Play web videos with Internet Explorer 8

Q I have noticed over the past few weeks that I can no longer watch videos online.

I have watched one video before but now all I get is a blank screen. The same happens on another site: I see a banner that asks me to watch a video but again there is a blank screen.

I have Windows XP installed and have just updated to Internet Explorer 8.

Dudley Clark

A If the problem is limited to videos on websites it sounds like Flash has stopped working. Flash is a program that your web browser uses to play internet video, and it's normally installed automatically.

If it stops working you will see a blank screen where you should see video in your web browser. First, go to the Adobe Flash Player site and click the link on the right that says ‘Download Flash Player 10 now’.

Incidentally, you should see some moving video near the top of that page, with sound if you have speakers or headphones plugged in.

If you don’t there is definitely a problem with Flash. Click the yellow ‘Agree and install now’ button on the download page and follow the prompts that appear, then restart the computer and try viewing an internet video.

If this does not work, click the Start button, Control Panel (or Start, Settings, Control Panel), select ‘Add or Remove Programs’ and find the entries for Adobe Flash, click one and click Remove, then follow the prompts.

Do the same for any other entries for Adobe Flash or Flash Player (there may be more than one). Then follow the above instructions to re-install the Flash Player and restart the computer.

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