Computer won't play videos...

[Stick in Mud]

Hello all,

Computer silly-me here with a problem. I can watch youtube videos and netflix movies, but other videos do not work. The audio does work, however, so I can hear what's going on, and if I move the cursor over the video, it'll flicker in and out. Mostly the video is just blank, though.

Any ideas on what's causing this?

[Moose]

Some more info will help. What is thee video source, what program are you using to run it, and your computer type and operating system. My problems with videos come from codecs installed in the video which software player do not recognize. I would try to download the VLC video player from cnet and see if it plays with that. There is a little bit a a learning curve with the new software but microsofts standard media player does not run dvds and such. Youtube uses flash player to run video and Netflix probably uses their own player to steam video. The standard windows media player just usually won't run much of anything other than music and pictures.VLC seems to have all the codecs already loaded as I can run movies such a Transformers and Fast and Furious with out much problem.

[Stick in Mud]

Thanks for the reply, Moose. I'm just trying to watch them using Internet Explorer. Sometimes ads won't work (the ones on the side of this webpage sometimes go in and out, but not all of them). I notice it mostly when I'm trying to watch fishing shows on TV.

I've also noticed it if a video is imbedded in someone's facebook page....I'll click on the video, and I'll hear the audio while the video remains blank.

I just experimented by trying to watch The Daily Show, and I couldn't view that either, though the sound came through loud and clear.

[delcecchi]

Tell us something about the computer and OS. Have you tried installing firefox or chrome? Do they do the same thing? What version of IE are you running?

[Nick Kuhn]

Sounds like you have flash but non-flash videos aren't working. The problem is often codecs or plugins. You can snag most codec packs (like mentioned, if you download VLC for free all the codecs you need come with it). You can also install the latest quicktime as that is a pretty common type of in browser video player.

[Stick in Mud]

Well, using y'all's advice, I downloaded Chrome and the videos are working. I have no idea why it's working, but it is. Thanks, guys. How you guys know this stuff is a mystery to me.

[upnorth]

Chalk it up to IE.

[masoct3]

Make sure all your updates are up to date. Perhaps your video card doesn't have the most up to date driver.

[upnorth]

The newer versions of IE are so security conscious that they are missing a lot of pluggins or you have to go in and enable a lot of options/pluggins.

[Moose]

Good to here it worked out Mike. These guys have helped me out of plenty computer problems and on occasion I can help out the next guy.

I run Chrome also and will never open Internet Explorer again if I do not have to.

[Stick in Mud]

Yup, Moose, the problem has been totally solved...so far.

I am so used to IE that I open it automatically. As soon as I see a blank advertisement or have a video screw up, I realize my mistake.

[Moose]

I finally had to remove the IE shortcut from my desk top and just use the Google

shortcut. Now I use a wireless keyboard with hotlink buttons.

[Stick in Mud]

Yup, that's what I finally had to do.