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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments

64 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2009-06-14T23:02:28+00:00

    you can always make sure in control panel / default programs that mpg and mpeg is set to use windows media player

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2009-06-14T23:06:21+00:00

    that took care of it thank you

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2009-06-29T08:59:02+00:00

    i tried this and got an error stating "cannot import c:/../../desktop/'filename.reg': the specified file is not a registry script. You can only import binary registry files from within the registry editor"

    did i mess something up? or is it a settings problem?

    thanks in advance for any suggestions!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments