• Look for the player controls and for status messages such as "Connecting..." or "Buffering..." in the lower-left corner of the new window. If you do not see those, use the vertical scroll bar on the new window to scroll down until the controls and status messages are visible.
• If you see status messages such as "Connecting..." or "Buffering..." in the lower-left corner of the new window, wait a little longer. The video is preparing to play.
• If you see the word "Ready" in the lower-left corner of the new window, click the Play button. You may have to do this several times.

Windows Media Player uses support files called codecs to play media files. Media Player uses one codec for audio and another codec for video. If you're hearing the audio but not seeing the video (or vice versa), you're missing one of the codecs needed to play the file.

When Media Player does not have the codecs needed to play a file, it tries to download those missing codecs for you. Several factors can prevent Media Player from downloading the needed codecs. Follow these troubleshooting suggestions:

• Make sure Media Player can download codecs.

  How?

  1. In Media Player, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Player tab.
  2. Under Automatic updates, make sure the Download codecs automatically check box is selected.
  3. Run the demo again.
• Make sure you're an administrator on the computer that you're using to watch the video.

  How?

  1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage. The Computer Management window appears.
  2. In the left pane of that window, click the plus sign next to Local Users and Groups, and then double-click Groups.
  3. In the right pane of the Computer Management window, double-click Administrators. The Administrators Properties dialog box appears.
  4. Under Members, you should see your name, network account, or e-mail alias if you're an administrator on the computer you're using.

  If you aren't an administrator on the computer you're using, you need to contact your system administrator.

• Make sure your browser is set to a medium security level. Using a high security level prevents Media Player from downloading any missing codecs.

  How?

  1. In Windows® Internet Explorer®, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Security tab.
  2. Under Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings, click the option that applies to you.

     For example, if you're connected directly to the Internet, click Internet. If you're connected to a network, click Local intranet.

  3. Under Security level for this zone, move the slider from High to Medium.

      Note   If you don't see the slider, click Default Level.

  4. Run the demo again.
• Make sure your network is not preventing you from connecting to the demo. Contact your network administrator or system administrator.

 Important   To install the player, you must be an administrator on the computer you're using. After you install Windows Media Player, you must restart your computer, return to the article that contains the demo, and then run the demo again.

 Important   To install the player, you must be an administrator on the computer you're using. After you install Windows Media Player, you must restart your computer, return to the article that contains the demo, and then run the demo again.

 Important   To install any missing components, you must be an administrator on the computer you're using. After you install Windows Media Player, you must restart your computer, return to the article that contains the demo, and then run the demo again.

"Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The file may be formatted with an unsupported codec, or the Player could not download the codec."

• If you're viewing a demo for Office 2003, install the ACELP codec from the WMPlugins ACELP codec download page. Some older videos use this codec.
• Update the drivers for your audio card. For possible driver updates, see your audio card manufacturer's Web site.

To stop the audio and video from playing, click Stop. To stop just the audio, click Mute. To restore the audio, click Mute again.

If you don't hear the audio, there could be a problem with your computer, or your computer may not have a sound card. Another reason could be that you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer 5 or later.

Here are some other reasons the audio may not work:

The Mute button on the controls may be turned on.

The Volume slider may be set too low.

The system volume may be set too low.

Other programs may be using your sound devices.

Your computer speakers or headphones may not be plugged in correctly.