CBS videos won't play, when others play just fine
I can play videos on YouTube, NBC, Fox News, but NOT on CBS. First, a message came up, stating that the video was "expired or unavailable", when other people could see it on other computers. So, not the site itself. Now, the message is gone, but the videos still never load. They sit with a blank screen, with an "advertisement is loading" message in the left corner, and they never actually load.
I have completely uninstalled and reinstalled both Java and Flash Player (which were already fine), but this didn't improve anything. I also completely disabled AdBlocker, and the AdBlocker Pop-Up, and they still won't play. So, at a loss here. My antivirus isn't set to block the site, or videos. The site clearly has the video, since other people can load and play it fine, so I am stumped.
Running Windows VIsta, 64-bit, and Firefox 12.0. Any help appreciated!
Oh, if it matters, there are SOME other videos I can't seem to play. I can play the normal videos on Fox, for example, but small, embedded ones (NOT YT), won't play. Some other sites, various news types, won't play, either. Most, no issues, but a few are just weird.
All Replies (8)
This can be caused by corrupted/outdated cookies or cookies that aren't send or otherwise blocked.
Clear the cache and the cookies from sites that cause problems.
"Clear the Cache":
- Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Cached Web Content: "Clear Now"
"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:
- Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).
- Do not click the Reset button on the Safe mode start window or otherwise make changes.
Already cleared cookies, etc, no luck. Safe mode doesn't seem to help, either. The stupid video still sits there and never loads.
I'm not seeing that video either (hadn't checked this before), so it may be as that message says and the video is no longer available. Google Chrome gives that same error, so if you still see it with other browser then they may have the video in the disk cache.
Well, I get the error on Firefox and IE, but my husband, also using Firefox, plays it fine. Just finished it, in fact. My sister was able to load it as well. Plus, I tried a LOT of their videos, and not a single one would play. So, definitely weird, especially if you can't view it, either! Hoping for a reply from CBS, but not holding my breath.
For the record, my husband didn't load it, or even try, until after I was having issues. So, something in our systems, maybe? Or something weird with CBS? Hard to say. Will post if I locate a solution, though!
I do get a choice of other videos on that page and the ones I tried did work. Only the one that you posted didn't pay and showed that message.
If the other videos do not play as well for you then something is wrong.
Do the others give that same error message or do you simply see the spinning loading image?
Doesn't work for me:
This one works:
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.
If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.
See:
You can also try to reset Firefox:
You can check for problems caused by recent Flash updates and try these:
- disable a possible RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension for Firefox and update the RealPlayer if installed
- disable protected mode in Flash 11.3 and later
- disable hardware acceleration in the Flash plugin
Modified by cor-el
No luck. The videos attempt to load, the little spinning thing vanishes, and I get the "advertisement is loading" text in the upper left corner, but nothing ever loads. Once in a while, it tells me the video isn't available, though other people can watch it here on another computer. Tried in safe mode, with no add-ons or plug-ins enabled, and no luck. Tried on a new profile, still no luck. Makes no sense to me. Other sites work. I can watch videos on NBC, for example, easily. YouTube works, various news sites work, scifi works. CBS, for some reason, won't work.
Modified by LadyGreenEyes
It may be that the security settings on your router are filtering out Java applications. I was having the same problem. I went into the router settings, and unchecked filter Java - and reloaded the CBS page successfully. Hope that helps.
Dave
Wasn't the issue; checked all that. Did locate a solution, though. Apparently, you have to allow 3'rd party storage for flash settings to get their videos. Makes things annoying, but works. Appreciate the help from all, though, and hopefully this can help some others. The link, in case someone else has the issue, is here:
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager03.html
You have to check the third party box, and close the browser, then re-open. I tend to un-check it when done with theirs, but that's me. At any rate, that worked for me.
Thank you, all, for the suggestions!