Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)

Subject: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 08:14 AM

Both my IE and Firefox browsers crash when trying to use BBC iPlayer.
Any one having the same problem?

I was a regular listener to the Folkwaves programme on Radio Derby, using the Listen Again function, but no joy for the past week or so. Tried a few other broadcasts too, but the same result.

Is the problem likely to be with the BBC site, or my PC settings?

Any assistance welcome.

Thanks.

MC

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: Ian Burdon
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 05:01 PM

As far as I am aware it only works in IE and no other browser (except possibly Opera when it is configured to act like IE). It s about the only thing for which I use IE I think. SO far I haven;'t had a crash though.

Ian

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 05:07 PM

The BBC iplayer works for me on Firefox/Linux. It's using Flashplayer 9.

What I can't do is user their download service. That is currently Windows only.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 06:19 PM

Been using iPlayer on Firefox with no problems before, but when I try to use it today it crashes both Firefox and IE. Hope this is only a temporary issue. :(

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 07:07 PM

Works fine for me.

Does the crash happen when you are downloading or when you try to open up the files? If it's the latter, you could always try going direct to the folder where they are stored - which in my case, with Windows XP is My Computer/Shared Documents/My Deliveries/iplayer_live, and opening them with some other program, such as Windows Media Player, instead of relying on the built-in BBC iPlayer program, and see if that does the job better.

............
Has anyone set up anything to allow them to watch these video files stored on the PC upstairs on the TV downstairs, using a wireless link?

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 02:11 AM

Nope, cannot get to download anything, with either browser. IE crashes as soon as I try to visit bbc.co.uk/iplayer, and FF lets me get into the site but crashes whenever I click on a programme to download it.

iplayer download manager also crashes when I try to maximise it from the system tray.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 03:37 AM

The iPlayer works perfectly well for me with Safari though, of course, it's impossible to download.
What did crash the browser during the short time it was out there was catchup.tv.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: mattkeen
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 04:20 AM

Works fine using Firefox and Safari for me

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 04:25 AM

Try searching then asking at BBC iPlayer tech support

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 05:29 AM

It was a hooligan on my computer. The nice people at Beeb tech support were unable to help. I threw the whole shebang out. I'll just have to get better at writing myself little notes to not forget to record it from the telly.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 05:48 AM

It'll be something in your computer that is causing the problem, as indicated by the fact that it works perfectly for most people. It's probably some kind of setting that needs to be turned off, and somewhere there's someone who can tell you how to sort it.

Google around and you'll probably find someone who can help. Perhaps in this thread, if it keeps going a bit longer.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 09:52 AM

Tried Googling a few tech sites. About the same proportion of success/failure as reported here! No helpful resolutions offered though....yet!
Thanks for the link, Guest Jon. Will give it a go.

MC

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: Simon G
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 04:17 AM

The radio and TV iplayers completely separate products dressed up to look the same. You started off asking about the radio version. I had problems with it loading but running with no sound in Firefox.

It is pure html and uses realplayer to play the music. Mine got fixed by reinstalling realplayer. I installed the one available from the BBC stie and that fixed the problem.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 08:45 AM

Yes, Simon, perhaps I should have made that clearer. It is indeed the radio player that is my problem.

I note that the TV iPlayer is not available to anyone outside of the UK.

I'm in Oz, and I'm wondering whether the failure I'm experiencing is an extension of this ban to the radio iPlayer also.

I have installed and reinstalled RealPlayer, but to no avail. However, thanks for the tip.

I note an awful lot of different problems detailed on the tech site. Doesn't seem to be a particularly healthy environment at the Beeb currently.

MC

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 10:18 PM

From the BBC:

>Unfortunately, PRS constraints mean we cannot make the programme available 'on demand'.

What PRS constraints?

Hmmm....

MC

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 04:02 AM

Things get licensed differently for different countries. I'm currently trying to buy a publishing license for a still-in-copyright piece of piano music, and have been told by the guy dealing with it: "Please note, I can only clear for Europe, but I can direct you where to go for the ROW [rest-of-the-world] rights once you have the above figures."

This is probably the reason for your restriction. BTW, I live in the Republic of Ireland and listen quite happily to the Beeb radio replays on my two browsers (Firefox and Mac's Safari), both here and at school. Can't get the TV one, though :-(

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,K3v7ar
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 02:26 PM

Ive got a friend with the same symtopms..
my computer works fine with it, but ill configure my explorer bar to block everything.. then ill come back witht the cause of the problem.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,k3v7ar
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 02:38 PM

If you get this following message (*) follow my resolution scripted under the error messages.

*To play this programme you need to enable JavaScript. How?
Go to Tools/internet options/security/security level/medium.

other than that...I cant seem to find any problems what-so-ever! i completley locked up my Ie7 bar and it still worked fine? maybe its vista compatability related?

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 09:00 AM

Thought I'd try the BBC iPlayer once again after a month's break. Just on spec....
Works perfectly again! Very strange. I've made no adjustments to my computer since I had problems with it. (Java script was enabled throughout)
Maybe the "PRS constraints" have been sorted.
Or maybe the "PRS constraints" were just an excuse rather than admitting to technical problems at their end. Who knows!
Many thanks for all the helpful suggestions. Much appreciated.

MC

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Jpt
Date: 06 Apr 08 - 01:14 PM

Iplayer worked on my IE and Firefox, but I'm beginning to wonder if it has some rogue programming in it.

Soon after installing the iplayer download software onto my home computer, my computer started to run slowly. I was watching a show via the iplayer and the computer crashed and the hard-drive died. End of that comp!

I installed iplayer onto my work computer, and again, after a a few weeks, the computer crashed and the hard drive died. End of comp 2.

Messages I received from both computers were Kernal Data Input Error and Page Fault errors.

I just watched a programme on iplayer on my laptop and towards the end of the programme, my computer crashed out and rebooted itself.

I think there is a problem with iplayer and I'm going to avoid it on my personal comps from now on where possible.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 02:08 AM

BBC iPlayer starts fine on my firefox but crashes the browser when I close the tab. It reports some memory error and its repeatable.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: Rowan
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 06:13 PM

When I tried to access a BBC URL( linked to on a Mudcat thread a while ago) I got a notification that iPlayer wouldn't work on my browser (Safari, on a Mac) and would only work on Micro$oft's IE. So I left, thinking "Stuff em! If they don't want to make their material platform independent, why should I bother with them?" It never occurred to me there might be a fault in my system.

For some purposes (to do with work requirements) I use Firefox but I have no particular interest in putting myself out to suit others' prejudices. Some may say that I'm being prejudiced, which I would be if I were trying to restrict others' access to stuff I'm advertising but that's not the case here. And my time's too limitied to keep jumping through others' unnecessary hoops.

Glad you're sorted out, SqueezeMe.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 06:55 PM

I think it's still a beta version, and they are still fiddling around with it to iron out the bugs. The other day I tried downloading a TV programme which had been broadcast a couple of days earlier, and instead it recorded a couple of other programmes which were on that night. Teething problems, as they say.

For people in the United Kingdom there's also something a bit similar for Channel Four - www.channel4.com/4od   Sonfar as I know there is nothing for any of the other channels. Still that's sruff from all the BBC Channels (1,2,3,4,CBBC, CBeebies, New 24 and Parliament), plus Channel 4, so that should be enough to go on with.

The great thing with On Demand stuff is that it takes off the pressure to watch the programmes when they are broadcast in case you might miss something you want. And then you don't have to watch them on demand either.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 09:55 AM

I actually managed to download one or two programmes from the player in the first flush of having broadband, but my machine crashed twice, went into autorepair mode, and removed the iplayer software - which rather suggests to me that it was causing a problem. Since then I have just replayed, and not downloaded. I shall bide my time until things seem to have sorted themselves out!! I'm using Vista on this machine - I think I read somewhere that its none too happy with that system - but may be wrong ??

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,oli n
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 12:04 PM

my ie crashes everytime i try to watch a programme somtimes when i load iplayer and sometimes when i click on a programme. my desktop died the other day. i hope it had nothing to do with iplayer.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Canuck
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 06:48 AM

Radio Player crashes my whole XP system. At an early point in the play again broadcast the voice goes into endless repeat mode of a sentence and the computer has to be powered off in order to recover(?). Happened twice this am and three times yesterday. I gave up trying. This is new to me on my broadband connection. It used to happen now and again on dial-up.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Diana in France
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 02:37 PM

BBC iPlayer radio is working less reliably than it used to. Asus EEPC running Linux and using Firefox to listen to Radio 7 from France. Last night I couldn't get it to connect for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Sound ceased, screen and Firefox froze. Killed web application and tried again to no avail, even rebooting didn't help. Worked fine in the morning. Does the opening up of access to Chinese population have anything to do with this? Most failures left message about waiting for sync.bbc.co.uk which looks more like their problem than mine. Any more ideas?

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Gordon in Scotland
Date: 17 May 08 - 08:24 PM

I had this problem on Firefox and Safari - trying to listen to iPlayer radio. Resolved it by uninstalling RealPlayer 11 which has become a bloated beast anyway, and downloading RealAlternative instead. Works fine now.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,James F
Date: 19 May 08 - 03:43 PM

As soon as i try to play a radio station my I.E crashes and any other websites open

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 19 May 08 - 04:34 PM

No problems here, I'm currently multiplexing DVD title set for last week's Later - the one with Buddy Miller playing guitar for Emmylou and Rovert Plant/Alison Krauss.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 03:01 PM

My anti virus stopped iplayer working.It would be worth trying to close anything that monitors your internet traffic to see if it works to help diagnose your problem.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: danensis
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 06:17 PM

I've found I can't "Listen again" to folkwaves. I believe they mentioned on the programme that there was a problem with it.

One time I tried to "listen live" and nothing happened, and about 15 minutes into the programme it all sprang into life.

Perhaps the BBC should stick to broadcasting and leave computing to people who know about these things?

John

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Diana, France
Date: 19 Jun 08 - 07:20 AM

I closed down my laptop and orange box during a visit to the UK and when I returned everything worked OK. I'm going to monitor performance carefully as I suspect either the BBC are not keeping us informed of glitches or Orange are monitoring consumption and capping bandwidth. We've had intermittent probs with the Orange second phone so suspect the latter is the more likely explanation. Again, if I'm right, a bit of feedback from Orange would save a lot of grief. However, after running an IT Helpdesk for some years I should have known that a full reboot/cool-off would eventually do the trick, and that any Network problems at the other end probably wouldn't affect the Network Support teams PC so didn't officially exist....

While in the UK I visited a computer fair and bought a little internet radio (wi-fi) which is coping very well indeed - better with Real than other formats, allowing me to hear English voices in multiple rooms.

Thanks for your responses.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,ted cook
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:32 PM

ie7 player just started to crash ie6 when clicking on last page this dos,ent happen in firefox3

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,Joolz
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 08:57 AM

Iplayer is very slow to open in Firefox, but does work unless I maximise it from the start bar in which case it works for a few seconds then crashes saying realplayer has encountered a problem and needs to close.
I used to have no problems listening to BBC radio before the Iplayer thing.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: Acorn4
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 09:01 AM

It's odd -the new player will run on my laptop running Vista, but not on my PC running XP.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,mf123
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:25 AM

running dual boot --- xp pro and os x --- iplayer will not work on ie explorer safari or firefox! crashes them all whether windows or mac. Is it a router problem?

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC iplayer crashes my browser(s)
From: GUEST,mf123
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 10:26 AM

FIXED ! was router:

http://www.talktalkmembers.com/content/view/87/68