WMV File Won't Play in Firefox 3

halw · 01-11-2009, 01:39 AM

Posted the following at the ubuntu forums but haven't received a satisfactory answer.

Code:

Running U8.04 w/Firefox 3.0.5. Received an email with a wmv file attached and when I open it instead of asking to open with Totem all I get is a dialog as to whether or not I want to save.

In U7.10 w/FF2 I am able to open and play the file. I thought this might be a firefox issue until I was able to play the file using Mepis 8rc1 w/FF3.0.3.

I believe I have all the necessary plugins,such as gstreamer extras, etc. loaded. Not sure where to look next.

Maybe someone here has some idea of what is happening.

FYI, am using yahoo mail, but I don't think this a factor.

Any tips are appreciated.

Here is a link to the Ubuntu forums thread. Post #5 has a thumbnail of the dialog box I get when I try to open the attachment.

IndyGunFreak · 01-11-2009, 07:30 AM

Do you have the Medibuntu repository installed, and w32codecs enabled? I play streaming wmv just fine. Also, most wmv's, you can download to your desktop, if you can do that, can you play it in Totem, or VLC? If you can, then that would indicate a plugin issue.

IGF

halw · 01-11-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyGunFreak

Do you have the Medibuntu repository installed, and w32codecs enabled? I play streaming wmv just fine. Also, most wmv's, you can download to your desktop, if you can do that, can you play it in Totem, or VLC? If you can, then that would indicate a plugin issue.

IGF

Yup. Medibuntu repo active and w32codecs one of the things I load first on a fresh install.

Think I've got all the plugins installed but must be missing something. Not sure what though.

BTW, thanks Indy for the input and any other suggestions you may come up with.

Thane · 01-16-2009, 01:25 PM

Did you try d/ling the wmv to the Desktop and playing it as IndyGunFreak suggested? As suggested you could test the situation out by trying to play the Desktop displayed file through VLC, which can be installed through Synaptic or apt-get install and using VLC to try to play the file. On the Desktop if you right click on the wmv file, then click on properties, then open with, then add, you'll see a list of applications of which VLC might be one. If its not, click use a custom command, browse, and in the box that pops up navigate back through the directories to /usr/bin/ and double click on VLC down towards the bottom of the list. In the next box click on add and then click on close. Go back to your Desktop displayed wmv file and double click on it. If I haven't messed up somewhere in the instruction here somewhere, your wmv file should play. If it does, then you'll probably be able to rule out your Medibuntu etc as the cause of the problem and you'll know its probably a Firefox related problem. Maybe you just got a bad plugin installation and need to do it again. Good luck. Cheers.

halw · 01-16-2009, 02:22 PM

Thane,

Thanks and yes I was able to download the attachment and play it with Totem.

So at this point I have to suppose that there is either a plugin missing or a "bad" plugin. Sure thought had all bases covered though.

Thane · 01-16-2009, 05:31 PM

halw;
Here are a couple of url's to check out. Might find something in there. If you find the same plugins in your firefox, you could try removing them and adding these. I'm on ubuntu 8.10 with firefox 3.0.5 and these are the installed plugins (among others) my system is using. Cheers.

http://projects.gnome.org/totem/

http://pkgsrc.se/multimedia/totem-browser-plugin