I can't view wmv files.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

This is the error message I get:

Your security settings do not allow the new decompressor to be installed. To fix, set your browser's security settings for the Internet zone to Medium or lower.

I can hear them, but can't view.

Any help would be greatly appreciated since DH's friend will not be happy until DH watches this (probably) stupid clip.

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I've googled. I uninstalled & reinstalled. I've set IE to a lower security setting (what for, I don't know since I use firefox).


I use Firefox (latest version).
Windows2000 Pro.
AVG free
Spyware blaster
Spybot Search & Destroy
Ad-Aware
ZoneAlarm Pro.

[RoyGBiv]

1. New codec ...

That message usually comes when the video you are trying to watch needs a newer version of the video codec used for it, and to get it, you have to have the settings at low before you load it. After watching the video, you then move them back to their former setting.

Seems twitchy for a WMV file, though.

Windows media files can have embedded crap in them that'll launch a browser, initiate a download, redirect crap, etc. Proceed with caution.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

2. I'm pretty computer illiterate.

What settings to I have to lower? I got it in an email attachment. (Trusted source, so I wasn't worried about.)

Is there an alternative to windows crap? Something else I can watch this stupid clip on?

[RoyGBiv]

3. Yeah, there are alternatives ...

I used Media Player Classic and the K-Lite Codec Pack. Download and install the full version. Besides giving you pretty much every codec you might ever need, IIRC, the default installation installs Media Player Classic.

If you don't want to go that route, you need to change Internet Exploiter ... ahem ... Internet Explorer's security settings. Tools > Internet Options > Security (tab) and move the slider down to "low." Then try playing the file. Yes, you have to change IE's security settings to play a media file.

Note: You may have received the file from a trusted source, but the source may have poor security and inadvertently passing on a nasty to you. I don't *know* this of course, but playing media files from others, even if I know them, sent to me via e-mail is something I don't do on a Windows machine if I care about its integrity.

Naturally, I could be called overly paranoid.

OnEdit: If it does have some bug in it, MPC is generally a safe media player to use, safer anyway.

[paparush]

4. Wonderful Free Program called VLC

Will play literally any video format without the need to load up new codec packs.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

[RoyGBiv]

5. Slight correction ...

VLC is great, but it won't play "literally" any video format.

And it would need to be updated should a new codec come along.

[paparush]

6. It will play "practically" any video format

corrected.

[RoyGBiv]

7. True, that ...

Sorry to be so pedantic about it. Little pet peeve of mine regarding media players.