When I try watching video's at certian places it says I need to download a plug in. When I click on it it say's I need to manually install it. I tried that but I must have missed something. Any Ideas?

When I try watching video's at certian places it says I need to download a plug in. When I click on it it say's I need to manually install it. I tried that but I must have missed something. Any Ideas?

Two things:

1) There is a nasty birus/trojan/spyware/something-or-other that is going around right now infecting people. It works in a way you just described. Basically, it normally looks like a video file of some sort and when you try to run it, it says "you need a codec/download to watch this video". When you install it, your computer is infected and it can potentially install more and more and more software on your computer without your consent as time goes on.

2) If you can post a couple of links to the sites in question (assuming they're not adult sites), I'll be happy to check them out. Sometimes, at some sites, I get prompted to "run Active X control on this page", and I'm not sure what causes it, but clicking "cancel" usually makes the video play. As for codecs, I found that http://www.free-codecs.com/ is a great place to download codecs...I really like the "Real Alternative" which plays RealAudio content without having Real Audio Player installed, and especially the Quicktime Alternative that lets you play Quicktime movies without installing Quicktime. There are some great codec packs there for download that install a little bit of everything you'd need (XviD, DivX and other codecs that are popular)

The two video's in the post. When I click on the manually install it gives me options of different windows media player versions.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=210506

Download and install this all-in-one codec pack:

http://www.free-codecs.com/download_soft.php?d=1716&s=67

Once you've finished, reboot (just for S&G) and try the site again. Let me know how it works out for you.

Didn't work. If you got any ideas let me know cause it sucks not being able to watch video's

Can you show me a picture of what you're seeing?

Also, what version of Windows *and* Windows Media Player are you using?

I dont' know how to show you but it is really simple, Where the video is supposed to be it is white with a green puzzle piece at the top and it says click here to down load plug in. I have Window XP Media edition, I hope I said that right, and Window Media Player 11.

Ok, now we're getting somewhere. What browsers are installed on your system? IE only? Firefox and IE? Just curious. If you have two, which is set as "default"?

Last thing I will suggest downloading:

http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash&P5_Language=English

Grab that also. Can't hurt to update it either way.

I have IE and Firefox, Firefox is set as my default.

Still doesn't work but I am not sure if the download worked. It downloaded in less than a second and installed just as fast.

Ok, cool, that is what I expected. Can you see the video using Internet Explorer?

Also, can you visit the link I just provided to update shockwave for FFox?

Is it possible to uninstall Flash/Shockwave in FFox, then go back and reinstall?

yes it works in IE, which browser do you preffer? Should I uninstall shockwave from my computer and reinstall it?

I think the installation for Firefox is corrupted. The little green puzzle piece you are getting is from Shockwave. Putfile's page is coded improperly and FFox doesn't know how to handle it.

I personally prefer IE, but if you like using FF, I would suggest you stick with it. Everyone has their own thing ....

Please read this page - it will fully explain what you are going throuhg, I think: http://wings.buffalo.edu/computing/documentation/win/firefoxplugins_2006.html

It may also have suggestions on how to deal with your add-in problem. I think you need to remove the add-in for flash/shockwave in FFox, then maybe install an add-in externally? It's obvious that the add-in thingy isn't working for you somehow - but I just don't like FFox, so I am not going to install it to figure it out (I don't like you THAT much! ;);):D)

Seriously though - give that page a shot - I can help guide you around and have you try stuff - so don't give up just yet. I have a forum full of FFox users I can ask if you need it.

So there is no add bonus to using firefox then, I was told it was more "protective" than IE.

People tout that all the time, but for the most part, it's all BS if you ask me.

Both browsers have tons of documented security flaws at Secunia and the other internet security sites, and both IE and FF flaws are normally fixed at approximately the same pace based on the severity of them.

IE is directly integrated into the Windows operating system. Like - at a core level. Some argue that this makes it easier to exploit Windows through IE when surfing the web. The reality is, it's just as easy to exploit IE as it is any other software on your computer that would be used for browsing. There are possibly more opportunities with IE because of the direct integration, and people develop new tools every day.

FF is a browsing program. It's very popular. People target popular software, and now that FF is more popular, people are developing a lot of FF-specific exploits to attack people using the FF browser and infect them w/stuff. As with any piece of software that interacts with the internet, there are bugs, and these bugs can be used to install bad stuff on your machine like malware/spyware/trojans. All internet browsers are susceptible.

Because there are essentially bugs in both FF and IE, some of which are still not repaired and new ones discovered every day, there will always be people getting infected, because your average user doesn't update their browser (FF or IE) to patch the security flaws. IT almost doesn't matter if IE or FF releases patches to fix bugs and security holes - a majority of the users ignore the "update me!" popups. They do the same with Antivirus and Windows a lot of the time too. It's idiotic behavior, but they don't know any better - because, the fact of the matter is, we're taught as much about computers as we are about investing our money while growing up - it's something every parent/educator should share with kids, but they don't bother (I could rant about that one all day!)

This is like saying that Macintosh computers are more secure than Windows computers. This is really a "spun" or invalid argument - something like 70% of the home computers in the world have Windows for the operating system - with a smaller percentage being Macintosh/Linux/Unix or other OS. People write viruses to attack Windows machines en force because there is the biggest chance for payload - Would you want to spearfish in a barrel with 100 fish in it, or a barrel with 2 fish in it?

In all honesty, I think the argument that "FF is more secure than IT" is garbage and the people who try and tout that argument are generally ignorant bandwagoneers who want to hate on Microsoft for whatever reason (Public acceptance? Cool factor? Beats me). I do not, by any means, love Microsoft...but I do think for myself, I have looked into it, and I can tell you IMO - neither browser is more secure than the other - You don't blame the car for the accident, you blame the driver - because most of the time, when an accident happens, the person driving caused it, not the vehicle :)

PS - the goal to security is not "which browser you use", it's in your own personal education about how to surf the internet and use your computer responsibly, and also in what protection you have in place to keep that computer safe if you can't browse safely.

If you have habits like installing free software and free games, or trying to steal software, get free porn, or get software keys, you're probably already infected or will be. Doesn't matter if you use IE or FF.

Major websites like CNN, Fox, MSNBC or others don't exploit your browser. It's the less-travelled non-corporate sites that will get you.

If you learn early on to question everything, that almost nothing is really "free" on the internet, and that you shouldn't go to morally objectionable sites, then you're generally good to go.

Thanks for everying Shifty, I might just get rid of firefox becuase there is no real special reason I use it.

Do you like one or the other better?

Nope not that I know of. Haven't used IE in awhile. I will try it and see.

I would say if you don't like one more than the other, it's not necessary to uninstall, but you can go into the Control Panel, click on the Internet Options icon, go into the Programs tab and set Internet Explorer as the default browser, and change anything else that says "Thunderbird" or "Firefox" to be Outlook Express or Internet Explorer, where applicable. This should default everything over properly. It may be necessary also to change your settings over so that HTML files saved to your computer to open properly with IE. I bet I can find a "reset tool" to do it all automatically if you're interested.