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BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Fri 04 Jan 2013 5:05 pm
by mrsgee
I have been having problems with my desktop Iplayer and wondered if anyone else has had the same, and whether they have any solutions. I know that there were problems some weeks ago due to Adobe Air being updated, however, the BBC I player website says that these have now been resolved. I have uninstalled and installed both my desktop and air, no end of times, but still cannot get it to work. I have tried watching straight from the BBC site, which is fine most of the time but regularly stalls, re-buffers, and sometimes gives the message that I have insufficient bandwidth to watch the programme. It is driving me nuts. I am deaf so need the subtitles which is why I need to watch through the BBC I player. Can anyone suggest, in not too teccie terms please, what I can do to get this thing working again, otherwise I am stuck with watching DVD's during the long winter months.
Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have followed all of the instructions given on BBC I player to resolve the problem, but it doesn't work.
Thanks in anticipation.
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Fri 04 Jan 2013 7:15 pm
by erol
Firstly there is still an ongoing issue with iplayer desktop when using google chrrome web browser
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/h ... top_chrome
If you are using Internet Explorer and are still having problems then follow the instructions here
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/h ... op_windows
Make sure as well as removing the iplayer desktop and adobe air programs using add remove programs that you also delete the three directories refered too in the link above. Oncce you have removed the programs AND deleted the three directories shown above iplayer desktop should install and work correctly (provided you are using internet explorer and not google chrome)
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Fri 04 Jan 2013 8:46 pm
by Mr Mac
Hi we have been having problems too - was working OK then just couldn't open it, have reinstalled following instructions, opened, I downloaded but then when to open it again- couldn't.Have deleted and reinstalled a couple of time since, will open the first time but then won't. Have given up!!
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Fri 04 Jan 2013 11:42 pm
by erol
Mr Mac wrote:Hi we have been having problems too - was working OK then just couldn't open it, have reinstalled following instructions, opened, I downloaded but then when to open it again- couldn't.Have deleted and reinstalled a couple of time since, will open the first time but then won't. Have given up!!
Did you just remove iplayer desktop and adobe air before reinstalling ? It is important to also delete the 3 directories listed in the bbc link above as well in my experience.
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Sat 05 Jan 2013 8:39 am
by mrsgee
Problem solved for now. Have found a site (carsoncomputerservices.com), under BBC I Player not working - fixed......which has a link to download the previous version of Air (it seems that it is the latest version of air causing the problem), I removed the latest version and downloaded the old version and it is up and running again. Must remember not to upgrade again to the latest version of air.
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Sun 06 Jan 2013 6:48 pm
by PapaBravo
Erol, with regard to your second link above. You will think this a stupid question, but how do I find Windows Explorer (to delete the hidden files)? I click on the Widows logo at bottom left of the screen, type in Windows Explorer in the search box, but never see Windows Explorer. Can you help??
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Sun 06 Jan 2013 6:58 pm
by erol
PapaBravo wrote:Erol, with regard to your second link above. You will think this a stupid question, but how do I find Windows Explorer (to delete the hidden files)? I click on the Widows logo at bottom left of the screen, type in Windows Explorer in the search box, but never see Windows Explorer. Can you help??
If you can find a 'my computer' icon somewhere double clicking on this will open windows explorer. You also need to find the 'folder options' - usually under tools and from the view tab of folder options turn on 'show hidden files'. THen you can click through to find the relevant directories to delete. So double click on C: drive and then on 'users' directory and so on.
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Sun 06 Jan 2013 8:10 pm
by PapaBravo
Erol, thanks for quick reply - I will try that. PB
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Sun 06 Jan 2013 8:23 pm
by PapaBravo
Erol,
If you can find a 'my computer' icon somewhere double clicking on this will open windows explorer. You also need to find the 'folder options' - usually under tools and from the view tab of folder options turn on 'show hidden files'. THen you can click through to find the relevant directories to delete. So double click on C: drive and then on 'users' directory and so on.
Found WE, but no sign of a Tools tab. Only tabs I can see are Organise and New library!
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Sun 06 Jan 2013 9:01 pm
by erol
PapaBravo wrote:
Found WE, but no sign of a Tools tab. Only tabs I can see are Organise and New library!
Tools is a menu option. On my windows 7 machine when I double click on 'computer' this is what I see with the tools menu higlighted.
http://visionmatters.co.uk/cyprus/tools.jpg
It may vary from windows version to windows version but somewhere in windows explorer there should be a tools - view - show hidden files option
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Mon 07 Jan 2013 11:17 am
by erol
PapaBravo wrote:
Found WE, but no sign of a Tools tab. Only tabs I can see are Organise and New library!
Having done a bit more poking around , you can do it from the 'organise' menu option.
Select Oragnise, then select "folder and search options", then select the 'view' tab and then select the 'show hidden files' option and then select apply.
Once you have done this you should be able to see and find the directories the bbc help link says to delete.
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Mon 07 Jan 2013 1:11 pm
by PapaBravo
Erol (re msg 11),
Thank you for your patience and time. I followed your instructions but still couldn't see the hidden files, but never mind. I think I may be able to get round this by deleting the individual BBC downloaded programmes in the Video file. Thanks again for taking the time and trouble to help me out. PB
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Mon 07 Jan 2013 7:11 pm
by Maisiemoo
It took me an hour and a half to sort this out, but my fault for not realising that Acer C (I have an Acer computer) is where the offending files were hidden - I'm not very computer literate. However in my search I did come across a forum that recommended re-installing Adobe Air version 3.4.0.2540 which i did and everything is now fine, phew!
Re: BBC Desktop Iplayer
Posted: Tue 08 Jan 2013 8:31 am
by erol
Maisiemoo wrote:It took me an hour and a half to sort this out, but my fault for not realising that Acer C (I have an Acer computer) is where the offending files were hidden - I'm not very computer literate. However in my search I did come across a forum that recommended re-installing Adobe Air version 3.4.0.2540 which i did and everything is now fine, phew!
The problem was caused by the adobe air update to v 3.5 however according to the BBC they have now fixed this and iplayer desktop will work (with Internet explorer not google chrome) with adobe air 3.5 but you may have unistall and reinstall both iplayer desktop and adobe air (and the hidden directories as well) to get this working. Downgrading to adobe air 3.4 works but the problem with that is you have to make sure that you do not upgrade adobe air which in turn my cause problems down the road with iplayer desktop or other applications that use adobe air.
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/h ... tdisappear