Windows Media downloading issues

[Ian Stark]

Help! What have I changed?

Until a couple of days ago, when I clicked on a link to any Windows Media file stored in the Clients section of my website, it would stream the video in WMP. This has been the case for several years.

Now, though, when I click the URL I get a file download dialogue box instead of the file buffering and playing. I've tried it on several files. Same thing.

Here's an example link. Is it buffering for you or presenting you with a download file dialogue? www.film-it.net/client/kipungani.wmv

I can't think of a single thing that I could have done to cause this change (although it was over the Christmas holidays so maybe I had one too many festive beers and did something dumb? Again.) More importantly I can't work out how to change it back. I don't even know if it's something at my end or at the web end.

Any kind sould got any ideas?

Many thanks - and Happy New Year to all.

Ian . . .

[Martin Smith]

sounds like you need to re associate which program opens /plays windows media files.

[Taky Cheung]

I just tried your link and it plays no problem with WMP.

You can also try to embed the <object> tag to your html page so the WMP plugin will play the video within the page. Let me know if you need that code.

[Ian Stark]

Thanks for the speedy responses.

Martin: That's very interesting - just in the last few days, when I have tried to load files from Windows Explorer (rather than through the app), I have had the 'Windows cannot load this file. Please select from a list etc etc' dialogue box and I have had to re-associate. Obviously something has happened to cause my file associations to get lost. It looks like it just affected video media files (.mov, .avi, .wmv etc).

Strangely, I HAVE in fact now re-associated the file types and all is well when loading from Windows Explorer, but the same problem occurs when loading from the web site.

I am beginning to wonder if a codec pack I installed and then uninstalled is to blame. (Combined Community Codec Pack - http://www.cccp-project.net ) .

I have just browsed their forum and it looks like this may have happened to someone before. I'll take a deeper look. Thanks for the tip.

Taky: Actually, the links are usually embedded in an email that is sent to the client for them to approve something. I don't need them to be displayed on a web page. However, I am interested in seeing that code as I plan to move parts of my website away from Flash and I will want to embed videos onto certain pages. I am a real HTML newbie though!!

Thanks again,

Ian . . .

[Ian Stark]

Uninstalling the codec pack didn't work (although I am still thinking that's where the root cause lies). Neither did a sweep with Registry Mechanic.

What solved the issue was to reinstall Windows Media Player.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.

Ian . . .