Mr. Modem: Getting Internet Explorer to come out and play
I received an email with a link to a video. I cannot play the video using Internet Explorer, but I have no trouble playing it in Google Chrome. What is the problem in IE 11 that’s causing me not to be able to play the video?
If you have a problem playing a video, try turning on Compatibility View in Internet Explorer. To do that, click the little gear icon in the upper right and select Compatibility View settings from the drop-down menu. You can then add the site to the list of sites in Compatibility View.
Also, make sure to check that you don’t have InPrivate Browsing enabled; go to the gear icon again and choose Safety > InPrivate Browsing. You will see where you can disable it.
Among the top culprits for videos not playing are missing or disabled FlashPlayer or Java add-ons. To check add-ons in IE, click the gear symbol and choose Manage Add-Ons. To find them in Chrome, click the Menu icon and choose Settings, then select Extensions.
If Java is enabled in Chrome and not in IE, that could be the culprit, though sometimes you will find that you just have to use another browser to view videos on a given site.
For that reason, I keep at least three browsers on each of my computers. I primarily use Chrome, but if I encounter a problem viewing a site in Chrome, I immediately launch Firefox and try viewing it. My third choice is Safari. I only use Internet Explorer as a last resort and that, mercifully, is rarely necessary.
I can receive my email but can’t send any out. What do you think the problem is?
If you can receive but not send email, that means something is wrong with your outgoing server (SMTP) settings. It can be something as simple as a “tpyo” in the address or password. I would suggest going to the account settings section of whatever email program you are using and checking those outgoing server settings. If you aren’t sure what they should be, you can look them up on your Internet service provider’s website or call its Customer Service number.
Mr. Modem publishes “Ask Mr. Modem!” each week, featuring PC tips, tricks and plain-English answers to your questions by email. For more information, visit www.MrModem.com.
Mr. Modem’s Sites of the Week
Another Day, Another Word
http://anotherdayanotherword.com
More performance art than informative website, this minimalist presentation consists of a single word each day, without an accompanying definition but with audio pronunciation. Place your cursor on the teeny, pixel-size dot that appears below the word “Archive” to access the site’s — well, archive of previous words of the day.
Book Seer
Have you just finished reading a great book and are in a dither about what to read next? Behold, the Book Seer! When you arrive on the site, all you need is the title of a book you recently read and the book’s author. Enter that information into the appropriate fields, then click the arrow to generate recommendations. The site polls Amazon.com to generate book recommendations, complete with links to the titles. If you don’t like the recommendations, you can try a different title directly from the page your results appear on. This is an interesting and unique way to obtain reading recommendations, so if you’re an avid reader, check it out.
This is Just Stupid
This site is a tribute to all that is silly and stupid throughout the world. (Sometimes it just feels good to take a break from the real news.) Contributions are welcome in the form of photos, video, audio or narrative. Some of the material on this site can be a bit on the crude side so sensitive individuals, or those susceptible to chafing, might want to skip this one.
This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Mr. Modem: Getting Internet Explorer to come out and play."