Links will not open or play online .wmv files

Anonymous
2009-06-02T21:32:56+00:00

IE8 won't play WMV video files from links

With IE8, under Windows7 RC, in a webpage there is a link such as: http://.../file.wmv

If I click on it, an error page immediately appears, saying: Internet explorer cannot display the webpage.

Further description of the error is about 'internet connectivity lost', or 'error in link' etc..

But if I just right click on the linkand 'save as', the wmv file downloads, get saved, and opens and play flawlessly in WMP by default.

The system just has WMP as player, configured with all defaults, I double checked.

I have identical problem on another machine with IE8 on Vista, with Divx and VLC Player installed (but all defaults to WMP)

I found reports of similar problems on the internet, but really no true identification and solution of this problem (just the usual bunch of 'use firefox!' or 'download winamp!' comments..)

Any help here?

THANKS!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2009-06-12T07:58:21+00:00

fix: open notepad paste these lines in:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.avi]

@="WMP11.AssocFile.AVI"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.asf]

@="WMP11.AssocFile.ASF"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.wmv]

@="WMP11.AssocFile.WMV"

save file to your desktop 'filename'.reg -- make sure you change it from saving as a .txt file to a "." file open the file, agree to adjust registry, open your movies

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Anonymous
2009-06-06T17:59:03+00:00

Hello, Corry

Does this affect all sites or just a certain one?

If it’s just a certain website, there may be a server side error.

You may also be able to find others with a similar problem on the Windows 7 Support Forums: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/category/w7itpro

David

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-11-02T01:45:41+00:00

    Similar problem.

    Windows XP

    Internet Explorer 8

    When I visit web pages with wmv or mpg files Windows Media program launches and plays the video in its own window, instead of playing in the web browser, is this normal? If now how to fix?

    IE 8 will not play these in the browser.

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-10-28T19:44:23+00:00

    Charles, I just used your fix and it worked perfectly.  I noticed my problem as 'mwright' wrote about after upgrading NERO.  Afterwards the problems began.  I am using Vista 32 ultimate.  What a joke!.  Anyway many thanks from Washington DC.

    Harry

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-10-19T12:41:33+00:00

    I noticed this problem after installing Nero software.  I also noticed that the default values in my registry had references to NeroShowTime software.  The fix to the Registry by Charles_Flook also fixed my problem.  Thanks!!

    One thing I still notice now is that when I click on the .asf link in IE8...the video opens in Windows Media Player but the web page I'm viewing is also blanked out and set to the "about:blank" page in IE8.  Would anyone know of the cause to this or how to fix it?

    Thanks,

    Michael

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