I just updated Firefox and was advised that Adobe (something or
another) needed to be upgraded. Adobe offered the file for
download with optional crapware. So I downloaded the file to my
software/communications folder. Then ran the file. Apparently it
installed correctly. But the file is no longer in my folder. I
know that happens with temporary files, but I think that's the
first time a program has ever deleted itself without asking from a
folder that I downloaded it to. I'd like to do something, but
Adobe has a stranglehold, as always in Windows. If I ever get half
a chance, I will rid my life of Adobe products.

I am trying to get WatchESPN to work properly in Windows XP SP3
using Firefox. Using WatchESPN crashes my system (a hard crash),
and I think it has something to do with Adobe Flash Player.
Apparently it's the same (or similar) with Internet Explorer. I'm
on the lookout for a hint of hardware trouble, at the same time.
But playing ESPN streaming media is the only time it crashes, and
it's easy to reproduce.

John Doe wrote:
> I just updated Firefox and was advised that Adobe (something or
> another) needed to be upgraded. Adobe offered the file for
> download with optional crapware. So I downloaded the file to my
> software/communications folder. Then ran the file. Apparently it
> installed correctly. But the file is no longer in my folder. I
> know that happens with temporary files, but I think that's the
> first time a program has ever deleted itself without asking from a
> folder that I downloaded it to. I'd like to do something, but
> Adobe has a stranglehold, as always in Windows. If I ever get half
> a chance, I will rid my life of Adobe products.
>
> I am trying to get WatchESPN to work properly in Windows XP SP3
> using Firefox. Using WatchESPN crashes my system (a hard crash),
> and I think it has something to do with Adobe Flash Player.
> Apparently it's the same (or similar) with Internet Explorer. I'm
> on the lookout for a hint of hardware trouble, at the same time.
> But playing ESPN streaming media is the only time it crashes, and
> it's easy to reproduce.

If its Flash, you can try here. I use these archived versions, as they
become available. I never bother with the "web based" browser update
for Flash. I do them manually. If you need to "go backwards", this
may give you the materials you need.

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14266.html

When you have problems with Flash, you can try disabling hardware
acceleration. That's the only "fix" I know of.

Your ESPN stream is probably protected by more than the normal
streaming methods, and it could be some custom CODEC or the like,
which is tipping over and crashing. If you really want to get
this to work, you're going to need more tech info about what
ESPN is using.

Crashing the whole computer is pretty impressive. It implies the
kernel tipped over, and one way to do that is install an actual
driver (as the driver runs at kernel level). Normally, applications
can't tip over the kernel, and just the application itself would be
affected. So you gotta wonder what they're doing... Even the Flash
hardware acceleration features, should be going though some kind of
API, rather than accessing the video card directly.

Paul

Paul <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> John Doe wrote:

>> I am trying to get WatchESPN to work properly in Windows XP SP3
>> using Firefox. Using WatchESPN crashes my system (a hard
>> crash), and I think it has something to do with Adobe Flash
>> Player. Apparently it's the same (or similar) with Internet
>> Explorer. I'm on the lookout for a hint of hardware trouble, at
>> the same time. But playing ESPN streaming media is the only
>> time it crashes, and it's easy to reproduce.
>
> If its Flash, you can try here. I use these archived versions,
> as they become available. I never bother with the "web based"
> browser update for Flash. I do them manually. If you need to "go
> backwards", this may give you the materials you need.
>
> http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14266.html

Like it says on that page, you can uninstall their stuff first.
I just tried that. Upon starting the thing, the appearance is
different, and that's a good sign. I think that's the fix, but
I will post if not.

> When you have problems with Flash, you can try disabling
> hardware acceleration. That's the only "fix" I know of.
>
> Your ESPN stream is probably protected by more than the normal
> streaming methods, and it could be some custom CODEC or the
> like, which is tipping over and crashing. If you really want to
> get this to work, you're going to need more tech info about what
> ESPN is using.
>
> Crashing the whole computer is pretty impressive. It implies the
> kernel tipped over, and one way to do that is install an actual
> driver (as the driver runs at kernel level). Normally,
> applications can't tip over the kernel, and just the application
> itself would be affected. So you gotta wonder what they're
> doing...

Like an eerie memory that dates back to using Windows 9x. On the
bright side, at least it was easy to reproduce, just by starting
WatchESPN (formerly ESPN3, and before that it was ESPN 360) and
clicking around on the slider. The system instantly slowed to a
crawl, and shortly became entirely unresponsive. Trying to shut
down stuff did not help. Eventually, usually the blue screen would
appear momentarily, and then BLINK.

Thanks.
--







> Even the Flash hardware acceleration features, should be going
> though some kind of API, rather than accessing the video card
> directly.
>
> Paul
>

On Oct 14, 12:36 am, John Doe <j...@usenetlove.invalid> wrote:
> I just updated Firefox and was advised that Adobe (something or
> another) needed to be upgraded. Adobe offered the file for
> download with optional crapware. So I downloaded the file to my
> software/communications folder. Then ran the file. Apparently it
> installed correctly. But the file is no longer in my folder. I
> know that happens with temporary files, but I think that's the
> first time a program has ever deleted itself without asking from a
> folder that I downloaded it to. I'd like to do something, but
> Adobe has a stranglehold, as always in Windows. If I ever get half
> a chance, I will rid my life of Adobe products.
>
> I am trying to get WatchESPN to work properly in Windows XP SP3
> using Firefox. Using WatchESPN crashes my system (a hard crash),
> and I think it has something to do with Adobe Flash Player.
> Apparently it's the same (or similar) with Internet Explorer. I'm
> on the lookout for a hint of hardware trouble, at the same time.
> But playing ESPN streaming media is the only time it crashes, and
> it's easy to reproduce.

It's dirty, quick, and will puke all over some PDF files, but (as with
different levels of subsistence)...

via alt freeware Sumatra PDF is a slim, open-source PDF viewer for
Windows

http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/...df-reader.html

(That is *not* what I use first to stretch pages, up to two at a time,
to fill up a full-screen at 37" with nothing else from the program
interface, itself, left to view, other than only two PDF pages
displayed, with neither abrupt breaks nor annoying judders in
transition to be able to use four arrow pad keys - mostly two, though,
down and sideways - before sitting down close enough to navigate and
deftly play, more or less never set to auto-scroll, through tortuous
transcriptions of classical musical.)

Flasherly <Flasherly live.com> wrote:

> It's dirty, quick, and will puke all over some PDF files, but
> (as with different levels of subsistence)...

The subject is streaming media.

To be clear...
If you experience crashing, using their uninstall tool before
updating flash player might be a very good idea.

On Oct 14, 11:28 am, John Doe <j...@usenetlove.invalid> wrote:
> Flasherly <Flasherly live.com> wrote:
> > It's dirty, quick, and will puke all over some PDF files, but
> > (as with different levels of subsistence)...
>
> The subject is streaming media.

Last time I got quick and dirty...

The open F4V/FLV specification documents file format information for
storing media content used to deliver streaming audio and video for
playback in Adobe ...
www.adobe.com/devnet/f4v.html - Cached - Similar

for firefox to get (real player) FLV files

(I was using example production FLV file releases at http://www.guitarmasterclass.net
- they may have been recommended for Real Player)

Flash Player only stand alone installation. You can download the file
to install at a later date or use it to reinstall the player on a
fresh version of Windows (binary backups. . . not sure the plugin
actually stays on my sys or if I've a substitute to Adobe, in any
event Adobe doesn't get in past a registry locker utility I run while
online).

install unlocker and use explorer to goto firefox cache to copy FLV
file (w/ temp ext)

Unlocker1.8.7.exe releases unshared system resource hooks to a FLV
file.

Follow through with associating the file type to wimpy to play or
store adobe streams for standalone media config.

================
Wimpy FLV Player
================
Available at wimpyplayer.com version 3.0.9

After using the uninstall utility before upgrading flash player... The
startup appearance of WatchESPN video changed, that was a good sign.
Clicking around on the video player slider has caused only one crash,
and instead of bringing down my whole system, a flash player error
appeared (for the first time). I'm sure that's the solution.