Troubleshooting streaming video
I click on a video link and nothing happens
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First, make sure that your Internet connection is working - go to a site like
www.yahoo.com or
www.cnn.com , it's very rare
that these sites are not working. Once you've established that your Internet
connection is working, make sure you have downloaded and installed the Windows
Media Player. You may need to re-install the Windows Media Player.
I get an error message
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Microsoft has provided an extensive list of error codes and what they mean. You
can read about them on the
Windows Media Player Error Code page.
There may be some problems that you're not able to solve, these may be related
to network or simply some "bad code" on the website. If you've tried everything
from your side, please notify
support.
I can hear something, but I'm not seeing video
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This is usually caused by one of two things — either your connection to the
Internet is too slow to view this particular video or the video has been
incorrectly encoded. Windows Media includes a very low quality audio track as
the "lowest common denominator" in all its streaming video files. If your
connection to the Internet OR to that particular server is very slow all you may
be able to do is hear audio.
I get video, but it looks choppy
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This is most likely due to the speed at which data is reaching your computer
over the Internet. A faster connection will generally mean better video.
The video keeps "buffering" — what does that mean?
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Windows Media Player will attempt to "store up" frames of video to insure a
smooth playback / viewing experience. Lots of "buffering" coupled with the video
stopping and starting usually indicates that you have a slow connection to the
Internet.
Why do I see a big broken puzzle graphic?
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This is usually caused by a missing plug-in. This means your browser does not
know that it has the capability to play a certain type of video or you haven't
installed the correct video player. Typical causes of this behavior would be
that you've been using Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player video - then
you click on a page which is supposed to contain some video content - and a big,
broken puzzle picture appears. This would indicate that the content you've
chosen is either Real Video or QuickTime Video and you don't have the plug-in.
What do I need to view streaming video?
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You need a computer (at least a 486 with 32 megs of ram running Windows 95), an
Internet connection (dial-up with modem, DSL, cable modem or LAN) and a "player"
application (Windows Media Player).
What kind of computer works best?
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All computers running with a 486 or above processor running Windows 95 or above
have the capability of showing streaming video. The faster the processor you
have and the more memory you have will make your system run faster - streaming
media will work better on a faster system. Macintosh computers can also run
streaming video using the Mac version of Windows Media Player, but the video
quality will be greatly diminished. However, the sound is not affected. Some of
the earlier Mac operating systems have problems with different versions of the
media players.
What does "streaming" mean?
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Most of the content that you view on the Internet is downloaded to your
computer. This means you "request" to view something, and a server sends it as a
file to a special place on your computer. You them view this content through a
web browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape). Since video files are very large,
you don't want to have to wait for the entire video file to download before you
start viewing - so your video player just shows you the part you need to see.
The data you've just viewed is thrown out, you view the current content while
the content you'll need in a few moments hasn't been sent yet. This data is sent
in a "stream" that is not saved on your computer.
Can I save a streaming video?
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Because you're only viewing a portion of the entire file at any given time, you
cannot save a streaming video. If you want to view it again, click the Play
button to start the "stream" again.
What are the different types of streaming video?
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There are currently three major types of streaming video available on the
Internet. They are Windows Media (created by Microsoft), Real Video and
QuickTime (created by Apple). Each one has it's own player which must be
downloaded and installed on your computer in order for you to view that type of
video. The Littleton web site uses Windows Media exclusively as this player is
now the most popular and remains a free offering from Microsoft.
Why does HS Sports player look different than other
players?
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HS Sports uses the core technology provided by Windows Media but uses additional
"embed" technology to create a better viewing experience. By minimizing the
distractions created by the "stand-alone" players, Littleton is able to create a
focused video viewing experience.
Why does a faster internet connection mean better
video?
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Video is compressed data. In fact, it's a LOT of compressed data. The more data
you can get faster, the better the video will perform.
How can I get a fast Internet connection?
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There are many different Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who will sell you a
connection to the Internet. They usually charge a monthly fee for what is known
as "access" — this allows you to view content (and video) on the Internet. Some
people still use what is known as a "dial-up" connection. This means they use a
phone modem over a telephone line to connect to the Internet. This is the
slowest way possible to connect to the Internet and the least desirable way to
experience Internet streaming video. Phone and cable companies are offering
technologies that allow you to access the Internet much faster — they are DSL
and cable modems.
What is DSL?
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DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line — it's a system that uses your regular
phone line to provide a very fast connection for your computer while still
allowing you regular phone service. This service may or may not be available
where you live based on how close your residence is to certain types of
telephone switching equipment. Call your local phone company to see if they
offer this type of access.
What is a cable modem?
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A cable modem is a device that allows your computer to hook up to the same cable
used by your cable television service. This allows for one of the fastest
connections available to home consumers. Call your local cable television
company to see if this service is available in your area.
Can I see video at the office?
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Many companies have computers that are connected to a LAN (local Area Network),
which is then connected to the Internet at a very high rate of speed. This
allows for optimal viewing of streaming video. However, many companies have
policies or software in place that restrict employees from viewing streaming
media from their workplace. Here are some of the situations where it may be
impossible to view streaming video at the office:
-
Proxy server —
If you are using a local or remote proxy server to cache frequently viewed web
pages, streaming media may not work.
-
Overly
sensitive firewall — Some offices restrict the downloading of materials from
web.
-
Port filtering
— Sometimes certain server ports will be shut off in your office/network
environment. This can affect streaming media.
-
IP Sharing —
Sometimes router settings, specifically where many people are sharing the
bandwidth through a single IP address, can affect streaming.
-
IT browser
configuration — In some companies, the IT department pre-configures the web
browser so it won't accept streaming files.
How do I install the Windows Media Player?
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Visit the
Windows Media Player Download Center to download the latest version
of Windows Media Player.
What is "auto-update"?
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This is a process where the Windows Media Player encounters a newer video format
and usually displays the message "There is a newer version of the Windows Media
Player than the one you currently have installed. Would you like to upgrade your
player now?" - the correct response to this is to click the "Yes" button
provided. This will allow you to continue to enjoy streaming media presented in
the Windows Media Format.
How long will the "auto-update" process take?
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This depends upon your Internet connection. If you're using a dial-up connection
and have a very old version of Windows Media Player, this process could take an
hour or more. For most users the process will take no more than 10 or 15
minutes. Users who have a high-speed Internet connection will have to wait only
seconds. Unless your version of Windows Media Player is very old, you won't have
to re-start your system to enjoy the new version.
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