What's wrong with my computer?

Question

Every time I try and play a video or watch the news it cuts out as if it's on pause and then after a few minutes it'll start playing again.
I down loaded media player again and now it won't work at all.
I have windows xp and it's supposed to be a really good computer but if it's so good why won't it play videos?

What in the heck is a Ram?

I think I need a new computer.
I don't understand any of this.

Answer 1

It doesn't sound like you're having problems with RAM or any other problem with the computer (maybe a software glitch). Doesn't take much computer at all to keep up with things streaming at internet speeds.

I'm guessing you're talking about streaming video on the internet? No problems playing video files stored in your computer right?

Sounds like you may have a slow internet connection, a software problem somewhere, some sort of virus or spyware thats hogging your internet connection, possibly you're just trying to use settings that exceed the capabilities of your internet connection.

You can usually select the quality of a stream to match your internet connection speed. In Windows media player, you can go into options / performance and set it so more of the video is downloaded and cached before the video begins to play (increase buffer). You can also select the correct speed of your internet connection there.

How you lost the ability to play video at all is beyond me. Any error message that may give us a clue as to what's going on? I would try to uninstall the media player from "add and remove programs" or "add and remove Windows components" (forget which one it's listed in), restart the machine and download / install Windows Media Player 9 from here... http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.aspx?displang=en&qstechnology= Also install the Windows Media codecs...
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/28/1025487/WM9Codecs.zip


Are all the videos being played in the Windows Media Player? Some streaming web videos use Flash or Shockwave. Install the newest versions. Right-click on the videos to select a quality level suitable for your internet connection speed. http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash

Try a free virus / spyware scan and removal at Trend Micro... http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Test you internet connection... http://www.dslreports.com/tools Windows setting can be "tweaked" for optimum performance with your particular dial-up or broadband connection. The guys on this site can help you solve any problems with your internet connection not performing at the speeds it should. You can even talk to techs from many of the internet service providers and have them test your line on this site.

If you still have problems... feel free to email... A little more info about what videos on what sites... your internet connection... etc... would be helpful.

Answer 2

I used to think it was the wireless modem I had. Because, there would be times when I wouldn't be able to do any thing online, and the shortcut on my desktop would say I have an Excellent Connection. Actually, what it meant was, I have a great connection to my wireless modem and the bars, in the Wireless Network Connection box, would be all full and green! The wireless monitor program would say "You are connect to the modem, but not associated with Internet" or something like that. It's happened to me so many times, I don't think you can avoid it. It always comes back. There's a good chance, it's not your computers. Go Figure!

Answer 3

you haven't really described you problem with enough details but from what you said it doesn't sound like your having ram issues
random access memory=ram
it sounds like a software issue which can be easly fixed by just simply putting in the OS(operating system) install disk
and clicking repair it should fix whatever problem your having
i also suggest trying to run a bunch of different videos just to make sure the one you have isn't corrupted.
if all that fails then it might be your video card but i really doubt it.
dont spend the money to upgrade if you dont have to

Answer 4

what version of your WMP? the newest WMP require windows genuine test. so if u use the pirated one.. u cannot install it.
about the "pause" or should i called it lagging.
so many factors can cause this. like
1. if u watch it from internet/online it can depend on your connection speed
2. if offline it can depend on your VGA,Memory (Ram), and of course the source of the movie it self.maybe its lagging in the middle.

Answer 5

in outher words you need more memory for your computer you can go to best buy or circut city for this. it would help alot of you gave us detailed info but it sounds like you dont no much about the specs if you dont not what ram is ram=memory

Answer 6

You need 2 GB ram and better video card.

Answer 7

It sounds like you need ram. How much is in your system?

Hope That Helped!
Bri Vahling
Certified IT Tech
[e-mail]

Answer 8

i think ram is like how fast your computer will go&how much space it has on it,but yeahh,by the time you upgrade your computer with more ram,just by a new one.
it'll be better.
! :]

Answer 9

Either you need a new computer, upgrade your computer, or you need a faster ethernet connection.

Answer 10

how fast is your internet? if your using a 56k modem then that will cause it to be slow