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Question

You Tube Videos

Oct 14, 2013 5:58AM PDT

Dell C521
Windows Vista Ser Pack 2

The playing of any video has become intermittent.
I have F'fox 24 set at default.
The Adobe Flash Player 11.6 has been updated.
I've reduced the quality of the video to 144, to no avail.
Any suggestions please?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Try the usual.
Oct 14, 2013 6:16AM PDT

1. Does it work in Chrome?
2. Google this -> How do I disable Flash hardware acceleration?

There can be other causes such as a machine with 1GB RAM but I'm taking your word it's not some old beast that we can't expect to keep up and that you are sure there are no pests or torrents operating here.
Bob

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Try the usual
Oct 16, 2013 1:20AM PDT

Bob,
My machine has 4GB RAM.
Tried Google Chrome, no change.
Tried the You Tube down loader, it didn't support You Tube...!!!!
Pests, Torrents & Gremlins....hmm
I'm backing up my files etc as instinct tells me to re-install the op system, it has been a while in that respect.

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It's a SFF athlon x2 machine.
Oct 16, 2013 4:42AM PDT
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TryThe Usual
Oct 20, 2013 3:40AM PDT

You're right Rob, it appears to be a common problem for a lot of people with a C521. I re-installed the OS as opposed to another video card, as that option seemed to raise more problems in itself. The system is now faster and more responsive across the board. Having trouble however downloading the Vista service pack 2.

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Answer
Increase cache size
Oct 15, 2013 2:11AM PDT

I would try to change the global settings in adobe flash. Sometimes that helps. While the video is playing, right click and select global settings. Move the slider to unlimited which will allow the site, in this case you tube to store unlimited data in the cache which sometimes improves the playback.

The other issue is sometimes the amount of web traffic causes it to slow down. There is nothing to be done about that except to try at a different time of the day.

With you tube, you can download a free you tube downloader which allows you to watch the videos from your own computer. It can be found in CNET downloads. Then you do not need to worry about web traffic. I had to do that when I wanted to use you tube videos in my classroom because you can't afford to have skipping and such with a classroom full of second graders.

Hope that helps.

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Answer
A new way of buffering
Oct 19, 2013 8:40AM PDT

YouTube has a new way of buffering videos as you stream them to your PC. It's called DASH and they won't let you turn it off. There is, however, an addon for Firefox that will let you turn it off. It may not stop the stuttering of a video as you stream it, but it will allow you to pause it and come back later to a fully downloaded video (or at least a more buffered video). DASH won't let you do that. Rather than me trying to explain it all, this CNET article does a very good job.

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57600794-285/return-to-youtubes-old-way-of-buffering-full-videos/

There is another Firefox addon that I use quite often, called NetVideoHunter. It allows me to download just about any video from just about any site. All you need to do is start playing the video and it immediately gets added it to NVH's cue, ready to be downloaded. Works great.

I hope some of this helps. If for some reason the link doesn't work, just copy and paste it into your browser or do a search on the CNET website for the name of the article shown at the end of the link (without the dashes). Good luck.