TROUBLESHOOTING VIDEO PROBLEMS
Welcome visitors! Our Museum web pages will soon feature more videos of our Museum and events, from time to time. If you have trouble dowloading these films, please try the following suggestions:
VIDEO WONT WORK AT ALL??? (No sound, no picture, nothing happens when you click.)
Our Museum video is made available via Windows Media "streaming video" format. The video is encoded to stream at 400 Kbps, which means the user must have a broadband connection to the Internet for proper play (phone modems won't work).
Our Museum video requires a software progran called "Windows Media Player." The suggested version is the latest one, currently version 11.
If the video does not play, you may need to download the player software. (Free dowload, Windows Media Version 11)
Are you viewing on a computer which is on a "network," for example, at a place of business or at a school? There may be some kind of program in place there, which will restrict streaming video. One reason this may be done is because streaming video takes up too much bandwidth from other users on the same network.
It is possible to restrict specific kinds of traffic from the Internet. This is commonly done by blocking something called a "port." Many servers use the MMS protocol on port 1755 to stream Windows Media video. If an organization is utilizing a firewall to protect their network (almost everyone does), and port 1755 is not enabled as an exception to the firewall, then users on that network won't be able to get the streaming video. If port 1755 is blocked, both the video and audio will be blocked.
HAVE PICTURE, BUT NO SOUND???
Are you really sure your speakers are plugged in, turned on, and that the volume is manually turned up? (Check this first!)
The most likely cause is something local to the computer.
If there is something wrong with the computer, it should not play sounds from other sources. Check first that you have your speakers or headphones properly connected to the computer and turned on if they require an external power source (like a surge protector, for example).
Check that the audio output is not set to mute and that the volume adjustment is sufficient.
For Windows computers, the volume control, including mute, is found in the accessories menu, probably under the entertainment sub-menu (click "Start", select "All Programs, "select "Accessories, "select "Entertainment, "select "Volume Control").
On the Windows Media Player screen itself, in the lower right corner of the screen, there is a little volume gauge and you can pull it right and left with your mouse button to raise and lower the sound.
If you are fairly certain it is not something wrong with your computer, in Microsoft troubleshooting forums, one of the many suggestions is to install and re-install Windows Media Player 11. The audio portion of your Windows Media Player may be corrupted. Uninstalling and reinstalling may correct this problem.
HAVE SOUND, BUT NO PICTURE ???
In Microsoft troubleshooting forums, again, one on the many suggestions is to install and re-installed Windows Media Player 11. The image/video portion of your Windows Media Player may be corrupted. Uninstalling and reinstalling may correct this problem.
It is true that sometimes a particular installation of the media player is corrupted or has other problems, such as a missing CODEC. "Codec" is a technical name for "compression/decompression." A "codec" is a computer program that both shrinks large movie files, and also makes them playable on your computer. Codec programs are required for your media player to play your downloaded music and movies. Check this site for suggestions regarding codecs for when the audio plays, but not the video.
HAVE SOUND, BUT PICTURE HAS "GHOST" IMAGES, IT IS "SLOW" TO LOAD, OR IS UNCLEAR IN SOME WAY???
This may be a bandwidth problem. The video streams at 400 kbps. The user should have a connection speed that exceeds 400 in order to experience proper playback.
If the user has a connection speed LESS than 400 kbps, there is nothing that can be done to improve his or her situation.
Even for users with high bandwidth whose connection speed is supposed to be over 400, they can at times experience periods of reduced performance, when their true connection speed drops below 400. For these users, they should try again at another time to see if the play improves.
Individuals who have cable TV modems for Internet access share their line with other local residences. If there are many users in the neighborhood who are also using the Internet at the same time, each person will experience a decrease in their true connection speed. In that case, try again at a time when not so many people in the neighborhood are using the Internet.
MISCELLANEOUS PROBLEMS???
Besides the link to Microsoft troubleshooting forums, the link to MEDIA ADVICE ARCHIVES is another good place for diagnosing Windows Media Player problems. This page has a lot of other material in addition to links for troubleshooting. (However, it will be the technically-inclined user who will have a better chance of resolving some of the more difficult problems.)
As noted above, it is true that sometimes a particular installation of the media player is corrupted or has other problems, such as a missing CODEC. "Codec" is a technical name for "compression/decompression." A "codec" is a computer program that both shrinks large movie files, and also makes them playable on your computer. Codec programs are required for your media player to play your downloaded music and movies.
See CODECS
(If nothing works, E-mail the webmaster who promises to at least try to help you!)
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