QuickTime 7.4.1 does not fix playback, downgrade still works
Old fixes still work.
Several users have reported that QuickTime 7.4.1 does not resolve plyabck issues (existent in QuickTime 7.4) in which some movies play without video, others play without sound, and still others don't play at all. MacFixIt reader Brett writes:
"Just a note to let you know that the Quicktime 7.4.1 update did not fix my MP4 playback issues. Still having the no-video/audio-only problem."
Other users are reporting playback failure started only after the 7.4.1 update:
"Just immediate feedback on an installation of Quicktime 7.4.1 - after the update it does not work - by itself or with Safari. In the previous version 7.4, I had the same problem and was able to resolve it using the tips on your site. However, trying to move quicktime extensions out of the two preference folder did not help this time."
To recap, here are the potential fixes, which escalate to a downgrade to QuickTime 7.3.1 -- a method that is tedious and undoes important security refinements but has been nearly universally successful:
Make sure plug-ins are enabled It appears that, for some reason, Safari plug-ins are erroneously disabled by the QuickTime 7.4 update, disallowing the playback of Web-page-embedded QuickTime content. In Safari, go to the "Safari" menu and select "Preferences." Click on the "Security" tab and make sure that the box next to "Enable plug-ins" is checked.
For Safari and other browsers: Remove plug-in Removing the file /Library/Plug-ins/QuickTime Plugin.webplugin (to another location on your hard drive) continues to prove successful for resolving these issues.
MacFixIt reader Steve writes:
"Just installed the 7.4.1 QuickTime update. The all-too-common display / playback problems within Safari were present . . . until I dumped the QuickTime Plugin.webplugin. All is fine again."
Reapply latest Mac OS X update In some cases, reapplying the latest Mac OS X updater (try the delta updater first, then the combo updater if that fails) can resolve this issue. You can grab these updates from Apple's download page.
Remove components Try removing potentially problematic third-party playback components. Look in the following directories:- ~/Library/QuickTime
- /Library/QuickTime
- QuickTime 7.3.1 for Leopard [10.5.1]
- QuickTime 7.3.1 for Tiger [10.4.11]
- QuickTime 7.3.1 for Panther [10.3.9]
Drag the QuickTime 7.3.1 package onto the Pacifist icon, or choose "Open Package" from the File menu in Pacifist and select the QuickTime pacakge.
With the package open, select its name (the top entry in Pacifist), click "Install" and follow the on-screen prompts, making sure the "Use Administrator Privileges" box is checked.
If you have problems with the Pacifist downgrade method, try the previously mentioned Archive and Install downgrade method.
Previous coverage:
- QuickTime 7.4.1: Problems starting up/logging in; fixes After Effects problem
- QuickTime 7.4.1 fixes heap buffer overflow flaw
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