Hello. This is a cosy little corner for non-techies to ask questions about the live stream etc and for the geeks amongst us to reply.

The Live Stream uses Abode Flash player. As there are 3 different versions of Windows and 5 different browsers in common use, you may have to use your initiative!

To make sure you have the latest version:

Go to www.adobe.com and click the “Get Adobe Flash Player” button.
On the next screen uncheck Free McAfee Security Scan Plus (optional)
Click Agree and Install now
You’ll probably see a yellow bar appear under your toolbars saying “This website wants to install the following add-on ….”
Click the bar, and from the drop-down menu than appears, Click Install this add-on or Install Active X control.
If a window appears asking “Do you want to install this software?” click the Install or Continue buttons.
An “Adobe Download Manager” window should appear, showing Flash Player Installation complete. Click Close Download Manager to get rid of it.
You should see Adobe Flash Player successfully installed. Your machine may ask you to reboot. If not, just close your browser then open it again.

Test it by going here:
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/155/tn_15507.html


There are FAQs on the C4 site:
http://help.channel4.com/SRVS/CGI-BI...RSET_SHOWALL=Y


C4 says minimum requirements are
“FLASH
•Flash Player 10 - 10,0,32,18
BROWSERS
•Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.11
•Firefox 3.0.4
•Safari 3.1.2 (525.21)
•Opera 9.6.4
•Google Chrome 3.0.195.21
OPERATING SYSTEM
•Windows: XP, Vista or Windows 7*
•Apple Macintosh: Leopard (10.5) or Snow Leopard (10.6)
* Please be advised that Windows 7 64 bit is not supported due to Adobe not developing a 64 bit Flash Player at this time. If you have Windows 7 64 bit then please ensure that you are using a 32 bit browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome. “

Thanks for this, its a good idea, especially for non techies like me

Great idea...........well done SadBB........

I can never get these damn things to work...........

non-techies aka females

I already can't get the videos on the channel4 site to work, which is not a good sign. I have reinstalled the latest version of Flash, use the latest version of Firefox and use Windows XP.

When I try to watch the videos, they just remain black. I have tried to pause and then pressed play again, but nothing happens.

Other sites/games using Flash work fine for me, and I have a decent broadband connection...

Thanks for this! Will get it sorted before 7 tomorrow!

Excellent idea, thanks so much Sad BB, I feel I shall be a regular visitor. Nice to know there's somewhere to go for trouble shooting

Cheers for this SBBA!

I had a small meltdown earlier cos my lappy went on the blink. Think it overheated so to be on the safe side I'll be watching it via the fridge shelf

This is the Neovia press release (the ones who take the money!)
http://www.neovia.com/press/en/248.htm

To test if it really is an overheating problem, prop it up on its side with a fan pointing at the bottom.

Try Internet Explorer 8 instead of Firefox, just as an experiment, and let us know what happens.

I've stuck this for the time being as it will likely be very helpful in the next few days. Thanks for posting!

Ooo-er! I've never been stuck before!

I have the same set up as you - latest flash 10/FF 3.6.3 and XP. The videos usually play all right but they do take a few moments to load up/buffer, if occasionally they don't work, i find it best simply to exit the site and re-enter again. With FF if you can't get the vids to work at all - then its most likely one of your add-ons is blocking your flash. You'll have to go through a process of elimination to find which one it is i;m afraid.

Nice sexism there.

Disable or faff NoScript and clear any non vital add ons as they conflict sometimes.

Clearing cache/cookies frequently helps too.

I think broadband speed will be an issue as well......I`am not going to bother with the live feed but if I wanted it I`d be stuffed because I live in the sticks and at best my connection is 2mbs....normally 1.5mbs(sadly the maximum on my line is 3mbs )......So for those that are intending to subscribe I`d check what the minimum speed requirement is.......I`d hazard a guess and say you`d need a sustained broadband speed of at least 4mbs....they`ll probably say less but I think you`ll struggle with live streaming if your broadband speed is less than 2mbs

check out this link to test your speed

http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/

just checked mine...480kbs...seriously pissed off...it midnight....it`s snailband.....this is the lowest I`v ever seen.

As for flash player, most computer users will have already installed it...as sites such as youtube would have prompted you to install it if they had`t detected it on your computer.

Well done SBBA, and thanks to Tom M for stickying it.

I won't be able to get Live Stream (LS) due to same probs as last year, archaic comp/not enough Broadband etc , but I found the 'pins' useful so the screen can sit in the corner of the keyboard.
Can't find the link right now (as it's on my old comp) but would it be an idea to post it in this thread?... just ignore me if not, no probs

This happened to me yesterday too. After reinstalling flash and getting nowhere I decided to disable my ad blocker for that site only and it worked fine after that. Worked on Chrome too.

Thanks Sad BB!!!!

I take it that if it goes of again then the fan is at fault?

Thanks everyone!

* Uninstalled and re-installed Flash, restarted computer etc - no success.

* Clear cache and cookies - no success

* Tried IE 8 - Success but with error on page alerts

* Disabled Ad blocker on Firefox - result! . Edit - figured out how to disable it for just that page now, which is handy.

Hope my experiences help someone else as well. Thanks again so much!

~~~

swnymor1963 - I hope my broadband speed will be enough. I get between 3 and 4 MB out here in the countryside...

I meant a desk fan blowing on the bottom. If the laptop still cuts out, it's probably not an overheating issue; probably the power supply. If there are vents on the bottom of the laptop you could see if there's dust in them; if so a good suck with the vacuum cleaner should help.

Hi, just checked mine and it's worse than yours. Mind you mine's a dongle , not the best for speed, but it's useable, can even watch Ytube vids. Should be fun & games tomorrow. lol

oh great does this mean i can ask the dumb questions on here and not get laughed at