Video stalls my browser permanently

[Beedub245]

I run windows XP.  I use both IE and FireFox as browsers.  Lately whenever I try to watch video online my browser freezes and when I try to restart my browser I can not even connect. I feel like I have switched something somewhere and I just do not remember where.  I can watch video from sites like abc and nbc.  It happens every time I try to go to YouTube and also happens when I try to go to sites like espn.com.  I am wondering if these sites use a different kind of video and that is what I need to address.  ANy help will be appreiated.  Thank You.

[patio]

Clean out the temporary internet files in both browsers...for IE use Diskcleanup which is under Start/Accessories/System Tools...
In Firefox it's called cache...you'll find it under Tools/Options/Advanced.

[Beedub245]

Thank you for that, but it did not solve my problem.  It is so strange that I can watch video from direct sites(abc,nbc,espn), but everytime I try to watch user uploaded video(youtube,veoh,etc.) that is when it freezes and has to be restarted.  Is it the video type that is causing the problem?

[Broni]

Does it happen in both, IE, and Firefox?

[Beedub245]

yes both browsers do exactly the same thing. 

[Beedub245]

I vaguely remember clicking on some option that said something about optimizing connect speeds.  Sounded to me like it would use a different port, but I do not remember where it was and I do not know that this is what is causing the problem.  Any help will be welcomed.

[Broni]

that said something about optimizing connect speeds

Was it some kind of software, you downloaded, or some setting within browser?
What type of connection do you use?

[Beedub245]

It was in the operating system. Windows XP.  I had picked up some malware that was preventing me from accessing my control panel,clock settings,registry, and other things.  As I was trying to find the solution to that I went through all of my settings and during this I remember changing this setting.  What I do remember is that another option in the same list was something about buffer settings.  It is possible that it was somewhere in a program called "tweak??" that turned out to be disfunctional so I deleted it.  If I changed something using a program and then deleted the program do the changes stay or are they also deleted?  I am on a network.  I am sorry that I am so vague, but I have no idea what is going on.

[Broni]

I suspect, you used some internet connection "tweaker".
Is your computer clean of bad guys now?

so I deleted it

Do you mean, uninstalled, or just deleted.

If I changed something using a program and then deleted the program do the changes stay or are they also deleted?

It depends. If you UNINSTALLED that program, if it was a solid program, it would ask you, if you wanted to reset your settings to how they were before. If it was a lame program, or if you just deleted that program, changes stay. And it looks like it's your case.
I'd like you to run TCP Optimizer from here: http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
It'll check your settings, and it'll try to correct bad settings. No guarantee, but worth to try.

[Beedub245]

I uninstalled the program.  I am 99 percent sure that it did not ask me about the settings.  I downloaded and ran that program, but that didn't fix the problem.  It did reduce the time that it takes to get from page to page.  It is weird that as soon as I type in youtube and hit enter or go to a myspace page containing video it just freezes and then I can't get either browser to load.  After I restart they both work fine. So whatever is wrong is obviously reset at startup.  I just have no idea how these programs load.

[Broni]

What are your computer specs?
How old?
How much RAM?
How much free space on hard drive?
On-board video, or you have video card? If video card, with how much memory?
Windows updates current?
Antivirus, anti spyware current?
Also, go here: http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_15507
and post back what Flash Player version it reports.

[Beedub245]

HP Laptop
Intel Centrino  1.73 ghz 1 gb ram
approx. 2 years old.
8.34 gb free space of 93 total
on board video card I guess because I have never changed it
Windows updates have been shutdown by that same malware
and I haven't been able to figure it out. 
I use avast antivirus and spybot
The test said:
Player version-win 9,0,28,0 Debug palyer- no
vid encoder- true  Audio Capable- true Local filei/o disabled - false

[Broni]

I'm ready for bed, so we'll have to continue tomorrow, but meanwhile, you can go here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/
and download newer (9.047.0) version of Flash.
Night

[Beedub245]

Thank you so much for all of your effort.  If you have any further ideas I will appreciate them.  Also, if you know how to unlock my windows updates that would be helpful as well.  Thank you.

[Broni]

You are welcome

how to unlock my windows updates

What's wrong with them?