Suddenly I can't view any videos.

October 20, 2008 6:39 PM

Suddenly I can't view any videos. I have a Dell Dimension 4100, running XP, with the latest IE. This includes YouTube and all other videos such as on MLB.com. This is new, since a few days ago.

On YouTube I get the following error message: "Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player. "

On other sites I get no message, but nothing happens when I click on a video.

I've downloaded the latest Adobe Flash Player twice, and rebooted. As for JavaScript, I've gone into Security Settings in Internet Options and enabled "Scripting of Java Applets" and "Active Scripting."

So, any suggestions?

posted by JimN2TAW to computers & internet (6 answers total)

clicky to detect flash player.
clicky to detect javascript.
report findings.
posted by limon at 6:50 PM on October 20, 2008

download firefox it is a java/microsoft issue
posted by patnok at 6:54 PM on October 20, 2008

Thanks. In the first test, the SWF (single white female?) movie which would indicate detection does not appear. As you know, there are also some troubleshooting instructions.

As for the second test, it told me "You can use JavaScript!" which seems like a good thing.
posted by JimN2TAW at 6:54 PM on October 20, 2008

download the flash player uninstaller utility.
download a fresh copy of the flash player installer.
restart computer.
uninstall flash using uninstall utility.
restart computer. (not entirely rational, but that's my idiosyncratic way of solving problems.)
install flash using freshly downloaded install utility.
run ie and clicky again to test for flash.
posted by limon at 7:05 PM on October 20, 2008

Thanks, Limon. You've given me a good start. I'll have to wait till tomorrow, but thanks again.
posted by JimN2TAW at 7:09 PM on October 20, 2008

Mathowie suggested I post a follow-up.

I tried Limon's excellent suggestions at least twice, to no avail. In other words, I deleted and re-downloaded Flash at least twice. The download process seemed normal to me and there was no indication that it wasn't successful. However, Flash still didn't work. I despaired.

Then a couple of days later I was on a random site, sorry I don't recall which one, and a message appeared stating something like "click here to install Flash...." Sorry I don't recall the exact wording. I duly clicked where asked, Flash installed and I have been viewing videos normally ever since.

So, the problem is officially "resolved."

I have no idea why the installation process did not work immediately. This is the kind of shit I hate about computers. I'm switching to Mac, BTW, in the hope that my future iMac will operate more predictably than my present PC.
posted by JimN2TAW at 2:02 PM on November 20, 2008