SuccessTALK Channels
Help Page
This site has been operational since 1999.
As a general rule the audio that you are wanting to listen to would not have a "Click Here to Listen" link unless there is an audio file already uploaded and active.
Our tech support has found over the last few years that 95% of the time when someone can't listen it is because of how their computer is configured.
There are a few simple fixes that cure almost 100% of the problems.
1. This site uses JavaScript. If some of the buttons don't work for you, please ensure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser, at least while using this site. Accessing the window to set this varies, depending on what browser you are using.
Fix: In Internet Explorer it's Tools > Internet Options > Security. Move the slider to "Medium". If you have custom levels set, a slider won't appear. Click "Custom Level", scroll down to "Scripting" and click the "Enabled" radio button from the "Active Scripting" choices.
In Firefox it's Tools > Options > Content. Click the "Enable JavaScript" check box.
Details for enabling JavaScript on other browsers are beyond the scope of this article, but the process should be similar.
2. Some Ad / Pop Up Blockers and Tool Bars may interfere with the process of accessing an audio file.
Fix: If you have a popup blocker then temporarily disable it when attempting to listen. Optional toolbars for your browser like the Google, Yahoo or MSN toolbars can also block popups.
We have tested the site with Google's toolbar and found that it does not cause any problems. Neither do the popup blockers in Internet Explorer or Firefox. Our site opens small windows to play shows and occasionally to provide information that you requested. This is under your control, so they are not the offensive type of popup.
3. The Windows Media Player has not installed properly or has been modified by the addition of another player. Many music and radio sites reconfigure the Windows Media Player for their own benefit. Sometimes this is simply a technical requirement so that they can interact with the Windows Media Player in a particular way. Often however this is done deliberately so that it is "easy" to listen to their site and not so easy to listen to their competitors.
If the link to the Audio Is NOT working
The link works fine.
In most cases when it doesn’t it is because the computer is confused as to which media player to use to play the audio. This happens most often on a Windows based machine between the Windows Media Player (which is a more general player) and the Apple QuickTime Player (built into ITunes) which is more proprietary to Apple media files.
Here’s the fix:
Open Windows Media Player from the Start Menu Button.
At the top find File – View – Play – Tools – Help
Select Tools
Select Options from the Tools tab
Click on the “File Types” tab.
Click on “Select All”
Then click on “Apply” and then “Ok”
Close down Windows Media Player all together and the e-mail program you use to access your e-mail with the link to the audio file you want to listen to.
The safest bet would be to reboot your computer and then click on the link again but often just coming out of and then going back into the program where the link is and clicking on it is enough.
Clicking on the Link should then load the Windows Media Player and the audio/video file should then just automatically begin to play.
This fix resets the File Associations to their correct settings and works in 99% of the cases where a media file cannot be played.
If it does not work for you then repeat the steps again to make sure it has been accepted by the computer. Then shut down the computer completely and restart and attempt to listen again.
AOL
AOL users know that this is a problem within AOL and they know to cut and paste the link into Internet Explorer’s Address Window.
Switch Browsers
Also try switching browsers from AOL or FireFox to Internet Explorer. Often that will do the trick.
Upgrade your Windows Media Player.
If you still can’t listen then go to Microsoft’s site and upgrade your Media Player to the latest version.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/previousversions.aspx
Reinstall
If the Upgrade didn’t do the trick then try reinstalling the current version of the Media Player that you have installed now. Often just overwriting the program files will fix the problem.
Some Apple Computers and Operating Systems
Quite often Mac users have trouble playing Windows Media Files. Mac users should install a program called Flip2Mac which solves the problem. The program is free but there are upgrades which are not necessary for listing to audio files.
Follow this link or go to the main Flip2Mac website to Download. Installation instructions are provided below.
Microsoft Web Site: (if it doesn’t work then cut and paste it into your browser address panel)
Flip2Mac Website:
http://www.telestream.net/flip4mac-wmv/overview.htm
Instructions (from the Microsoft Flip2Mac Page):
Before you install Windows Media® Components for QuickTime:
Important - Make sure that your Mac OS X user account has read and write access. If your login account does not allow you to administer the computer you will be asked for an administrator name and password during the installation.
To install Windows Media Components for QuickTime:1. Print this page if you want to use it as a reference when you are offline.
2. Make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements.
3. Click the Download button.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to save the file to your hard disk.
If you are using Safari, the file is downloaded to the desktop unless you
specified a different folder in the Preferences dialog box of Safari.
(To check your preferences, on the Safari menu, click Preferences,
and then click General.)
If you are using Internet Explorer, the Download Manager saves the file to the
desktop unless you specified a different folder in the Preferences
dialog box of Internet Explorer. (To check your preferences, on the Explorer
menu, click Preferences, and then click Download Options in the
left pane).
5. In most Web browsers, the file you downloaded expands automatically. If it does not, on your hard disk, double-click the file you downloaded in step 4 to mount the disk image and extract the compressed .mpkg file.
6. Click the .mpkg file to run the installer.
7. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish installation.
8. Restart all QuickTime-based applications.
Why does this happen?
Every company that supplies a media player with their software (DVD burning, iTunes, AOL, etc.) want "their" player to pop up when you click on something to listen. It’s good advertising to have their name in front of you at all times. Apple is especially aggressive and installs itself where it is not wanted and takes over the media files almost completely without the computer owner's knowledge. Apple not only takes over but also stops the Windows Media Player from launching at all, which is particularity annoying to the user and to Microsoft. This war has been going on since the late 90’s and never been resolved.
If All Else Fails
If this does not work then you need to take your computer in for servicing.
If you need help
It doesn't do us much good to get an e-mail from someone who says "I can't listen". We need to know more before we can offer any help at all.
- What type of computer do you have (Intel, AMD or Mac processor)
- What size and speed of chip or if you don't know that then how many years old is it.
- What operating system i.e. Windows 98, XP etc.
- How do you connect to the Internet? Dialup, Cable Modem etc?
- What browser do you use to surf the net? i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox etc.
- What Media Player and version is installed?
- What show were you trying to listen to when you had the problem?
- What happens when you try and listen?
Send us an e-mail with the above information and we'll do everything we can to help you out.
For more Information Contact:
Tech Support
support@success-talk.com
Vancouver 604-261-5105