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
    2009-06-02T23:41:12+00:00

    Hello Corry,

    Thanks for posting.  This sounds like an add-on problem with IE that is interfering with wmv links.  The first thing I’d suggest you do is reset the IE defaults.  Click on “Tools” and then Internet Options then click on the Advanced tab.  Locate the Reset Internet Explorer Settings heading and then click the “Reset..” button.  Navigate to a site with video links and try clicking one of the links.  If it works correctly we are done.

    If links still aren’t working we need to try IE without Add-ons. Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and click Internet Explorer no Add-ons.  Again, try a video link.  If it loads correctly we will need to determine which add-on is causing the problem. Restart IE normally, then click “Tools” on the Menu Bar and select Manage Add-ons.  Disable all of your add-ons and then re-enable them 1 at a time until you locate the add-on causing your problem.

    Let us know if these suggestions solve your problem.

    Thanks,

    Jack

    Jack

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-06-03T19:57:57+00:00

    Hello Jack,

    thanks for your answer.

    I tried both things, unfortunately without success. Even after total reset and running without any add-on, IE8 always shows the 'cannot display webpage' error.

    In addition to the above I also tried disabling antivirus/antimalware software, with no better effect.

    By googling more and more around, I found several people complaining for the same behavior, and no clear solution.

    I am not sure if this forum is the right place for this problem, as it seems more 'IE8' related, than Win7 related (I have same problem on a machine under Vista), maybe according to your experience you can suggest me other places to look for the solution, or how to report a (possible) IE8 bug to Microsoft.

    Thanks again.

    C

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-06-04T21:00:13+00:00

    Hi Corry_Europe,

    Thanks for the response.

    Try the following to try and resolve the issue.

    This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    322756  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

    To resolve this behavior, reregister the Wmpdxm.dll file. To do this, follow these steps:

    1. At a command prompt, type one of the following commands:
      • %systemroot%\system32
      • c:\windows\system32
    2. At a command prompt, type the following command:

    regsvr32.exe wmpdxm.dll 3. Start Registry Editor. Verify that the following registry key points to the correct path and file name for the (Default) value:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID{22D6F312-B0F6-11D0-94AB-0080C74C7E95}\InprocServer32

    Typically, the registry key points to the following path and file name:

    C:\Windows\System32\Wmpdxm.dll

    Let us know if further suggestions are needed involving this issue.

    Debbie

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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

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