Author Topic: Windows 98 wont play youtube videos, HELP!?! (Read 20448 times)

Daz2007 · « **on:** August 10, 2007, 03:22:21 PM »

Hi all, I recently came into the posession of a Windows 98 SE computer, ive got the internet up and running etc but when trying to get youtube flash videos to play the picture and sound is very jumpy and I have no idea whats causing it. I have installed all the relevant software so I dont think its that.
Anyway here are my specs:
Authentic AMD
AMD-K6 3D Processor
376MB of RAM, original 120 plus an added 256.

lil_falco · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2007, 07:09:49 PM »

Your Ram is the problem.
But your OS is ancient also...

Invest in a computer with somewhat good specifications.

WillyW · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2007, 07:24:09 PM »

Quote from: lil_falco on August 10, 2007, 07:09:49 PM

Your Ram is the problem.
...

What is the problem with the ram?

Daz2007 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2007, 05:54:22 PM »

I dont think it has anything to do with the ram, does anyone have any idea what this could be? The frame rate is slow, it will stutter and wont play smoothly. HELP!

WillyW · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2007, 07:51:13 AM »

Quote from: Daz2007 on August 11, 2007, 05:54:22 PM

I dont think it has anything to do with the ram,

I didn't either.

But his statement was so definitive, I thought we all might learn something.

Quote

does anyone have any idea what this could be? The frame rate is slow, it will stutter and wont play smoothly. HELP!

Venturing a guess here - what about your processor speed? Could it be that it is just not enough?

Also, how about your connection speed?

Please tell us what speed your AMD chip is, and what kind/speed of internet connection you are using.

If you would like to pick out a couple good examples of the behavior you've described, and pass along the links, I'll try them and see what they do for me. I can use a Win98SE AMD K-6 350MHZ on DSL connection. If it will play a youtube video at all, I'll report back to you so you can compare our results.

Soviet_Genius · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2007, 10:23:52 AM »

Do you have the latest flash player?

Daz2007 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2007, 12:22:35 PM »

Thanks Willy, I am using an AMD K6 3D processor, im not sure what speed that is, I wondered whether I need to update the drivers because I will get the same sort of thing with avi files aswell, but not wmv strangely. Im running broadband wirelessly, but I dont think its that because it will stream pretty fast but when I try to play the video, thats when I get the problems.Its hard to explain, its like its only playing every 3 frames, the sound will stutter and the player will skip seconds e.g. it will go from 1:01 to 1:04 missing all the frames in between. I have the latest flash player fully installed.
Thanks in advance.
Daz

patio · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2007, 12:42:19 PM »

Have you cleaned out your Temp files lately ? ?
Done a defrag ? ?

How much free space is on that HDD ? ?

Daz2007 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2007, 06:03:27 AM »

Its a fresh install of Windows so I doubt that would do much, there is 19GB of HDD.

Carbon Dudeoxide · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2007, 06:27:09 AM »

Ur windows 98 is better than one of my windows XPs......

Try downloading VLC Media Player and see if your .avi's run smooth.

You should be able to find the processor speed by right clicking My Computer.

WillyW · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:07:42 AM »

Quote from: Daz2007 on August 12, 2007, 12:22:35 PM

Thanks Willy, I am using an AMD K6 3D processor, im not sure what speed that is, I wondered whether I need to update the drivers because I will get the same sort of thing with avi files aswell, but not wmv strangely.

Codecs, maybe?

Quote

Im running broadband wirelessly, but I dont think its that because it will stream pretty fast but when I try to play the video, thats when I get the problems.Its hard to explain, its like its only playing every 3 frames, the sound will stutter and the player will skip seconds e.g. it will go from 1:01 to 1:04 missing all the frames in between. I have the latest flash player fully installed.

hmm... nothing is coming right to mind.

I can say that sometimes an .avi here won't play, or will play just the audio.
Sometimes I can get them to play with VLC and sometimes not. Often, VLC is very herky jerky.
Same with .wmv files. Some play correctly, some do not. Both with WMP and VLC.

By the way, what version of Windows Media Player are you using?
6.4.07.1119 here. There may be a newer version that I can use - I seem to remember looking into it one time, but there was a reason I didn't want to upgrade versions. Can't remember now.

Since .avi and .wmv files are not a high priority to me, I've not spent much time on even trying to see if I could improve things here.

Is it possible, since you have a fresh install of Windows, that your version of WMP is upgrade-able, and needs to be?

If you want to get your processor speed, and a lot of other info about your system, try Everest . It is free, and will generate a nice report.
You can download it here.

How about your video card specs? Might they not be up to the task?
One way to get some of that info:
Start->Run , type dxdiag and click ok.
That will launch a diagnostic tool.
Click the Display tab.
There is a box titled Device. You might want to report back here the info displayed there - maybe somebody reading along will notice anything that might not be good.

Stick with Patio, hopefully he can continue in this thread. He might want/need some of that info that I mentioned.

WillyW · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:10:18 AM »

Quote from: Carbon Dudeoxide on August 13, 2007, 06:27:09 AM

...

You should be able to find the processor speed by right clicking My Computer.

Then what? .... I haven't found it here yet.

Carbon Dudeoxide · « **Reply #12 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:17:00 AM »

Ah right, missed out a bit.
Right click My Computer and click Properties and at the bottom of the General Tab should say what processor you have and how fast it is.

WillyW · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:33:05 AM »

Quote from: Carbon Dudeoxide on August 13, 2007, 09:17:00 AM

Ah right, missed out a bit.
Right click My Computer and click Properties and at the bottom of the General Tab should say what processor you have and how fast it is.

No speed listed.

I suspect that is an XP thing.

Attached is a screen cap of what it looks like on my Win98SE system.

[Saving disk space - old attachment deleted by admin]

Carbon Dudeoxide · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:44:41 AM »

Try this then...

Download this small program (I don't know if it will work with 98):
System Spec

When the program has loaded, press F5 and it will tell you...stuff about your computer, including CPU Speed.

WillyW · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:49:49 AM »

Quote from: Carbon Dudeoxide on August 13, 2007, 09:44:41 AM

Try this then...

Download this small program (I don't know if it will work with 98):
System Spec

When the program has loaded, press F5 and it will tell you...stuff about your computer, including CPU Speed.

?? why would I do that? I already know the speed of my computer's processor. It appears during boot.

For others reading along, I've already mentioned Everest.

Comp Guy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:09:16 AM »

Same thing on my old computer, because it was old. Can you give your grahpics card specifications?

soybean · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2007, 01:53:11 PM »

Quote from: Daz2007 on August 10, 2007, 03:22:21 PM

Hi all, I recently came into the posession of a Windows 98 SE computer, ive got the internet up and running etc but when trying to get youtube flash videos to play the picture and sound is very jumpy and I have no idea whats causing it. I have installed all the relevant software so I dont think its that.
Anyway here are my specs:
Authentic AMD
AMD-K6 3D Processor
376MB of RAM, original 120 plus an added 256.

What's the speed of your broadband connection? Ever run a speed test?

You still haven't given any info the the graphics part of your system. The facts given in your first post indicate you're using onboard video with 8MB of "shared" memory. Is that right? That would explain the difference between original 120 vs. original 128 (a standard amount on a memory module) or 376MB of RAM vs. 384MB of RAM (128 + 256). And, it would surely be a factor in the poor performance you're getting when viewing youtube.

Daz2007 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 16, 2007, 07:19:29 AM »

Here is a full list of my specs, im hoping to get a definitive explaination on this because I really cant get my head around it!

soybean · « **Reply #19 on:** August 16, 2007, 08:14:25 AM »

Well, one thing I see that could be changed is your DirectX version. If you look at the bottom of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool image you posted here, it says you have DirectX 6.1a(4....). I suggest you download DirectX 9.0c and install it.

Then, let us know if that helped any in playing YouTube videos. If not, or if it helped some but you still don't have smooth play, I believe you really need to install a video card to replace your current card or onboard video (which I believe is what you have).

You've said you have broadband Internet access and that your Internet speed "will stream pretty fast". Exactly what type of Internet service are you using? DSL or cable? And, what's the actual speed? If you don't know, go to dslreports.com (go here: http://www.dslreports.com/tools) and run a speed test.

Comp Guy · « **Reply #20 on:** August 16, 2007, 05:34:45 PM »

You also need the latest version of Flash Player.

Amrykid · « **Reply #21 on:** August 16, 2007, 06:46:33 PM »

all i know is 98 doesn't play videos for nothing i ty for hours on till i found out it windows media player you need wmp 10 o later and 98 get up 9.

patio · « **Reply #22 on:** August 16, 2007, 07:00:19 PM »

WMP9 will not run on Win98...

Carry On.

Amrykid · « **Reply #23 on:** August 16, 2007, 07:41:00 PM »

well, i ment 8 or 7 but i swear i had 9 on mine, but, anyway, you might not have anouth memory to play videos

Comp Guy · « **Reply #24 on:** August 16, 2007, 11:48:49 PM »

I'm pretty sure mwp9 workes on win98.

Daz2007 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 17, 2007, 09:29:42 AM »

If there anyway I can increase my video memory?

2k_dummy · « **Reply #26 on:** August 17, 2007, 09:40:56 AM »

Most bios allow that.

soybean · « **Reply #27 on:** August 17, 2007, 10:32:50 AM »

Quote from: Comp Guy on August 16, 2007, 11:48:49 PM

I'm pretty sure mwp9 workes on win98.

Yep, it does. Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 98 Second Edition, Me, and 2000

soybean · « **Reply #28 on:** August 17, 2007, 10:35:08 AM »

Quote from: Daz2007 on August 17, 2007, 09:29:42 AM

If there anyway I can increase my video memory?

You haven't responded to a single question I've asked or suggestion I've made.

patio · « **Reply #29 on:** August 18, 2007, 08:27:54 AM »

Carbon Dudeoxide · « **Reply #30 on:** August 18, 2007, 09:08:30 AM »

What's up with the giant tooth?

patio · « **Reply #31 on:** August 18, 2007, 10:18:04 AM »

It mysteriously appears when a thread gets to the point of pulling teeth to get the info required to solve an issue...

soybean · « **Reply #32 on:** August 18, 2007, 10:20:49 AM »

"like pulling teeth" is an idiom: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/like+pulling+teeth

Daz2007 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 19, 2007, 12:15:41 PM »

Sorry Soybean, I installed the latest version of DirectX and it didnt help, im guessing theres no way to increase my video memory.

soybean · « **Reply #34 on:** August 19, 2007, 03:35:06 PM »

Have you accessed your BIOS to see whether it will let you allocate more memory to your video/display adapter?

If you have an expansion slot (AGP or PCI) in which you could install an add-on video card, would purchase of a card be an option? What spending limit would you like to put on this? It could less than $50, or more, depending on the specs of the card.

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Author Topic: Windows 98 wont play youtube videos, HELP!?! (Read 20448 times)

Daz2007

lil_falco

WillyW

Daz2007

WillyW

Soviet_Genius

Daz2007

patio

Daz2007

Carbon Dudeoxide

WillyW

WillyW

Carbon Dudeoxide

WillyW

Carbon Dudeoxide

WillyW

Comp Guy

soybean

Daz2007

soybean

Comp Guy

Amrykid

patio

Amrykid

Comp Guy

Daz2007

2k_dummy

soybean

soybean

patio

Carbon Dudeoxide

patio

soybean

Daz2007

soybean