Help Please - can't access youtube.com?

[tweakage]

Hello,

I've been having a really strange problem with my computer over the past 2 months or so. During this time, i've been unable to access youtube.com and that's the only site that when I try to access it, nothing happens, the status meter at the bottom of my browser window just freezes.

If I try to play a video which is attached to youtube.com in anyway, same result. I can go to video.google.com and play anything as long as it's not one that's connected to youtube.

This happens in both IE and Firefox. I'm using WinXP SP2.

I'm using Zone Alarm firewall and have tried everything I can think of in terms of setting youtube.com as an exception in both browsers, loosening up my security settings, shutting the firewall down completely, still no luck.

I've run spyware scans in Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D as well as full system Virus scan.

Prior to this problem, I was able to use youtube.com with no problem, but have no idea what could have caused this.

I've run out of ideas and would love to get some expert advice.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Robert

[JPMiller]

You may want to update both flash and and Java
Easiest way I've found is a one stop like Filehippo.com
http://www.filehippo.com/download_flashplayer_ie/
http://www.filehippo.com/download_flashplayer_firefox/
http://www.filehippo.com/download_java_runtime/

[JPMiller]

doublepost

[tweakage]

upgraded jre and flash and it's still not working, any other tricks?

[CujoRbd]

can you ping youtube.com? open command prompt and just type "ping www.youtube.com" and hit Enter
if you are successful in pinging, it should display the IP. try replacing the IP for the domain name in the URL for a youtube video and see if you can access it this way.

check your HOSTS file... it can contain auto-forwards for specific domains; i don't know why youtube would be in there but it could be. it's a txt file and it's found in (/Windows/system32/drivers/etc/) folder. if there's a reference to youtube.com or www.youtube.com or something just put a semicolon at the beginning of the line and then save the file... afterward try youtube.

disable all non-microsoft services and startup in the System Configuration Utiilty and then restart the computer.. there could be a conflict with something running on your computer, including some "always-on" component of your security software.
1. choose Start->Run and type in "msconfig" in the dialog and click OK or hit Enter.
2. go to the Startup tab and record all unselected items ( or all that are selected if it's fewer; if everything's selected just skip this step)
3. on the Startup tab, click the Disable All button
4. on the Services tab, select the "Hide all microsoft services" check box
5. click disable all
6. Click OK and then restart now.
7. when you get booted back up, you will then be able to determine if a conflict exists between one of those startups/services for some reason

also, try creating a new admin user account in windows and try it there with both browsers... there could be some weird or damaged setting you have which is preventing you access.

[tweakage]

The trick with the services worked! Thanks so much for taking the time to help me with this. It's been a real headache until now. Have an awesome day!

Robert

[CujoRbd]

glad to hear that disabling startup items and services allowed it to work.

did you determine which exact item caused the problem? if not, it is simply a process of eliminiation to determine which item or items are causing the problem. my recommendation is to start by re-enabling all the services in msconfig and then restarting.. if you can still view the youtube videos, then the problem is with one or more of the startup items. whether it is a service or a startup item, you can re-enable one or more at time and restart the computer to continue narrowing in on the exact source of the conflict.

once you have determined the exact conflict, you may consider contacting the developer of the software for some kind of update, if available.

hope this helped

[madankumarse]

I tried the solution you've provided. But still i am unable to open Youtube. Please help.