Computer Help Vanity

me ^ | today | me

[jra]

I'm having probs playing video clips--specifically ones that open from a hyperlink. I'm using Netscape--I believe 7.1, fwiw.

When I click the link, I get a pageful of stuff that looks like this:

0&²uŽfϦÙ0&²uŽfϦÙÅÙÊ›}Ç<"Ç[±ÛjƀϢ[À úO
ä=ZÏêïwÿ¯Û¬wHüϯ»GD»?:®.à`øí£»1–8;q6ªÁçÁçà¨Zq½6Û ¶AÁ#" p| 
ÓÖ˜¹rÌÌ”

Now when I click the same link in IE, I'll usually get the video.

Unfortunately, I don't care for IE...in addition, I must have some differences in the settings for Explorer and Navigator, b/c although I can usually get things to play, I get--at least at this site--windows popping up that ask me to if I want to install so-and-so, and other windows that are from porn sites, etc...then I minimize my browser and there are new icons on my desktop.

Now my question is twofold--

1. How can I get Netscape to play the videos?

2. What do I change in my settings (in Explorer) to keep websites from launching crap that I never asked for?

Thanks in advance.

[bayourod]

Are you sure you're logged on?

[scott7278]

That only took 2 minutes and thirteen seconds...

[rdb3]

First things first. Name all of the video players you have installed.

$710.96... The price of freedom.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Use Mozilla Firefox.

[toupsie]

Sounds like you are running Windows, that is most likely your problem.

[TomGuy]

O G aren't you helpful.

[Revolting cat!]

That only took 2 minutes and thirteen seconds...

And after that it only took one minute and 56 seconds! Wow...

[BigSkyFreeper]

Not really. Sounds like this user is using more than one media player.

[TomGuy]

Getting the 'garbage' page in Netscape. It appears that Netscape 'associations' are not correct. You may need to 'associate' . Check your Netscape help file (I haven't used Netscape in ages, so am not quite sure where the associate options are in it). Be sure to associate the file types/extensions to the correct player(s) you have on your system.

You may also have a Netscape option checked/activated to open media/graphic files as webpages rather than associate them to play automatically.

[jra]

Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, DIVX IIRC.

[sigSEGV]

The website you are viewing them from is not setting the correct mime-type. The mime-type is just something that is sent from the web server telling what kind of file it is sending. Internet Explorer tries to guess the file type regardless of what the web server sends (a nice feature, but has been the cause of many exploits), but Mozilla respects what the server sends.

[proxy_user]

A direct answer to your question, with no kidding around:

Go to this page:

http://wp.netscape.com/plugins/audio-video.html?cp=pi1

Read the descriptions and see if you can find what you need.

[ShadowAce]

It looks to me that Netscape doesn't have your default video player defined. As a result, it is actually downloading and displaying the file. That garbage you see on the screen is its best representation of the actual code. :)

As I don't use Netscape (I use Firefox), I don't have a step-by-step solution, but I would look for something like Helper Applications or File Associations somewhere and set that to your preferred video player for the file type you are trying to open.

[jra]

Funny you should say that...I figured after hearing about it from several sources, I'd give it a shot.

I imported my preferences/bookmarks, etc from Navigator, and it worked fine, except Flash wasn't compatible with my version (?) and it messed up how videos would play using Windows Media Player, so I deleted it.

After reinstalling WMP, everything is back to normal--to whatever degree normal was before I installed Firefox.

Is Flash compatible with Firefox at all, or did I have the wrong version of something.

As a browser, I liked Firefox fine....

[BigSkyFreeper]

Yes, Flash is compatible with Firefox. Flash is not a proprietary component of Internet Explorer or Microsoft.

[BigSkyFreeper]

You should also go through each media players preferences to set each one to play only the desired file formats. I had to go through RealPlayer on my sister's computer, because streamed MP3 files (played through Winamp which she had) were opening up in Real Player. I unchecked anything to do with MP3 files themselves and streaming MP3 files in Real Player, and everything behaved like they should.

It's a matter of "babysitting" the computer, but in the long run, it's worth it, once you get everything set up the way you want it.

[hole_n_one]

lol!

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Sounds like you are running Windows, that is most likely your problem.

Can you make a valid case why I should give up windows to learn something else?

Not that I don't want an intellectual challenge.

Other than that you sound pompous,kinda of like a kid with a new toy.

[AdequateMan]

What's happening is Netscape or Mozilla is trying to inline display the file instead of opening a helper app such as media player. You need to change your file associations in Preferences such that WMV and RealVideo open with the correct application.