# Why won't Youtube and a few other sites show me videos on IE anymore? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392 "2008-06-10T01:34:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/1 "2008-06-10T01:34:01Z")
For 3 days, I’ve been unable to view videos on Internet Explorer at youtube and at MSNBC, along with a few other news sites. I’d not had this problem before. When trying to access videos at these sites, I get a variety of error messages. Youtube tells me: “Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe’s Flash Player”’ It then links me to Adobe Flash Player download center, where it offers to install Adobe Flash Player version 9.0.124.0 for Windows & Internet Explorer, which is what I use. The MSNBC video sites gives me a similar message, and links me to the same site. I follow the download instructions, closing all other browsers, etc. I’m informed that the download was installed successfully, and I reboot after. But I continually am unable to view the videos on IE from these sites. I am able to view videos from a few other sites, such as my local newspaper. I’ve done no new program installation, etc recently. No new viruses, and so forth. I can access Youtube & MSNBC just fine on my Mozilla Firefox browser. I’m running Windows XP on an old Pentium 4 Advice? (other than making Firefox my default browser, which I may well do.) Thanks ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/2 "2008-06-10T01:53:42Z")
What version of IE do you have? It might be time to update to a newer version if you don’t have any specific Internet applications you run that require the older version. IE7 is actually pretty good overall. Skipping this more drastic step, you should unistall the Adove Flash Player, reboot and then re-intall it. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/3 "2008-06-10T01:58:14Z")
You are sure that JavaScript is enabled? ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/4 "2008-06-10T03:22:29Z")
[QUOTE=Rysto] You are sure that JavaScript is enabled? [/QUOTE] Actually, I have a question about this. I have evidence from a number of websites that I do not have JavaScript enabled on my laptop. (The one I’m using to type this message.) Several times I’ve gotten messages to the effect that “You must have JavaScript turned on to view this site.” Yet, I cannot find the switch to turn it on, and I’ve looked everywhere in Tools-\>Internet Options. Running IE 7. So how do you turn it on? Ed ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/5 "2008-06-10T03:29:09Z")
[QUOTE=suranyi] Actually, I have a question about this. I have evidence from a number of websites that I do not have JavaScript enabled on my laptop. (The one I’m using to type this message.) Several times I’ve gotten messages to the effect that “You must have JavaScript turned on to view this site.” Yet, I cannot find the switch to turn it on, and I’ve looked everywhere in Tools-\>Internet Options. Running IE 7. So how do you turn it on? Ed [/QUOTE] Tools|Internet options|Security|Custom level|Active scripting|enable. IE7 likes to hide stuff in weird places. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/6 "2008-06-10T10:01:38Z")
I believe that you need to uninstall Flash and then re-install it from the Adobe site - apparantly this version of Flash doesn’t do the update too well… ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/7 "2008-06-10T10:13:28Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Advice? (other than making Firefox my default browser, which I may well do.) [/QUOTE] 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/8 "2008-06-10T12:26:15Z")
thanks all, I’ll implement this info when I get home tonight. ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/9 "2008-06-10T12:39:06Z")
Can I piggyback on this question please? I have this problem using Firefox. (Version 2.0.0.14). Had it for several weeks now. I’ve tried uninstalling Flash Player and reinstalling. That didn’t work. In fact, I don’t honestly think Flash player uninstalled last time. Advice (other than “use IE”) please. I’m not going to use IE unless it’s important. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/10 "2008-06-10T13:07:29Z")
I think I read somewhere that YouTube changed something that caused certain specific versions of the plugin to stop working, updating which wouldn’t seem to make any difference. My point being, it was YouTube that changed. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/11 "2008-06-10T13:20:18Z")
[QUOTE=MHaye] Can I piggyback on this question please? I have this problem using Firefox. (Version 2.0.0.14). Had it for several weeks now. I’ve tried uninstalling Flash Player and reinstalling. That didn’t work. In fact, I don’t honestly think Flash player uninstalled last time. Advice (other than “use IE”) please. I’m not going to use IE unless it’s important. [/QUOTE] You wrote that you don’t think it uninstalled. **You might need to follow these [instructions](http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_14157) from Adobe:** > [@](#): > > Due to recent enhancements to the Adobe Flash Player installers, you can now remove the player only by using the Adobe Flash Player uninstaller. To remove Flash Player, simply download and run the appropriate uninstaller for your system using the steps below. > > Download the Adobe Flash Player uninstaller: > Windows: uninstall\_flash\_player.exe (181 KB) (updated 04/08/08) > Note: If you have a Windows Flash Player uninstaller downloaded prior to April 4, 2008 on your desktop, then please delete it and download the latest version. > Mac OS X: uninstall\_flash\_player\_osx.dmg (1.3 MB) (updated 5/27/08) > Mac OS 8.x, 9.x: uninstall\_flash\_player.hqx (33 KB) > Save the file to your system, choosing a location where you can find it (for example, your desktop). Macintosh users may need to open or unstuff the .hqx file. > Quit ALL running applications, including all Internet Explorer or other browser windows, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, or other Messengers. Check the Windows system tray carefully to make certain no applications are still in memory which might possibly use Flash Player. > Run the uninstaller. This will remove Adobe Flash Player from all browsers on the system. ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/12 "2008-06-10T14:52:32Z")
Thanks. I might try that later this evening. However, before I saw that I uninstalled Adobe Reader, thinking that might be preventing the uninstallation. When, a few minutes later, I loaded a page with a flash player in, it refused to run until I reinstalled Flash Player. Maybe I need to turn Javascript on, but don’t know where to look in Firefox. Any idea? ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/13 "2008-06-10T20:17:33Z")
I used to have this problem and determined that Norton Internet Security was causing it, so I got rid of Norton. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/14 "2008-06-10T22:55:56Z")
[QUOTE=MHaye] Maybe I need to turn Javascript on, but don’t know where to look in Firefox. Any idea? [/QUOTE] Tools / Options / Content / Enable Javascript ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/15 "2008-06-10T23:17:34Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] You wrote that you don’t think it uninstalled. **You might need to follow these [instructions](http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_14157) from Adobe:** [/QUOTE] Jim, that worked beautifully for me! Nai haryuvalyë melwa rë! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/16 "2008-06-10T23:29:43Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Jim, that worked beautifully for me! Nai haryuvalyë melwa rë! [/QUOTE] Happy to Help Gelir na thaed ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/17 "2008-06-10T23:38:49Z")
[QUOTE=MHaye] Can I piggyback on this question please? I have this problem using Firefox. (Version 2.0.0.14). Had it for several weeks now. I’ve tried uninstalling Flash Player and reinstalling. That didn’t work. In fact, I don’t honestly think Flash player uninstalled last time. Advice (other than “use IE”) please. I’m not going to use IE unless it’s important. [/QUOTE] Update to Firefox 3 ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/18 "2008-06-11T01:43:52Z")
I had the same problem, and it ended up I had somehow picked up Google’s “web accelerator”. This changed my javascript setting. I deleted that and the problem went away. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-youtube-and-a-few-other-sites-show-me-videos-on-ie-anymore/452392/19 "2008-06-11T01:46:55Z")
[QUOTE=Manduck] Tools|Internet options|Security|Custom level|Active scripting|enable. IE7 likes to hide stuff in weird places. [/QUOTE] Strangely, that still doesn’t allow JavaScript to work on this computer. Ed