Video downloads

[C.B.]

I'm not sure this is the proper discussion group for my problem but
here goes anyway. Lately I have had a problem downloading videos. I have no
problem downloading them. The problem involves viewing them.

Normally, when I download a video there is a thumbnail view of the
video. Now, I get an IE icon instead of the thumbnail view. When I click on
the IE icon it opens IE and then freezes. The only solution is to use Task
Manager to close IE.

The problem occurs no matte which folder I download the videos into. It
can be a folder I have created or an existing folder and it can be on the
internal drive or one of the external drives.

I have run SFC and checked the hard drive. I have done System Restores
and also reimaged my system back to June of this year to no avail.

I don't understand the problem. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you
in advance for any assistance.

C.B.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

Normally, when I download a video there is a thumbnail view of the
video. Now, I get an IE icon instead of the thumbnail view. When I click on
the IE icon it opens IE and then freezes. The only solution is to use Task
Manager to close IE.

The problem occurs no matte which folder I download the videos into. It
can be a folder I have created or an existing folder and it can be on the
internal drive or one of the external drives.

Your file associations have become messed up. Somehow IE has become
the default program to open your video files.

Open Help and Support

Type "default programs" into the search box

Read the first two listings.

 

[David B.]

I think your confusing yourself and us in the process;
"Lately I have had a problem downloading videos. I have no problem
downloading them"

Right click the file and select properties, what is shown about the file
format (type of file)?

 

[Ringmaster]

I'm not sure this is the proper discussion group for my problem but
here goes anyway. Lately I have had a problem downloading videos. I have no
problem downloading them. The problem involves viewing them.

Normally, when I download a video there is a thumbnail view of the
video. Now, I get an IE icon instead of the thumbnail view. When I click on
the IE icon it opens IE and then freezes. The only solution is to use Task
Manager to close IE.

Probably a CODEC issue. Windows built-in viewers are notorious for
offering horrible playback and stumble over many common file types and
with some installed after SP1 is added generate Com Surrgate errors.

To rule out other issues download and install any of the following.
All are vastly superior to Media Player, all free, all run without
issue under Vista:

1. GOM Player
2. XnView
3. VLC Media Player

 

[C.B.]

Your file associations have become messed up. Somehow IE has become
the default program to open your video files.

Open Help and Support

Type "default programs" into the search box

Read the first two listings.

Thank you for the reply. That's one of the first things I checked. IE
is not set to open any video files. I did notice that when I right click on
the video file and select "save target as" the "Save as type" in the
download window shows HTML Document. The only other choice in the drop-down
listing is "All files".

C.B.

 

[C.B.]

Hey David B.,

Thanks for the reply. I don't have a problem downloading them. I have a
problem downloading them in the proper file format. I should have been more
specific. In any event, as I explained to Paul Montgomery in the reply above
yours, the files are being downloaded as HTML documents. The only other
choice given is "All files" and this does not solve the problem.

I also explained to Paul Montgomery that IE is not the default program
for opening any video files, most of which are AVI or WMV.

I did check the properties of the downloaded files I cannot open and they
are HTML files. I don't know how the problem started and I don't know how to
remedy the situation. Any help would be appreciated.

C.B.

I think your confusing yourself and us in the process;
"Lately I have had a problem downloading videos. I have no problem
downloading them"

Right click the file and select properties, what is shown about the file
format (type of file)?

 

[C.B.]

Probably a CODEC issue. Windows built-in viewers are notorious for
offering horrible playback and stumble over many common file types and
with some installed after SP1 is added generate Com Surrgate errors.

To rule out other issues download and install any of the following.
All are vastly superior to Media Player, all free, all run without
issue under Vista:

1. GOM Player
2. XnView
3. VLC Media Player

Thanks for the reply, Ringmaster. I have used GOM Player for quite some
time and it is associated with all video files it can play. I don't use WMP
for playback of video files. I should have mentioned this in my original
post. Sorry.

Thanks again.
C.B.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

Thank you for the reply. That's one of the first things I checked. IE
is not set to open any video files. I did notice that when I right click on
the video file and select "save target as" the "Save as type" in the
download window shows HTML Document. The only other choice in the drop-down
listing is "All files".

Then you are right-clicking on the wrong link.

 

[Ringmaster]

Thanks for the reply, Ringmaster. I have used GOM Player for quite some
time and it is associated with all video files it can play. I don't use WMP
for playback of video files. I should have mentioned this in my original
post. Sorry.

Thanks again.
C.B.

If I understand correctly when you download a video file it downloads
correctly but you don't get the normal thumbnail, just the Vista IE7
browser icon. That would suggest the browser is having trouble
understanding what the file type is or for some reason just launches
the wrong application.

Try this:

Go to Control Panel, AutoPlay. Under Video Files see what the option
is. If IE shows or something other than GOM Player or whatever you
want to use, change to Ask Me everytime. That should pop a new window
letting you choose how to play the just downloaded file. The hump you
want to get over is preventing Vista from launching IE for a video
file. It should be smart enough to simply go to the File Association
table and launch whatever application is set to the particular file
type, but for some reason is isn't.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

Are previously downloaded files affected by this issue?

 

[C.B.]

Thanks for your interest, zachd. No, All previously downloaded files
were downloaded in the proper file format and remain so. I don't have any
problem viewing them. I am definitely clicking on the proper link, which is
"Save target as", the same link I always click on.

I don't understand why the files are being offered as HTML documents in
the download window. When I select the other option (All files) I still get
an HTML document. I suppose typing in the words ".wmv" would not make a
difference since I'm being offered the HTML document for download as opposed
to a video file.

System Restore and going back two months with an Acronis image did not
solve the problem so I assume that it could be an issue with the website
owner. I don't know.

Anyway, I appreciate your help.

C.B.

Are previously downloaded files affected by this issue?

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
--

 

[C.B.]

Hello again zachd,

I did a little investigating and noticed something strange. When I
click on the "Save target as" link for a video the initial download window
offers the file in the proper format, as a .wmv or .mpeg file. However, once
the "Save as" window appears it is offered as a HTML file in the "Save as"
window and the file type in the download window changes from .wmv or .mpeg
to a .htm file.

I also changed the file association for video files from GOM Player to
WMP and it made no difference. Do you have an answer for this strange
behavior?

Thanks again.

C.B.

Thanks for your interest, zachd. No, All previously downloaded files
were downloaded in the proper file format and remain so. I don't have any
problem viewing them. I am definitely clicking on the proper link, which
is "Save target as", the same link I always click on.

I don't understand why the files are being offered as HTML documents
in the download window. When I select the other option (All files) I still
get an HTML document. I suppose typing in the words ".wmv" would not make
a difference since I'm being offered the HTML document for download as
opposed to a video file.

System Restore and going back two months with an Acronis image did not
solve the problem so I assume that it could be an issue with the website
owner. I don't know.

Anyway, I appreciate your help.

C.B.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

What is the content of this HTML file that gets saved?

Are you using some sort of download accelerator? Some sort of work proxy
that might be denying you media downloads... ?

 

[C.B.]

Hello again zachd,

I really appreciate your help on this matter. Anyway, I don't know the
content of the downloaded files because every time I click on the files to
view the videos it opens my IE7 (Vista Ultimate). When IE opens it does not
respond and I must use Task Manager to close it. I have tried to open these
files with IE, Notepad and several other applications to no avail.

I did some more research. Since I don't know if the problem is with my
OS or with the websites the video files are downloaded from I decided to
install the Firefox browser and see what happened. When I click on "Save
target as" (Save Link as" in Firefox) in Firefox the files are sometimes
offered as .htm files and sometimes offered in the proper format, such as
..wmv or .mpeg. It doesn't matter if the files are offered in the correct
format as they download correctly as .wmv or .mpeg. When they download as
..wmv or .mpeg the thumbnails are present and the files are viewable. When
they are offered as .htm files the .htm file AND .wmv files are both
downloaded. The .htm file then disappears when the file is fully downloaded
and the .wmv file remains, thumbnail included and viewable.

Since I am having the same problem with both browsers (files
incorrectly offered as .htm files) I assume the problem is caused by
something within my OS or some incorrect setting or file association. Again,
I have checked the file associations and they are correct. I have also tried
using WMP 11 and the same problem occurs. I will use Firefox instead of IE
until I can figure out where the problem lies.

I don't understand why this is happening, which is why I am seeking
competent help with the matter. Thank you again for your time and
assistance.

C.B.

 

[C.B.]

Sorry, zachd. I forgot to mention that I do not use or have installed
any download managers and I do not use proxy servers or clients. Again, I
use Vista Ultimate x86 for my OS.

Thanks again.

C.B.

Hello again zachd,

I really appreciate your help on this matter. Anyway, I don't know the
content of the downloaded files because every time I click on the files to
view the videos it opens my IE7 (Vista Ultimate). When IE opens it does
not respond and I must use Task Manager to close it. I have tried to open
these files with IE, Notepad and several other applications to no avail.

I did some more research. Since I don't know if the problem is with my
OS or with the websites the video files are downloaded from I decided to
install the Firefox browser and see what happened. When I click on "Save
target as" (Save Link as" in Firefox) in Firefox the files are sometimes
offered as .htm files and sometimes offered in the proper format, such as
.wmv or .mpeg. It doesn't matter if the files are offered in the correct
format as they download correctly as .wmv or .mpeg. When they download as
.wmv or .mpeg the thumbnails are present and the files are viewable. When
they are offered as .htm files the .htm file AND .wmv files are both
downloaded. The .htm file then disappears when the file is fully
downloaded and the .wmv file remains, thumbnail included and viewable.

Since I am having the same problem with both browsers (files
incorrectly offered as .htm files) I assume the problem is caused by
something within my OS or some incorrect setting or file association.
Again, I have checked the file associations and they are correct. I have
also tried using WMP 11 and the same problem occurs. I will use Firefox
instead of IE until I can figure out where the problem lies.

I don't understand why this is happening, which is why I am seeking
competent help with the matter. Thank you again for your time and
assistance.

C.B.

 

[C.B.]

Then you are right-clicking on the wrong link.

No, I'm not clicking on the wrong link. Thanks anyway.

C.B.

 

[J F D]

I have seen this same problem. It seems the system is saving your files
with a .htm suffix. As a for instance I had some that were saved as
xxxx.wmv.htm Rename the file leaving off the .htm and all should be well.
Worked for me.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

Open notepad. Use File:Option to browse to the location the HTML "video
file" was saved to. What are the contents of that file?
If you cannot open that file in this fashion, what exactly happens?

What's a sample URL that fails to download for you? It is possible that
mismatched MIME types on the servers themselves are causing problems -
text/html is a typical fallback MIME type on many servers. In that case I
would suspect that your local file associations might be split between WMP
(MIME associations) and some other player (shell associations only),
indicating that the other player didn't take over the association fully.

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--

Hello again zachd,

I really appreciate your help on this matter. Anyway, I don't know the
content of the downloaded files because every time I click on the files to
view the videos it opens my IE7 (Vista Ultimate). When IE opens it does
not respond and I must use Task Manager to close it. I have tried to open
these files with IE, Notepad and several other applications to no avail.

I did some more research. Since I don't know if the problem is with my
OS or with the websites the video files are downloaded from I decided to
install the Firefox browser and see what happened. When I click on "Save
target as" (Save Link as" in Firefox) in Firefox the files are sometimes
offered as .htm files and sometimes offered in the proper format, such as
.wmv or .mpeg. It doesn't matter if the files are offered in the correct
format as they download correctly as .wmv or .mpeg. When they download as
.wmv or .mpeg the thumbnails are present and the files are viewable. When
they are offered as .htm files the .htm file AND .wmv files are both
downloaded. The .htm file then disappears when the file is fully
downloaded and the .wmv file remains, thumbnail included and viewable.

Since I am having the same problem with both browsers (files
incorrectly offered as .htm files) I assume the problem is caused by
something within my OS or some incorrect setting or file association.
Again, I have checked the file associations and they are correct. I have
also tried using WMP 11 and the same problem occurs. I will use Firefox
instead of IE until I can figure out where the problem lies.

I don't understand why this is happening, which is why I am seeking
competent help with the matter. Thank you again for your time and
assistance.

C.B.