Multimedia Technical Questions

Why does my computer ask for a Flash plug-in?
Why are the videos choppy?
Why does a multimedia file pause or freeze while playing?
Why can I hear a video clip but not see anything?
Why can’t I see the video player?
Why does my computer ask for a Flash plug-in?
Can a firewall be blocking the multimedia files?

Why does my computer ask for a Flash plug-in?
AutoTrader.com uses the latest version of Flash to play multimedia files. If you have an older version, we recommend you download a free Flash upgrade. It’s easy, and it ensures you’ll enjoy the full benefits of AutoTrader.com.

Why are the videos choppy?
The quality of the video clip you are watching depends mainly on two factors: (a) the speed of your Internet connection and (b) how the video was recorded. For the best viewing experience, we recommend a high-speed Internet connection such as DSL or a cable modem.

Why does a multimedia file pause or freeze while playing?
When you click on a multimedia file, it streams automatically to your computer. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the amount of Internet traffic, your computer may need to wait while the file finishes streaming. As soon as the file “catches up” to your computer, you should be able to watch the rest of the video or listen to the rest of the audio.

Why can I hear a video clip but not see anything?
This occurs when the speed of your Internet connection is lower than the speed of the video clip you’re watching. Heavy Internet traffic can reduce the speed of your connection. For example, you may have a high-speed DSL or cable modem connection, but due to Internet congestion or shared usage, your computer operates at a speed closer to a 56kbs dialup connection.

Can a firewall be blocking the multimedia files?
Your company or Internet Service Provider may have a firewall that is configured so that either you can’t connect to the multimedia servers, or multimedia traffic is prohibited on your network. Check with your network administrator or Internet Service Provider to see if there are any issues with watching video or listening to audio.

Why can’t I see the video player?
In order to see this video, you need to make a quick update to your Flash Player or turn your JavaScript on. To find out how to enable JavaScript, please choose your browser:

Why does my computer ask for a Flash plug-in?
AutoTrader.com uses the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player to display multimedia files. If you have an older version, we recommend you download a free Flash Player upgrade . It?s easy, and it ensures you’ll enjoy the full benefits of the site.

• Internet Explorer 6
• Internet Explorer 7
• Firefox 1.x
• Firefox 2.x

Internet Explorer 6

1. From the browser’s Tools menu select “Internet Options.”
2. Select the Security tab.
3. Pick the Internet zone icon and select the “Custom Level” button.
4. Scroll down the Settings list to the Scripting item. (To expand the lists, you might need to double-click on icons.)
5. Under the Active scripting item, choose the “Enable” radio button.
6. Click “OK” and “Yes” to confirm and close the Security Settings dialog box, then “OK” again to close the Internet Options dialog box.
7. Refresh the current page.

Internet Explorer 7

1. Select “Tools” and then “Internet Options” within that menu.
2. Click on the Security tab.
3. Click the Custom Level button.
4. Scroll down to the Scripting section.
5. Select Enable for Active Scripting and Scripting of Java Applets.
6. Click “OK.”
7. Select YES if a box appears to confirm.
8. Click “OK.” Close the window.
9. Reload or refresh the web page.

Firefox 1.x

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. On the Tools menu, click “Options.”
3. Click “Content” in the Options list.
4. Under the Content section, check the box next to “Enable JavaScript.”
5. Click the “Advanced” button to open the Advanced JavaScript Options box.
6. Check the boxes under “Allow scripts to” for actions that you want to allow.
7. Click “OK.”
8. Click “OK.”

Firefox 2.x

1. Open Firefox.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. Click Content in the Options list
4. Under the Content section, check the box next to Enable JavaScript.
5. Click the Advanced button to open the Advanced JavaScript Options box.
6. Check the boxes under “Allow scripts” for actions that you want to allow.
7. Click “OK.”
8. Click “OK.”

If you are still unable to view the video after following the steps above, please try to completely uninstall the Flash Player and then reinstall the most up to date version. For easy instructions on uninstalling a Flash Player, read this Adobe Help article.

If you need a Flash player, please visit the Adobe Download Center.

If you are still having issues after trying both of these steps, please try clearing the browser cache and cookies on your computer. In most browsers, you can do this by choosing “Options” or “Internet Options” from the Tools menu.