Why can't I play the video samples at this site with IE 6 as the browser???

[Morbius]

At www.digitalhotcakes.com, there are lots of sample
videos of the video editing files this company produces.
If I use IE 6 as my browser and click on any of the
samples, it opens up a smaller browser window with a
Media Player screen in it, but the video never plays. If
I right-click on the player and ask for error details, it
says: The source filter for this file could not be
loaded. (Error=80040241)

Now, the samples should be .WMV files, so this error
doesn't make any sense. As a test, I downloaded and
installed the Mozilla 1.6 browser, and if I use that to
go to the same site and click on one of the sample links,
the same smaller browser window opens, again with Media
Player in it, and the video plays fine! So I really
don't think the error code is correct...Media Player IS
able to play the files, just not when you attempt it
using IE 6!

My feeling is that it has something to do with the java-
script (or applet?) coding on all the sample links that
attempts to figure out which media it should send you. I
think the IE 6 isn't handling this code right, but
Mozilla is. But I also remember something about Java not
being part of Windows/IE anymore.

Anyway, if you have any idea how to get these files
working right in IE 6, I'd appreciate it, as I really
don't want two browsers on the machine.

 

[ie sucks]

get 'firefox' from mozilla.org and don't put up with that
insecure hijackable browser ie.ie can sleep in the
background until it's needed to use windows update AGAIN.

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

My feeling is that it has something to do with the java-

script (or applet?) coding on all the sample links that
attempts to figure out which media it should send you.

Have you tried right-click View Source that script?
It's very readable. So even if you don't have a script debugger
you could simulate what you suspect the script is doing.
FWIW it works fine for me but I don't have extra plugins
installed (in particular I do not have QuickTime) which would
complicate the path that is taken through the script.

For example, here are some essential details which affect
the path taken on my system. I have coded them so you
can just run them from your Address bar.

javascript:navigator.plugins.length

This returns 0 for me. The consequence of this is that the following
functions will all return false:
canDetectPlugins()
detectPlugin()

The consequence of that is that all functions which begin detect...
and in particular detectQuickTime() and detectWindowsMedia()
will depend on the value of variable detectableWithVB
For that to be set to true it appears that
ScriptEngineMajorVersion >= 2
must be true.

Notice that that condition is tested under VBScript;
so we have to do that too:

vbscript:ScriptEngineMajorVersion

returns 5 for me.

I'm not sure when that gets executed but I will assume that as a
consequence the following also get executed:

detectActiveXControl('MediaPlayer.MediaPlayer.1')

This is testable with

vbscript:IsObject(CreateObject('MediaPlayer.MediaPlayer.1'))

but it appears that that syntax is not valid (?)

vbscript:IsObject(CreateObject("MediaPlayer.MediaPlayer.1"))

works for me though.

Let's assume that by passing that string through all the layers
of function call etc. that the variable is properly interpreted as that string.
The consequence of that is then that Windows Media Player
should be called with the .wmv version of the file.

What I have skipped over is an analysis of what would happen
if you happen to have QuickTime installed. I don't have it installed
so I assumed that somehow return is made from detectQuickTime()
with value false. However, it appears to me that if you do have it
installed that a very different path may be taken. Also, notice that
most of that mysterious code is not executed for a different browser;
so your observation that it "plays fine" with Mozilla may be more a statement
about that path through the code than about anything which fairly compares
the two browsers. For a true test, see what happens if you use IE's
User-Agent string when you use Mozilla. At the very least if you have
QuickTime installed try uninstalling it and see if the file can be played
from IE then.


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Have you tried right-click View Source that script?
It's very readable. So even if you don't have a script

debugger
Well, I'm afraid I don't have near the knowledge of HTML,
javascript, or any of the other things involved here that
you do, so reading the code means nearly nothing to me

javascript:navigator.plugins.length

This returns 0 for me.

Returns 0 for me as well

vbscript:ScriptEngineMajorVersion

returns 5 for me.

Returns 5 for me too

vbscript:IsObject(CreateObject ("MediaPlayer.MediaPlayer.1"))

works for me though.

Same here...their version does nothing, but your version
returns TRUE

For a true test, see what happens if you use IE's
User-Agent string when you use Mozilla.

Ummm...not sure what you mean here.

At the very least if you have
QuickTime installed try uninstalling it and see if the file can be played
from IE then.

I uninstalled QuickTime entirely, and IE still fails to
play. I appreciate the help, but I'm still not clear on
where the problem is or how to fix it.

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

For a true test, see what happens if you use IE's

Ummm...not sure what you mean here.

Don't worry about it. I was just making the point that you can't
compare the browsers without ensuring that the data that is sent
to them is identical or in this case that the scripts they are given
to execute are identical; ; otherwise an argument can be made
that the difference in symptom may be due to the data, not the browser.

I uninstalled QuickTime entirely, and IE still fails to
play.

Where does it fail? Try this diagnostic test.
Doubleclick on the Security zone icon in the Status bar
then click Custom Level... and go and change all promptable settings
to Prompt. (E.g. press P then Space; repeat from top to bottom of list.)

I picked the first page in Products and the first animation on that page

< http://www.animationsforvideo.com/html/hotcakes_vol_9.htm >

javascript:window.open('../agedcountdown.htm','Default','width=250,height=250')

Window opens
Scripts are usually safe....
Do you want to allow software such as ActiveX controls...
A script is accessing some software (an ActiveX control)...
Video player is rendered
Pause while download occurs (DUN Monitor can be used to view statistics.)
Video plays

Where does it break? Do you get a line number in the Error Details?
Clone the player window with Ctrl-N if necessary to get an Error report
by doubleclicking the Warning icon in the status bar.

BTW after it plays I can right-click the player and select Help
to see that my WMP version is 9.00.00.3075

I'm also wondering if it might be worthwhile trying to reinstall your
WMP in case the uninstall of QuickTime wasn't clean enough.


(BTW to restore your Security settings just bring up the security dialog
again and click on the [Default Level] button.)


HTH

Robert