youtube help

[cloudz]

Hi,

wondering if anyone can help me out with a small issue.. When clicking through to you-tube, all the main videos come up with a blank white screen with a small grey exclamation mark in the centre.

the clips down the side all have screen shots but when I click on them, I get the same thing. really strange. So far it only seems like this on my work PC. I haven't checked my home laptop, but I was watching clips at home on the I-Pad this weekend..

[GrahamB]

Aliens.

[cloudz]

it's weirder than that.. ok so small breakthrough. I can watch a clip, but apparently I need to do it this way.

First click I get what I described before. If I close it and re click, same again. But, by accident I kept the first page open and clicked the link again. this time when there are two pages open the second one actually works and plays the clip.

WTF

[Dmitri]

If you're not already using Chrome as your browser, I would try that first.

[windwalker]

might have something to do with the flash player.
could try an update or reload.

[Dmitri]

^^ I don't think that's an issue (unless he is specifically configured to use Flash), as YouTube has been using HTML5 by default for a while now:

http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/27/youtub ... ow-deader/

[mrtoes]

Hi George,

The Flash plugin may be old and the browser may be disabling it because of a serious security vulnerability. Firefox started doing this recently, though with an explanation.

To diagnose:

1) First close all browsers and update your Flash plugin here https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ - remembering to disable the McAfee plugin
2) Try all browsers on your system (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Exploder) to see if some work and others do not

You can't normally go wrong with Chrome/Firefox with an up to date plugin. Try that.

Cheers,

Matthew

[cloudz]

Thanks guys, updated the flash player and did the trick.

[Dmitri]

Glad it worked, but it's really weird! I thought YouTube had switched to HTML5 a while ago... Just out of curiosity, what browser are you using? It's not chrome, right?

[cloudz]

Microsoft IE, keeping it old school

[windwalker]

Many YouTube videos will play using HTML5 in supported browsers. You can request that the HTML5 player be used if your browser doesn't use it by default.

https://www.youtube.com/html5

[Dmitri]

Microsoft IE, keeping it old school

Ahh, that sort of explains it; thanks.

Switch to Chrome man... Chrome is 'old school' now. IE is just old. (And fat and slow.)

[Bao]

Switch to Chrome man... Chrome is 'old school' now. IE is just old. (And fat and slow.)

I would recommend Firefox. Don't let Google use your internet habits for their Evil Masterplan.

Seriously, everyone should abandon Chrome and never be logged in to any google account. Use other search engines as well. Seriously... they ARE evil.

Seriously 2, I know several people who work with computers and stuff, developers etc, who always use I.E. Nothing bad about that. Just a tiny bit slower.

[Dmitri]

[bailewen]

Switch to Chrome man... Chrome is 'old school' now. IE is just old. (And fat and slow.)

I would recommend Firefox. Don't let Google use your internet habits for their Evil Masterplan.

Seriously, everyone should abandon Chrome and never be logged in to any google account. Use other search engines as well. Seriously... they ARE evil.

)

Second that.

Chrome has a voice activated search option that is left on by default. That means that for most computers, Chrome is recording through your microphone.

arstechnica.com/security/2014/01/speech-recognition-hack-turns-google-chrome-into-advanced-bugging-device/


Bummer this macbook I inherited has no external mic port. On my previous laptop I used to keep a dead mic chord plugged in to block it. I made a little cover for the built in camera be keep that covered. Newer laptops all have cameras and microphones that can be hacked and turned on remotely without your knowing. Chrome likes to listen to your mic "just in case" you try to use the voice activated search function. No actual human is listening, AFAIK, but to me, that's besides the point.

Bad google, bad!