverservice.exe, e4utility.exe, and efc4systray.exe are all added. These can be found in C:\Program Files\eFileCabinet 4\Client)
e.      This should add efcClient.exe to the Exceptions list, ensure all the boxes available for that item on the list are checked and hit Ok.
f.        At this point test the connection to eFileCabinet again.
g.       If when you get to the Windows Firewall panel it states another program is handling the Firewall function, you may have to consult with your IT or the software’s manufacturer to find out how to add a program to the exception list for that firewall.  Steps for third-party Firewalls vary widely, eFileCabinet does not perform support for third-party software.