Using Netflix player with Wine/Silverligh. Includes fix for font error (Error1001)
 

Getting Netflix to play movies can be kind of a pain. Recently I used a WINE helper script and a MS system update (applied to WINE) and got things running smoothly. I though I would post my procedure to help others frusterated with Netflix. My system is running:

• Mageia 3 Cauldron (Rolling Dev Release) w/the 3.7.1-desktop-1 kernel.
• WINE 1.5.21-1
• KDE 4.9.97-1
• Zenity 3.6

The problem with using Netflix on Linux has always been that it requires DRM. DRM is handled by Microsoft Silverlight. Linux has Moonlight which is as good in every way except in that it cannot handle DRM. You could try setting up WINE manually, but setting up WINE to stream DRM protected video with Silverlight will often drive one to smash one's laptop over one's head. In this solution WINE is still being used but the setup and installation of various dependencies and addons is now automated. I ran into a couple of snags, one of which is addressed here, but otherwise things went pretty smoothly. At anyrate let me begin the instructions:

1. D/L Netflixplayer.tar.gz
2. Extract the large install script. (It is ~95MB)
3. Make sure Zenity is installed, if it is not, install it.
4. Run the install script as root. (This will take a couple mins)
5. Run the launch script as a normal user. In KDE it puts it in the menu under Sounds and Video. This will also take a couple mins. Netflix Player should then come up in a Mozilla window. You should be able to login, browse, etc. If you get an error (error #1001 I think.) when you try and play a movie read the following.

If Video Does Not Play
~ Try appling the European Union Expansion Font Update from Microsoft in WINE.

***NOTE*** WINE should now be able to play any Instant Streaming Video that is DRM protected.

Screenshot:
Attachment 11556

See also the blog at fubuntu about this topic.

This is encouraging. If I can find a free trial of Netflix or similar I might give it a go.