YOUTUBE HATES MEEE :'(

[Magic.]

OK so my youtube has been broken, maybe four months now?
It started out that some videos would get a little way in then say "error occured please try later". Then it started the as well as this sometimes a video would play then then final shot would appear after a few seconds and sound would stop. And over the last month this now happens on all videos, some don't even start at all. I can't play anything!
I've tried: emailing youtube to report a bug, three times; reinstalling java and adobe and flash etc.; uninstalling google chrome; reinstalling google chrome; using internet explorer instead of the usual firefox.
Please help!! I need to watch some documentaries on there for uni revision, and I can't find them elsewhere exams are in a week!!

[bitesize]

I've been getting the exact same problem for 4OD (Channel 4's website with videos of TV shows). Not youtube though, weirdly. Maybe it's a flash player problem??

[Digilodger]

Originally Posted by Magic.

I've tried: emailing youtube to report a bug, three times; reinstalling java and adobe and flash etc.; uninstalling google chrome; reinstalling google chrome; using internet explorer instead of the usual firefox.
Please help!! I need to watch some documentaries on there for uni revision, and I can't find them elsewhere exams are in a week!!

Since you're in a hurry, let's just try to skip over the cause and go right to the potential solution. You can

• Try following the instructions here,
• You can also try changing the playback options and quality options here and see if that works,

• If the problem persists, try joining YouTube HTML5 Trial and see if it works. (Click on the link at the bottom of that page.)
• Alternatively, try create a new account on your computer and see if everything works there. (Click on the Start Orb ---> type in Create Account ---> then choose either Standard Account or Administrator Account and follow the instruction.)

Anyhow, is this a problem with YouTube only or does it happen with all other video sites, such as Vimeo?

[Magic.]

I've done the first two already, will have a go at the rest when I'm back from work.

It is only on youtube, and youtube embedded links. Also none of the youtube videos load, like the bar that goes ahead of the player (can't think what it's called).

[Magic.]

OK tried all those things, no luck ... it still isn't working. It's getting SO annoying.

[Digilodger]

Originally Posted by Magic.

OK tried all those things, no luck ... it still isn't working. It's getting SO annoying.

This is weird.

Let's summarize what we know (so that the next helper won't ask you to try everything again; I pretty much give up now, sorry ):

1. You mentioned that you can't access it on Chrome, Firefox, and IE --- This means it's not a problem with your browser, cookies, or cache.

2. You followed all instructions on YouTube's help page --- So it's not a Firewall rule or other security rules that's blocking you; it's also not because an ad-blocker rule or flash-blocker rule blocking the video.

3. Even in HTML5, you still cannot see anything --- Since HTML5 allows you to play video without Flash, this means that it's not a problem with Flash. This also means it has nothing to do with Flash settings (like hardware acceleration, etc.)

4. You created a new user account on your PC and still have the same problem --- So it's not a problem with some settings in AppData or other local user settings;

Hmm . . . does this video show up? (Note: please view it while in HTML5 trial)


Good luck! I hope another person will be able to help. I'm ready to throw the towel (but please see if that you can view that video anyway).

[Cosmo]

Try updating your video card drivers.

[Magic.]

That video worked!! And the streaming bar is back! I don't know what happened ... either way things are now working thanks!!!

[Digilodger]

Originally Posted by Magic.

That video worked!! And the streaming bar is back! I don't know what happened ... either way things are now working thanks!!!

YAY!


HTTPS is the answer. That link activated HTTPS for all of YouTube for you. Next time, if the same problem occur, just add an s to the the HTTP in address bar.

For example, if the link is http://www.youtube.com/
you would turn it into https://www.youtube.com/
(Notice the "s" right after http.)


Oh, by the way, you can leave the HTML5 trial now if you wish.


============================

Unfortunately this is not a solution (hence the reason why I didn't suggest it at first). We are only side-stepping to evade the problem, not actually fixing it.

Would you fancy keep trying to solve the problem or is this workaround good enough?


============================

If you would like to keep on trying to diagnose the problem, then here are the next steps:

Please check your proxy settings to see if you're using any proxy. You use Google Chrome, right? Click on the wrench icon ---> Choose Options ---> Choose Under the Hood ---> Under Network, click on "Change Proxy Settings..."

Check to see if you're connecting via a proxy.

--------------------

Another check is to see if Firewall really is blocking something. Temporary turn off your Firewall, then go to the normal YouTube (without HTTPS) and see if that works. Afterward, turn your Firewall back on and please post the result back here.

[Magic.]

I take it back anyway, just got the error message again. Still not happening every time now
And when I watch youtube there isn't even an http infront of the link, let alone https ... :/

When I did the chrome thing with the wrench it opened up a "set up and internet connection" window. Had nothing in there ... so I assume I'm not connecting through a proxy.

Did the firewall thing. Tried watching a video without firewall (one that wasn't working yesterday) and it worked, but then I watched again with firewall and it worked still.

No idea what any of this means ... so dumb when it comes to this stuff :P

[Magic.]

Also, don't know if this affects anything, but my flash player keeps uninstalling by itself. I keep going into sites and being told I need flash 9/10 to play stuff, but I've installed flash 11 recently. Then when I click on the flash link anyway, says I don't have it so I have to reinstall flash 11 :/