Trouble with iPlayer for TV - help please

[salymap]

I've had my laptop for five years and can't remember trouble with iplayer before. It asked me to sign in and rejected my password. I sorted thst out but can't access programmes. I tried to get the Celia Imrie programme, I got the page but it had my area as N Ireland and kept clicking back to that. No sign of life at all.
I have had a reminder that Adobe Flash needs updating. Could that be the trouble? When I tried to update it there was a list of several options and I have no idea which I need. I just do iPlayer and look at YouTube and things like that.

Any ideas would be useful- in non techie language if possible. Bestio, salymap

[David-G]

I don't know whether the iplayer uses Flash - if it does, it would probably help if you had an up-to-date version. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chip in here.

But I don't know why you have to sign in with a password? I use the iplayer a lot, and have never signed in, or been asked to sign in. What happens if you just click this link?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01n7m49/Who_Do_You_Think_You_Are_Series_9_Celia_Imrie/

If I click this, I can just play the programme. The iplayer has never asked my "area" and has never told me my area, so I don't know why that appears to be a problem for you.

I found this a fascinating programme. Very different from the usual "Who do you think you are". It's not so much a genealogy programme as a history programme with a (slightly) personal slant; but very fascinating.

[Northender]

I don't know whether the iplayer uses Flash - if it does, it would probably help if you had an up-to-date version. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chip in here.

But I don't know why you have to sign in with a password? I use the iplayer a lot, and have never signed in, or been asked to sign in. What happens if you just click this link?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01n7m49/Who_Do_You_Think_You_Are_Series_9_Celia_Imrie/

If I click this, I can just play the programme. The iplayer has never asked my "area" and has never told me my area, so I don't know why that appears to be a problem for you.

I found this a fascinating programme. Very different from the usual "Who do you think you are". It's not so much a genealogy programme as a history programme with a (slightly) personal slant; but very fascinating.

Same here. I wonder if salymap has iPlayer on her list of Favourites - one click and you're there (as they say). I always install Adobe Flash updates, since I never know when or whether they'll prove useful - but assume that they do.

[salymap]

Thanks all - I've tried allthe links and put Adobe 11 on to computer but nothing works, I get
through to the Celia Imrie film, it says connecting, but doesn't.

Windows Internet Explorer gets fed up and says 'not responding'. Relative coming next week who will have alook at it for me. Thanks again.

[Dave2002]

Being slightly paranoid I wonder if someone or something is trying to gain control of your machine. I don't think you should have to input a password. If this has only happened very recently I'd suggest doing a full virus scan, then a System Restore back a short while, then another virus scan, and then finally reinstall iPlayer. That could take hours, but it could be worthwile if there's any other evidence of problems on your machine. If you do go into full cleanup mode then you probably need to run other tools, such as CCleaner - I hope it doesn't come to that.

If you're less paranoid then uninstall iPlayer and download a new version and install that.

[Don Petter]

I would run CCleaner first, as one of the simpler things to to, before any of the others.

[Don Petter]

Same here. I wonder if salymap has iPlayer on her list of Favourites - one click and you're there (as they say). I always install Adobe Flash updates, since I never know when or whether they'll prove useful - but assume that they do.

I also say yes to Flash updates, assuming they are a good thing, but other than that, am not aware of anything else needed.

As others suggest, you can just go to the URL given and click Play, and it does.

I see that I do have iPlayer files under 'InterActual' in the Program Files subdirectory, but nothing relevant is listed in the 'Installed Programs' window via Control Panel, so I'm not sure how you would uninstall it, or then reinstall it.

[Anna]

I've never logged in to iplayer but clicking on that button it says 'login with your BBC iD' (as far as I can see the only advantage of using your BBC iD is that it remembers your favourite programmes on iplayer. I haven't had an iD since the MBs closed) If saly can play YouTube clips it would appear her Flash is working. Telling her she is in N.Ireland suggests the problem is to do with cookies, not anything more sinister. Saly, if you go to the iplayer page and click on the first programme there will it start without you logging in? Should she cancel her BBC iD (seeing as none of us here have one?)

[Dave2002]

I would run CCleaner first, as one of the simpler things to to, before any of the others.

Running CCleaner can mean different things. I always run the Registry cleanup tool within it if I experince problems.

[Dave2002]

Should she cancel her BBC iD (seeing as none of us here have one?)

Don't The Archers pages still exist? You should also still be able to acceess the old MBs if you know where to look. I've retained my Id and pwd just in case.

[Flay]

Are you using the iPlayer directly from its website, or are you using the downloader?

I can't see why it won't work from the schedule pages. No need to sign in at all.

[Anna]

And when I've stayed with people who have never had a BBC iD in their life (they lead sheltered lives so never experienced excitement of the old MBs!!) I can just click on iplayer on their computers. I'm sure that saly has a cookie problem but she's not said what happens when she clicks without signing in, I'm never used the download facility though, I've just watched normally. (I can access some of the old BBC MB conversations as I have them pinned to my favourites)

[french frank]

Don't The Archers pages still exist? You should also still be able to acceess the old MBs if you know where to look. I've retained my Id and pwd just in case.

You need your ID if you want to post on the R3 blog (I know, not many people do these days! ).

I'm stumped as to why you would need to log in to access the iPlayer. I always do it via Radio 3's iPlayer homepage. From there you can easily get to the homepages of other stations via the icons on the left. Pick your day, pick your programme and that's it ... isn't it?

Add:

Just realised it's a televisual problem - no difference: choose TV rather than Radio and select the channel in the same way.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01n7m49/Who_Do_You_Think_You_Are_Series_9_Celia_Imrie/

[salymap]

And when I've stayed with people who have never had a BBC iD in their life (they lead sheltered lives so never experienced excitement of the old MBs!!) I can just click on iplayer on their computers. I'm sure that saly has a cookie problem but she's not said what happens when she clicks without signing in, I'm never used the download facility though, I've just watched normally. (I can access some of the old BBC MB conversations as I have them pinned to my favourites)

Thanks Anna but I'm leaving it fornow as I'm not getting anything else done. It has always had 'sign in'printed at the left top, and the other day as I had trouble with iPlayer I put my old password in,which was rejected. Then I entered a new password and had an ackn. from the BBC, definely not a hoax as they
addressed me with my email adddress. A cousin is coming on the 20th and may know what it is, otherwise I'll put things on my hard drive whe possible. I've got a dear litle new mouse but have to get used to that too.

[Don Petter]

Running CCleaner can mean different things. I always run the Registry cleanup tool within it if I experince problems.

Agreed. But with the set defaults it just cleans up a lot of temp files and deletes cookies, which is quick and simple, and I always follow that with the registry clean-up, too.

I just meant that this is a lot easier to do for the average user before considering a System Restore, though I don't think they should be afraid of that either. I set a System Restore point automatically at start up, so always have a selection of recent ones.