Video Streaming Problems

Not sure if this is the forum to ask for help, but I'm starting here.

My computer, an HP Pavilion desktop running Windows 7 Home Premium, won't stream a video recording of a local (city) Planning & Zoning meeting.

The video link has a .wmv extension, and when I click on the link, it tries to start, but it doesn't get past a black screen, and it's clear that even though I have both Windows Media Player and Silverlight, neither will play the video. I've even tried playing it with other video players, and it won't work.

On the other hand, I know the video link is okay, since the HP laptop of my wife (in the same house, on our home network) streams it immediately with Silverlight...although, BTW that computer is running Windows 8.

I don't believe I have any infections on my computer, and I am wondering if there is come type of incompatibility with the Windows 7 operating system and version(s) of Silverlight/WMPlayer.

The problem Pavilion desktop streams from other sources; for example it will play (stream) episodes of PBS's Downton Abbey perfectly as well as YouTube videos.

Truthfully, I don't know where to begin because this is the only streaming problem I am having, but the solution is critical because I need to be able to view this particular video (and other videos from this source) on this computer. Could the problem be related in any way to the fact that the video streaming link has a .wmv extension?

Thank you, anyone in advance, for any direction(s) that might help me solve this problem (very soon) in a timely manner.

 

I will not say I have an answer, you might try moving the file to the computer that needs to play it and if you have no luck, try installing
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/k_lite_mega_codec_pack.html

 

Thank you for your post, DOA

I didn't have any success after downloading the Codecs...

However, (I'm floundering here) I am now looking at Windows Firewall with Advanced Security>Monitoring>Firewall>Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service (HTTP-Streaming-In)...does this have anything to do with this problem on my computer i.e. not being able to stream this video? Chances are that it does not...

I apologize for not knowing what I am doing, and I am asking for patience by anyone who decides to help me with posts.

Thank you again.

 

Thank you for your post.

I am trying to view a video of a public hearing/meeting posted by the City of Boise on their website:

http://boisecityid.iqm2.com/Citizen...edia2.IQM2.com/a1607/o21/BoiseCityID/1393.wmv

I did as you directed (changing the Direct X setting) in Windows Media Player, then tried to play (stream?) it in both Chrome and Internet Explorer as well as Firefox browsers.

I got a black screen and it didn't play (however it plays on the laptop that my wife uses, as I said in an earlier post).

Once again, thank you for your willingness to help me solve this problem rather than my having to risk additional/bigger problems by taking it to someone for troubleshooting/repair. :wave

 

Just an added (related?) question... Is there a way I can download the video if it just gives the option of clicking on Windows Media Player to stream at the web page link?

Thanks!

 

Since I am failing at diagnosing this (it still sounds like a codec or flash player problem to me).
Can you install a grabber like download helper and save it?

http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/stor...ox_makes_web_content_extraction_a_breeze.html

 

Is the video listed on this page?:

http://boisecityid.iqm2.com/Citizens/Media.aspx​

They are downloadable and playable.

 

Thank you for your post, Plastidust, and your question.

No, the video isn't listed on the link you posted because these are of the City Council meetings.

The link to the video I need is on this page (Planning and Development meeting for March 2 at 6 p.m.)

http://boisecityid.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx

When I clicked on the "video" link I got just a white screen on my (any) browser.

However, interestingly I was able to download one of the videos from the City Council meetings and it is playing with VLC as I type this.

Thanks

 

Thank you, DOA for your post, and I would apologize for my lack of knowledge of how to use Download Helper to grab this particular video.

Is there a place in Download Helper that a link to a video can be pasted in order to download/grab it? All I have is a tab with links to media sites.

Thanks again for your post, DOA. I appreciate your help.

 

Hi Plodr,

Just read your latest post, and I will try to reply to your observations and questions.

First of all, I am most envious of the fact that the second time you went to the video, it played for you... :cry (happy for you, really).

Secondly, my computer is running Silverlight 5.1.31211.0 (with 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium), but Silverlight 5.1.31211.0 is in both the program files folder and program files (x86) folder. Could that be a problem? BTW when I got this computer I brought over some Windows XP programs and it established that separate program files (x86) folder. Could there be a problem/conflict with Silverlight being in both program files folders?

When I clicked on the Silverlight option to run the video ("install Silverlight") and proceeded to download and activate the installer, I got a message that I am running a newer version of Silverlight than the version that would be installed on my computer. So the installation was aborted, if I remember correctly.

Thirdly, my wife's laptop is running the same version of Silverlight as my desktop: 5.1.31211.0., but we watched the video recording of the meeting with WMP on her computer.

I thank you again for helping me pursue this problem (because it simply isn't practical to ask my wife to give up her computer so that I can spend the extensive time I need to review and make notes on this particular video recording).

 

Thank you for your post.

I've done a little looking around, and it seems that the version of Silverlight on our computer(s) hasn't been released officially yet...hmmmmm?

http://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/locale/en-us/html/Microsoft Silverlight Release History.htm

I second your motion to forget Silverlight and try to find a way to download the video.

Nevertheless, the following 'media' webpage link allows downloading videos of the City Council meetings, and I did so this morning.

http://boisecityid.iqm2.com/Citizens/Media.aspx

However, the clickable video links on the webpage link to the (Planning Commission) Meeting Calendar:

http://boisecityid.iqm2.com/Citizens/Calendar.aspx?View=Calendar

and the clickable WMV and Silverlight links on the page that opens when clicking on the video link (following):

http://boisecityid.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=1880&Format=Agenda

do not provide for any type of video grabbing/downloading, it seems to me.

And that is the difference between the City Council videos and the Planning Commission videos.

I hope DOA has a work-around or can correct a misunderstanding on my part.

Regardless, thank you for your help in the matter, Plodr, and I wish you the best.

zamorazeke

 

Hello again, Plodr; :wave

In reply to your last post, I had already clicked on both the WMV and SD links on the page you just referenced, and I too was able to download and watch City Council meeting videos.

However, the Planning Commission videos are not part of that webpage, nor have I found a comparable webpage for the Planning Commission in which the videos can be downloaded and watched in the same manner. (If only the City would include those Planning Commission videos in the page with the WMV and SD links)

Thanks again.

 

Thank you, Plodr. That is the best idea anyone has had in the whole thread.

Actually, it's brilliant at this point.

This is a fantastic solution (and really cute, too ), given the time-factor I need to consider in getting this meeting reviewed.

Maybe we can call it a day for now. I can re-visit it sometime in the next few weeks after I take my computer to the local office of a national computer repair/maintenance organization with which we have an annual maintenance contract and they can make sure it's screwed to H***. :-D

That way it will be worth coming back here and starting a new thread to try to get their mess straightened out.

Thank you, sincerely for your suggestions in the thread. :wave

 

Yessss, indeed; we pay someone to screw up our computers, so that I can have the pleasure of meeting great people like DOA, plastidust, Chas Lang, you, and others on Major Geeks to help me straighten them out again. Lol.

BTW our annual maintenance renewal is coming up, and this little thread/discussion has made me think seriously about opting out of their continued 'service' contract (in the old farmers' horse breeding context of the term, if you know what I mean). :-D

In any case, my kind wife says I may use the laptop anytime to review the video that is inaccessible from our desktop; so I am able put this problem on the back burner for now and re-visit it later.

Thanks again for all the continued help you and others on Major Geeks have given to us over the last several years, plodr. We really appreciate what you have done for us.

Best regards,

zamorazeke