Rich media will not play

Ok.  I have just finished formatting and re-installing the OS and all my software including Adobe Reader 9 but when I try to read the newsletter it still generates the same error.  Am I missing something else?  I assume that if this doesn't work with the newsletter that I will have the same experience with the mediazine.  :o(

Always need the details ...

Kevin:

We always need the details to answer your question.

What machine - Mac or PC? What OS? Windows XP, Visa, OS X tiger, OS X leopard, what flavor of Linux (if you're running Linux).

What kind of browser when on the web? IE, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari?

Fire up Adobe reader and do an About Adobe Reader - then tell us which version it says you're using.

Finally, go to this link and tell us which version of Flash Player it says you have installed.

And yes, if the newsletter media elements won't work for you, then neither will the rich media elements of the magazine.

Also tell me, when you installed all the software on your machine again, did you take a fresh install of the op system and install Adobe Reader 9 right off the bat - or did you install some other software first? Most often, the problem is some do-dad like the Yahoo tool bar or some other "free goodie" you install that has a conflict with the Flash Player. It's almost impossible to tell exactly what it might be unless you start with a fresh machine with NOTHING EXTRA on it, and then get the Flash Player inside a PDF working FIRST.

Then start installing your other software and retest the PDF with Flash content after each install of ANYTHING NEW. Somewhere along the line you will find the culprit - and most likely it will be something simple that you probably could live without.

The details...

I am using a PC, (Toshiba laptop) running Windows XP W/service pack 2.

My browser is Firefox 3.03

Adobe Reader 9.0.0

Flash Player Version - WIN 10,0,12,36

No I did not test the newsletter with an Adobe Reader only installation.  I did install other software prior to testing.  I avoid things like the Yahoo toolbar like the plague, and when I reloaded my software I omitted anything that I was sure I did not need.

I just spent about 6 hours reloading this system.  Are you now suggesting I start over again with a clean OS, install Adobe Reader 9 and then test the newsletter to verify it's operation.  Then install apps one at a time, testing the reader after each installation until it stops working?  At that point will I have to begin all over again and omit the application that seems to be the problem?  What if there is more than one?

You know Joe.  From my point of view it is Adobe Reader that is the problem.  All my other software is working fine.  It's the only app with a problem...for that matter Adobe seems to have no issues with anything except the newsletter...

The stupid thing is the sample of the mediazine worked at one time...not any more, but it did work once upon a time.

Sigh, this is really not making my day.

Thanks for any advice you may be able to offer.  I would sure like to avoid having to spend even more time trying to find the application Adobe doesn't like.  I'm already not liking Adobe, if you know what I mean. )

Well I tried...

I tried removing a few programs that I may have begun using after the point where the media stopped working and did a repair on the Adobe Reader application but no difference there unfortunately.

Other than those few I am not sure I am willing to give up using any of the remaining apps in order to make Adobe Reader happy.

Of course the odds are that whatever is conflicting was not fixed by "uninstalling" the programs, so if I want this to work I suppose I'll have to start with a clean slate again.

Oh man...somebody shoot me please! :o|

Just to confirm, Kevin...

you are downloading the file first, then opening it in Adobe, right?  You're not trying to open it in your browser?

Also, do you have any other computers you can try?

Kevin:

If you think this is annoying, imagine how we feel? I'm expecting a few people such as yourself who will not be able to read the issue's multimedia goodies no matter what.

One suggestion is to try reading the publication on another computer that works.

The other thing I expect to do is to create the included media as a separate downloadable package and then to see the media you will have to play them separately in Adobe Media Player.

I don't relish all the work you're doing, but if it makes you feel any better, contact me offline if you like and let's discuss making this worth your while. I'd like somebody like you who is having issues to work through the whole thing methodically with us and we will compensate you for the beta testing service you're providing us - and the service you will be doing for the few others who will also have your problem.

Confirmation

Dave,

Yes I am downloading the zip and extracting it then opening it with Adobe. Thanks for checking though, the more hands on deck the better I always say.

Other computers etc.

Joe,

I do feel your pain, and I know the last thing you need as you push to meet the deadline is a guy crying around cause his puter is broke, like it is your problem. )

I appreciate your taking the time to try to help.  What is really bugging me is the fact that I am usually not the guy crying around because my puter is hashed!

Yes I do have a couple of other systems, though I am ashamed to admit they are not %100 at the moment either.  I can get one up to speed without too much trouble I imagine so I will look at that option too.  Since moving to where we are now, I have been mainly using the laptop so the other systems have been collecting dust.  Another laptop is on my want list but that won't be happening right away.

I will drop you a line regarding working through this together and "beta testing" although I don't think compensation is required.

Thanks for the help and the understanding Joe!

The latest update

Well, we all know MRH was not to blame, and Adobe seems to be without fault too...which is a good thing cause I use Adobe apps all the time!

I brushed the dust off of one of my desktop systems, loaded up the latest Adobe Reader (9) and downloaded the newsletter.  The rich media played without a hitch...which is to be expected.  So it seems that some junky piece of software is gumming up the works on my laptop.

I'll start the laptop setup all over again tonight or tomorrow and see if I can find the culprit that threw a wrench into the works.  I'll be sure to report my findings once I get to the bottom of this.

Grumble grumble...cheesey software conflicts anyway... )

EDIT:

I got it working!

Reminds me of the tech support tech's mantra...

Repeat after me: All hardware sucks, all software sucks, computers suck.

OTOH, it's a living.

Exactly, Jeff

I've made a good living supporting hardware and software issues the last 10 years.  If they worked perfectly out of the box and never gave any trouble, there would be an awful lot of us unemployed.

You know it!

Yeah, and I would have way too much time on my hands.  Indeed, fixing puters has kept the bills paid and food on the table in the past and perhaps in the future too.

I'm just happy that I can view my mediazine on the system of my choosing.  With my software issue resolved the newsletter works great!  The scale specific buttons are a dandy addition and like everyone else has been saying the presentation is awesome!

Computer tech's as model railroaders?

I wonder what percentage of model railroaders work in the computer or computer support industries - there seems to be an awful lot of us around.

Including our gracious host.

Occupation w.r.t. model railroading

Maybe a separate thread is desirable to tabulate occupations.

Myself:  used to do computer consulting (Previous to Pentiums & Win95) - hardware and engineering software, and other engineering consulting.  Got tired of getting paid 6 -9 - 12 months later.  Now I do fire protection engineering for a fire dept., with a regular paycheck.  "+":  regular hours;  "-":   less railfanning on the spur of the moment.

The good news is The Newsletter is Great!   Thanks.

Techs and trains

Jeff,

You are right!

It does seem like techs and trains do flock together.

I have been somewhat of a "jack of all trades", (master of none) but I spent some time in the IT field at both the corporate and consumer levels.

My current "trade" is the most rewarding though.  Stay at home dad!

Occupation

I myself was a Nuclear Operator at a nuclear plant for 17 years. Left that and now I do IT Infrastructure work for one of the largest law firm in Florida. We have close to 500 lawyers and 10 offices throughout the state.I do all the hardware, no software.  But I preffered working on modeling trains.  

adobe 9

Hello -I had a similar sounding problem in reading the newsletter before the magazine came out - I finally used the Windows XP  "add and remove  programs" tool and removed everything that had "adobe" in the title.

Then I read the newsletter again and every time it said "you need to down load " something - I did that - from the newsletter's prompt so I could go right to the source.

When I finished with that - not too  big a job -  everything worked - including the magazine.

good luck

Artarms