Help With Windows Media 9 Player

Watching Video
What do I need to view streaming video on this site?
I click on a video link and nothing happens
I can hear something, but I’m not seeing video
I get video, but it looks choppy
The video keeps buffering-what does that mean?
Can I see video at my office?

Applications that can interfere
If you're having problems viewing video, please make sure
the following are turned off:
Virus protection software
Programs running in the background
Laptop docking station or projectors
AOL browser
Pop Up Killers
Macintosh OS

Basics of Streaming
What kind of computer works best?
What does streaming mean?
Can I save a streaming video?
What are the different types of streaming video?
Why does the BroadbandVideo player look different than others?

Connection Speeds
Why does a faster Internet connection mean better video
Why can’t I choose my own connection speed?
How can I get a faster Internet connection?
What is DSL?
What is a Cable Modem?
What is dial-up and does Windows 9 support it?

Error Messages
I get an error message when I watch the video
How do I install the Windows Media Player?
What is “auto-update”?
How long does the “auto-update” process take?


What do I need to view Windows Media 9 streaming video on this site?
• Windows 98 service pack 2 or higher, Windows 2000, XP or higher
• Internet connection – 56k modem is required, but a broadband connection is preferred (ISDN, DSL, Cable Modem, T1 etc.)
• Windows Media Player Series 9 is required
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher

I click on a video link and nothing happens
First, make sure that your Internet connection is working -- go to a site like http://www.yahoo.com/ or http://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 9. You must have the Windows Media Player 9 to watch video on this website. You may need to re-install the Windows Media Player 9.

I can hear something, but I’m not seeing video
This is usually caused by one of two things -- either your connection to the Internet is too slow to view this particular video or you don’t have the newest version of the Windows Media Player. If you are on a 28.8k modem, you will not be able to view the video on this site. 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
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?
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. You could also be sharing your connection with others, which can cause buffering.

Can I see video at my office?
Many companies have computers that are hooked to a LAN (Local Area Network), which is then hooked 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 ways that are used to restrict employees from viewing 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.
Applications that can interfere
• Virus protection software – Some virus protection and security software may keep you from watching video on your computer. These programs include Zone Alarm, McAfee, Norton and others. If you suspect this is the case, disable the program and then try watching again.
• Programs running in the background – If you have too many other programs running in the background, your computer may not have the power to also run video. Close all other applications on your computer when you are watching the video.
• Laptop docking stations or projectors – When attempting to watch video on a laptop hooked to an external monitor like a projector or through a docking station, some laptops do not have the capability to show the video on the external device. If so, simply detach the external device and watch the video on the laptop screen.
• AOL browser – The native AOL browser does not support external video very well. When attempting to watch video with an AOL connection, connect to AOL as you normally would, but after the connection is established, launch Internet Explorer and use it as your browser for video instead of the AOL browser.
• Pop Up Killers – Applications that prevent pop up windows will keep the video from working. These include Pop Up Killer, STOPzilla and many others. If you have this software installed on your computer, you must disable it before you can watch the video.
• Macintosh OS – Some versions of the Mac OS are incompatible with the Windows Media Player. Microsoft has released a new version of the Windows Media 9 player for the Mac, but results are not guaranteed when using this platform.

What kind of computer works best?
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. It is possible your computer does not have sufficient power to play video. Macs can also run streaming video, but some of the earlier operating systems have problems with different versions of the media players. There is a new version of the Windows Media Series 9 player for the Macintosh platform, but you may get mixed results. You can download it from the Microsoft download center.

What does “streaming” mean?
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?
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?
There are currently three major types of streaming video available on the Internet. They are Windows Media (created by Microsoft), RealPlayer (created by Real Networks) 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. This site uses the Windows Media Player Series 9 exclusively as this player is now the most popular and remains a free offering from Microsoft.

Why does the BroadbandVideo player look different than other players?
The BroadbandVideo player 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, BroadbandVideo is able to create a focused video viewing experience.

Why does a faster Internet connection mean better video?
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.

Why can’t I choose my own connection speed?
BroadbandVideo uses special technology that automatically detects your bandwidth when you click to play a video. By choosing it for you, you don’t have to worry about which is the right one to choose and we always deliver the best possible picture for your connection speed at any given time.

How can I get a fast Internet connection?
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. Most 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 worst way to experience Internet streaming video. New companies are offering new technologies that allow you to access the Internet faster -- they are DSL and Cable Modems.

What is DSL?
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?
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. This is generally the most cost effective type of high-speed access for home consumers.

What is dial-up and does BroadbandVideo support it?
Dial-up connects your computer to the Internet over a regular phone line using a dial-up modem. The best dial-up modems connect at 56k, but they typically deliver less than 45k of bandwidth and result in a less than optimal experience for viewing video. BroadbandVideo does however, support dial-up, but your viewing window will be a bit smaller.

I get an error message when I watch the video
Microsoft has provided an extensive list of error codes and what they mean. You can read about them here:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/mediaplayer/wmper/wmperrcode_main.asp There may be some problems that you’re not able to solve such as network issues from your ISP. If you’ve tried everything from your side, you may wish to notify your ISP to see if they are having any network problems.

About Windows Media Player
How do I install the Windows Media Player?
You need to use your computer, web browser and Internet connection to go to:
http://www.windowsmedia.com/9series/download/download.asp to download the latest version of Windows Media Player. The newest version is Series 9, though if you have an older version of Windows Media Player installed on your computer it may try to “auto-update” itself when it encounters a new type of content.

What is “auto-update”?
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?
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.