Online Windows Media Files won't play

[StephenC]

This problem cropped up with IE6, so I installed IE7, and it's just the same. My computer is running WinXP Pro.

I'm unable to play Windows media files from websites - specifically files with .asx,.wax or .wma extensions (there may be others I haven't yet come across). When I try to activate one of these links, I just get the message "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage", as though the service were down. I know this isn't the case, for the following reasons:
1) The weblinks work fine from another computer that happens to be running Win2k Pro.
2) When I enter the same URLs directly into WMP, the media files start downloading and playing straight away.
3) I've been testing this issue on a website I manage myself, where I have both Windows and Real media (.ra and .ram files) files, and the Real media files get activated from IE7 (or IE6 before I upgraded) and start playing in my designated player (Media Player Classic this case) without a hitch.

Possibly this is a Windows problem rather than an IE problem but I don't know where to start troubleshooting it. Hopefully someone has some ideas??

Thanks

[juppy]

Only thing I can think of to check is in IE's Internet Options under the Advanced tab. Scroll down to the Multimedia section and make sure "Play animations in webpages" is checked. Other than that, I don't have a clue.

[StephenC]

Actually the solution is to reconfirm WMP as the default player for these file types in WMP>Tools>Options>File Types, even though it is already supposed to be the default player.

Thanks

Thread closed.

[shollomon]

The proposed solution did not solve the problem for me. I am running Vista ultimate with IE7pro installed on top if IE7 and all updates are current. I cannot view windows media from the web in IE7 no matter what website I go to.

I have tried to reconfirm that asx and other windows media are to be played by wmp, however when following the suggestion above I note that in WMP in the classic menu at Tools>Options the tab choices do not include one for file types. Perhaps I am missing something (highly likely).

However I went to Start>Default Programs>Set Program Defaults and set WMP as the default player for all the file types it supports. I further confirmed that, for example, asx was associated with WMP. Which it was. Restarted IE, no joy, same error, IE says it can't connect. Firefox plays the file perfectly.

[shadowpr]

Can you download the file and play it in WMP?

If so, then I think it's safe to assume that it's probably something in your IE security settings. Check those.

Is it happening on all websites, or just some? Might want to check your firewall, and antivirus settings to see if they might be blocking videos.

[shollomon]

I can download the file and play it from my desktop. Checking security and firewall settings.

[shollomon]

IE is in protected mode and the security level is set to medium. Using McAfee Firewall both windows media player and IE have full network access permission. Totally baffling.

[shollomon]

Turned off firewall and protected mode. No joy.

Uninstalled IE7 Pro (just on the off chance). No Joy.

Reset IE7 using tools>internet options>advanced>reset. No Joy.

[shadowpr]

Try disabling mcafee and then trying.

Do you also have window firewall at the same time?





EDIT: Have you tried turning off the ad blocker and seeing if that helps?

What sites are you talking about? Examples? See if I can get them to work here.

[shollomon]

Turned off all firewalls, no luck.

Now doing sfc /scannow (as admin) to see if any files have been changed.

[glc]

Please use the EDIT button instead of making several replies in a row. Thank you.

[shollomon]

The adblocker is off and, in fact, IE7 Pro is uninstalled.

The one that has me most baffled is rushlimbaugh.com. Here's the exact link

http://mfile.akamai.com/5020/wma/rus...ebrothers3.asx

so its really comming form akami.

I also can't see video on either CNN or Fox News although YouTube works just fine.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by shollomon The adblocker is off and, in fact, IE7 Pro is uninstalled. The one that has me most baffled is rushlimbaugh.com. Here's the exact link http://mfile.akamai.com/5020/wma/rus...ebrothers3.asx so its really comming form akami. I also can't see video on either CNN or Fox News although YouTube works just fine.

Ok, that you link you put, when I click on it, it opens WMP and I just get sound. Do you get that?

I went to cnn.com, click on the first thing that said video. It opened a new window and started playing, but i didn't see video till I clicked video only. But i was able to get sound before that. What about you?





EDIT: Try updating your flash player. http://www.adobe.com/

[shollomon]

I should get sound from the link, but instead when I click on the link I get the following error message:

Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage

Most likely causes:
You are not connected to the Internet.
The website is encountering problems.
There might be a typing error in the address.


Just like the original parent post.

We know this is not correct that the system is connected because I can download the asx file and play it from the desk top.

When I go to CNN Video I am told Flash is not installed. This cannot be correct because I have installed flash multiple times. I install the flash plugin, restart IE and it says flash is not installed. But this is another whole problem from the asx won't play thing.

Edit: Flash problem solved. Went to c:\windows\System32\Macromed\Flash and ran FlashUtil9d.exe. That fixed the video on CNN and Fox. However, the issue with windows media files not playing when clicked on remains.

[shollomon]

EDIT 2:

Thanks for trying to help. I solved the Flash problem as noted above and solved the problem with media player by running (as admin) regsvr32 wmp.dll

All my current problems are solved.

[shadowpr]

Glad they're fixed.