After running into MediaError(1231) numerous times, and having Netflix tell me to upgrade(sure…) to Silverlight(junk), I had had enough. Thus it was time to go digging. I couldn’t be the first to run into this problem… And sure enough, folks were running into it on the netflix ning site.
Some additional googling led me to believe it was a DRM(idiotic garbage technology) problem…. but at least such is fixable. Its not the first time I’ve run into this. Of course, the problem is, if netflix is trying to strongarm people into Silverlight(junk software) sooner or later, it will happen. Thus all this fix does, is hopefully buy some time, either for them to drop silverdark, or if they do go through with it, a few weeks, or months of further usage.
The fix does blow away your IE settings and data, plus if you have any other DRM content, it will likely blow it away as well.
My system is a 8 yr old, 1133Mhz mobile P3 with 512MB of ram running WIN XP SP3, and from prior experience, its way too under powered to run Silverlight (at least not without major skips and dropouts), thus the new player is not an option.
This is what I did… ymmv
from
http://smashedlife.wordpress.com/2007/06/03/netflix-instant-viewing-errors/#comment-220
1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools – Internet Options – Advanced – Reset.
from
http://smashedlife.wordpress.com/2007/06/03/netflix-instant-viewing-errors/#comment-232
2. made the DRM file visible: (Start, my computer, tools, folder options, click “show hidden files” and uncheck “hide protected operating system files (recommended)”)
3. found the DRM file under c:, documents and settings, all users.
4. renamed “DRM” to “Backupdrm” by right clicking.
5. After performing the above I went to the link noted in an earlier post:
http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/Indivsite/en/indivit.asp?force=1
And it works just as it used to… no problems at all.
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2 users commented in " Fixing netflix instant watch MediaError(1231) "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThis is the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. I’ve been developing for Silverlight for 9 months now, and it is one of the best run-times I have ever developed for. Silverlight sports a rich programming model that allows you to develop software using C#, VB.NET, Ruby, or Python, personally I opt for Python. Xaml is a fantastic UI technology that allows developers to build rich user interfaces with ease. Silverlight has excellent support for communicating to the server using standards based Web Services. In short it is a fantastic piece of technology. Even Microsoft haters such as the CEO of Zoho have come out and said it’s an excellent piece of technology. The fact that you would call it “junk software” is a true demonstration of your lack of expertise in this area.
Ah… but you are a developer, not a user, there in lies the difference. As a developer years ago, there were many fine tools I held as favorites, albeit archaic by todays standards. The thing is, the best tools in the world, are worthless, if they don’t produce a product in line with the customers need.
That being said, friends of mine were involved with Silverlight for the Olympics, and not only did they sing its praises as developers (well, minus the early squaks of a new tool) but also how well it worked out for the users. Even I was impressed with the implementation.
The problem with netflix may not necessarily be Silverlight, it could just be a terribly misguided application specs, or inexperienced programmers way out of their league. I don’t know the internal dynamics of their company, but either way, its is coming across as junk from a users point of view.
Fwiw, the hack quit working for me, and thus instant viewing is no longer an option. I’m half tempted to get a set top box, or drop them entirely. If I knew they would support the embedded player for a 3 year period, I’d do it. Otoh, there are no guarantees, and the last thing I need is a useless paper weight if they change the technology and obsolete it in 6 months.
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