Problems Watching Video

Content Won't Play

  • If you are using an older Netscape browser, you may want to try Internet Explorer.
  • If you are using Netscape Navigator 6.0, try clicking on the player's video screen.
  • In some cases, network congestion could cause the player to time out; keep trying, or try again later when the network is less congested.

I can play content from some sites but not others

  • You are most likely behind a firewall that has not had the appropriate ports opened for use with video or the administrator may have blocked video.

Content plays, but there are a lot of pauses and the player says "buffering"


  • You are probably experiencing network congestion, meaning there is not enough available bandwidth to stream the selected file. This may clear up on it's own.
  • Try a lower bandwidth stream, if one is available.
  • Another option is to use UDP as your protocol by ensuring that it is the only protocol option selected in the advanced properties. This will reduce the amount of buffering.

Content plays, but the quality is poor

  • Content served by Windows Media is created for specific bandwidth ranges. If the content is created for 56 Kbps connection but Internet traffic is heavy, the server will start to drop frames.
  • Streaming video is not TV, don't expect the same quality.


My video has random flashes of pink or green, or has spots


  • This problem is usually associated with certain video card drivers that have difficulty with some direct draw features that the Windows Media Player utilizes. Try updating the drivers.

Audio will play but video won't, or video will play but audio won't

  • Make sure that your PC has a sound card and speakers to play the audio. To ensure that you have all codecs needed, re-install or upgrade Windows Media Player by clicking here.

I can hear audio, but it hisses, pops, sounds scratchy, or sometimes drops in and out

  • Talk to your administrator. Incorrect sound card drivers may cause problems with compressed audio.