Curse

PieXags · Mar 19, 2006, 08:38 AM // 08:38

Alright, this is something that's been going on for months and I've still not been able to figure out. It's not a huge deal, but it's still very annoying. For some reason, on certain websites or with certain files I seem to be unable to stream the media files they might have. For example, if I were to go to colleghumor.com or some stupid site like that I'd be able to watch and view the video's they've got, but on gamespot I'm unable to stream the gameplay videos they have for factions. It pops up with the media player window, loads and then just says "ready" after it's done connecting. I hit play, nothing. Just says "ready". There's a website I used to go to for some radio stuff, player comes up and where it used to play it stops at "ready" without going through the whole buffering process it used to and what not. It just stopped one day on certain websites. I have no idea why, and it seems to be random and not due to any specific file type or media player (I can play the same file type on the same player of some sites but not on others). I know the files aren't down, because with like the gameplay videos for factions at gamespot, on a friends computer they streamed just fine and he's using the same browser I am. (Avant Browser)

Now normally I would uninstall my browser and try again, but first off I hate going through all my damn settings again and secondly, it doesn't work with IE or Firefox either. No idea why, and it just kinda doesn't work on some random files, just loads up the video or whatever and says "ready" without loading any content.

...needless to say this is a pretty weird problem. I've gone through settings on all browsers to see what might be stopping any content or something with no luck, it's senseless to uninstall this browser when NONE of my browsers are working on certain files. I have found no connection between the files at all, it's random and pretty damn annoying. Just pops up that nice little internet media player window, says loading media, then says ready...where it stays, no matter what buttons I press to have it play. Does anyone know of some miracle "random streaming problem" cure that might fix this short of reformating? 'Cause as much as I'd love to call up the foreign Microsoft support so they can get my damn windows XP to work again I'd really rather not have to do that until I need to.

(I'm assuming there is no solution and that I'm damned to live this life of random, senseless file crapping but I might as well ask.)

Old Dood · Mar 19, 2006, 10:40 AM // 10:40

Pie...do you have Norton Internet Security running? I have noticed I can't watch CNN.com videos at all with that running.

Josh · Mar 19, 2006, 11:22 AM // 11:22

Try disabling any Firewalls, Virus-Scanners you have running etc.

=HT=Ingram · Mar 19, 2006, 01:08 PM // 13:08

it could also be an old or incompatible codec... Just saying...

And I would not listen to those telling you to just turn off your firewall... Maybe look into which ports you need to open for the streaming and go from there... but just turning off all security in this day and age is like having casual sex without a condom... Sure you can do it. but do you really want to risk it?

Josh · Mar 19, 2006, 01:23 PM // 13:23

^^ It's advice that he could TRY for a moment to see if it worked, otherwise if it does work, he can always enable it again...

Sheesh.

Xenrath · Mar 19, 2006, 01:30 PM // 13:30

Yeah, not like he's going to some "dodgy" site

Since the streaming doesn't work with any browser at all (by the sounds of it) it would seem to indicate something else is blocking/stopping that from happening so I'd go with the others, could be firewall blocking.

Have you checked your Windows Firewall is enabled/disabled? Try disabling firewall(s) for a few seconds, and reload the relevant page. If it works there you go...

If on the unlikely chance something manages to get onto your PC, reenabling the firewall would detect any outbound/inbound attempts, and a good virus scanner would pick up any dodgy downloads too.

Josh · Mar 19, 2006, 01:43 PM // 13:43

^^ Thankyou.

=HT=Ingram · Mar 19, 2006, 01:54 PM // 13:54

as long as its a temporary fix. you would not believe how many times people have as clients turn off the firewall and never turn it back on.. just because they can't figure out how to use it... Its scary... As An IT Consultant, I always include the bit about turning it back on later... Was all I was meaning... Some people will just turn everything off just for something minor. what was it. Oh Party Poker!! One of my clients could not get it to work and he loved to play it on his breaks. well low and behold the guy turned off his firewall to play it and ended up taking down his entire network after about a week of it being offline... The dummy just allowed EVERYTHING right through... Like it was nothing more then a switch. Just so he could play online poker... AHHHHH!! Well I can't complain. I make $60 an hour. If it wasn't for dumb people I would be out of work.

Old Dood · Mar 19, 2006, 02:27 PM // 14:27

For the Record...I never said TURN OFF your firewall.

It could be a *pop up* blocker too....

PieXags · Mar 19, 2006, 06:39 PM // 18:39

It's not pop up blocker, I know that much, or a setting for the browsers at all. I went and did more searching after that post last night, I went to Yahoo music and the streaming there doesn't work for me---but it gives me an error code since it's using it's own player. I did a search on the error code and managed to find information regarding my codecs, so I guess I'll go try to upgrade those and redownload windows media player to see if it works. I'll let you know how it goes.

mathewthegreat · Mar 19, 2006, 08:39 PM // 20:39

Media player streams have and always will be dodgy, you want to look for winamp streams if available.

Many sports streams i have tried to use in the past have been media player streams and they hardly ever work, however if the problem is annoying you and still persists then you could try downloading a mega codec pack such as K-lite mega codec pack.

mathewthegreat · Mar 19, 2006, 08:40 PM // 20:40

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...Codec_Pack.htm

Google is amazing

>msn