Member Avatar for bcr8tivegirl

Hey everyone,

This is my dilemma: I can't watch videos on Youtube using Firefox, Netscape, or Opera.

I was able to watch videos yesterday, but when I decided to watch an episode of a show today, I get this annoying message:

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.

I have downloaded flash player and checked my Javascript. I read an old thread here about Quicktime causing some problems, so I deleted mine, yet I still can't watch anything. I visited Youtube's Help section re: common error messages and did everything step by step. It's frustrating...all I want to do is watch videos. *Sigh*

If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

  • 3 Contributors
  • 3 Replies
  • 126 Views
  • 4 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by bcr8tivegirl

Dani AI

Generated

A few clarifications and a short troubleshooting checklist to complement ’s report and the replies by and .

Java and JavaScript are different things (as noted): Java is a separate VM; JavaScript is the browser scripting language that YouTube pages use. The players themselves are browser plugins (historically Flash). Common causes for the exact error seen here are a blocked/disabled script, a missing or corrupted plugin, a conflicting plugin (QuickTime has been known to interfere), or an extension that blocks scripts or plugins.

Practical diagnostic steps (in order):

  • Check the browser plugin list (for Firefox, about:plugins or Tools > Add-ons > Plugins) and confirm a Shockwave/Flash entry with a version number.
  • If Flash is present but pages still complain, fully remove it (Control Panel uninstall or removing plugin files in the browser/plugin folders), reboot the browser, then reinstall from the vendor site. Admin rights are often required.
  • Disable or remove any script-blocking extensions (NoScript, similar tools) and try a browser Restart with Add-ons Disabled / Safe Mode to rule out extensions.
  • Temporarily disable QuickTime/other media plugins (disable in the Add-ons/Plugins list or move npqtplugin.dll out of the plugins folder) to check for conflicts.
  • Clear browser cache/cookies and test with a fresh profile or a different browser to isolate the problem.
  • Check firewall/AV logs if a plugin download or execution was blocked.

A final note for later readers: YouTube moved from Flash to HTML5 over time and Flash has been deprecated; using a modern, up-to-date browser will avoid many legacy plugin issues. The community comments here helped identify the right distinction between Java and JavaScript, which is the important first step.

Member Avatar for oracle000

Thats right. you dont have an updated java technology to view the video in youtube.. try downloading the latest update in Java.com..
if doesn't work download the latest flash player in adobe...

Member Avatar for darrglud

Oracle000! Java isn't Javascript. She needs to enable Javascript in her browser, or go to Adobe's site and install the latest flash player.

Member Avatar for bcr8tivegirl

Hey everyone!

I managed to fix it and now I can watch again! Thank you so much for all your help.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.