RealVideo FAQ at WebcastingTV:

WebcastingTV tries to keep track of the Questions and Answers to frequent problems.  Most problems are a function of simply missing one of the steps of a installation or update.  Many times an Internet viewer simply does not realize that they missed something.  The first thing you should always do is retrace the steps that brought you to the "problem" you are trying to fix.

Another source of frequent trouble is that a viewer changes something else on their computer, say they install a new software or hardware, and it interferes with another aspect of their computer.  Please keep tract of the recent events that have occurred within your computer when trying to diagnose a current problem.  Usually the "fix" is simple, even though the symptoms are confusing.

• Q: You have a high speed connection (Cable, DSL, or Network) and you selected "Cable/DSL" as your modem speed, but your RealPlayer never goes above 60Kbps (Kbps=1,024 bits per second):
  A: There are two reasons this may occur.  First, there simply my be too much traffic on the connection you are on.  It could be locally, on your computer network.  It could be other users in the neighborhood, on your Cable Modem.  It could be simply heavy network traffic on the Internet backbone.  But, it should abate at some time and let you get higher bandwidth.  If it does not, then the second reason you could be restricted to this lower data rate could be in the "preferences" of the RealPlayer software.  In order to check, follow these instructions:
  1) Start up a RealVideo video clip (any one will do).
  2) When it gets going (after the buffering), RIGHT-click on the video frame.
  3) Select "Preferences.." then click on the "Connection" tab.
  4) In the "Normal bandwidth" setting, select at least 256Kbs DSL/Cable.
  5) Click OK, then restart the video.  You don't have to restart your browser.
  
  This should reset your RealPlayer software to use 256Kbs as your "expected" data rate, and let it stream faster.  This problem is common with people who upgrade to a faster connection after they have installed the RealPlayer software, or to people who are using a laptop, and while they are away form the office (and their network high speed connection) use the build-in modem to connect.  In general, it is better to have the "Normal bandwidth" setting set too high rather than too low.
  
  
• Q: You received the error message "Cannot connect to server, the link you requested may be inaccurate or out of date" when you try to access content?
  A: The file (or clip) has been removed from the Internet. If you can access other media links (content) on our site, this is most likely the cause of the problem. We usually remove a link when the clip is removed from the server, but mistakes happen... Please report the problem to our support address.
  
  If you receive this message during a scheduled live event, then the server may be unavailable because of being overloaded, or the live event is over. Again, report the problem to our support address. 
  
  

• Q: I have trouble getting RealPlayer to work in AOL, what do I do?
  A: When you use RealPlayer while connected to America Online (AOL), you may receive one of the following errors: 
      "Unable to connect to the server" 
      "Cannot connect to server" 
  These errors typically happen for one of the following reasons: 
  
  AOL has an "idle timer" feature that automatically disconnects you if you have not used your computer while connected to AOL for a predetermined amount of time. You will receive a "Cannot connect to server" error if AOL has terminated your connection and you try to access the Internet with RealPlayer. 
  If this occurs, you must reconnect to AOL. Once you have reconnected to AOL, you can access content with RealPlayer. 
  
  When you install RealPlayer and use AOL 4.0 or 5.0 to connect to the Internet, RealPlayer may configure itself to use your web browser's HTTP proxy settings. As a workaround for this problem, reconfigure RealPlayer so it does not use the HTTP proxy settings. 
  
  RealPlayer G2: 
      Start RealPlayer G2. 
      Click the Option menu and choose Preferences. 
      Click the Proxy tab. 
      Select the "No HTTP Proxy" check box in the HTTP Options section. 
      Click OK. 
      Restart RealPlayer. 

RealPlayer 7 & 8 beta: 
    Start RealPlayer 7 or 8 beta. 
    Click the View menu and choose Preferences. 
    Click the Proxy tab. 
    Click the "No HTTP Proxy" check box in the HTTP Options section. 
    Click OK. 
    Restart RealPlayer.

• Q: I get an error message saying "Cannot connect to server". What should I do?
  A: If you receive a "Cannot connect to server" error after you click a link on a web page, the delivery protocol for the content may be configured incorrectly. As a workaround, try setting the RealPlayer transport method to HTTP Only: 
  
  RealPlayer G2: 
      Start RealPlayer G2. 
      Click the Option menu and choose Preferences. 
      Click the Transport tab. 
      Click "Use Specified Transports". 
      Click the RTSP Settings button, then click "HTTP Only". 
      Click OK. 
      Click the PNA Settings button, then click "HTTP Only". 
      Click OK, then click OK again. 
  
  RealPlayer 7 & 8 beta: 
      Start RealPlayer 7 or 8 beta. 
      Click the View menu and choose Preferences. 
      Click the Transport tab. 
      Click "Use Specified Transports". 
      Click the RTSP Settings button, then click "HTTP Only". 
      Click OK. 
      Click the PNA Settings button, then click "HTTP Only". 
      Click OK, then click OK again. 
  
  
  How do I configure Internet Explorer 4.0x - 5.0 to work with RealPlayer 8 for Windows?
  GOTO RealVideo Support
  
  
  How do I manually configure Netscape Communicator 4.0x - 4.7x to work with RealPlayer 8 for Windows?
  GOTO RealVideo Support 
  
  
  How do I configure AOL 4.0 to work with RealPlayer 8 for Macintosh?
  GOTO RealVideo Support 
  
  
  How do I configure RealPlayer 8 to work with Internet Explorer 4.x - 5.0 for Macintosh?
  GOTO RealVideo Support 
  
  
  How do I configure RealPlayer 8 to work with Netscape Navigator 4.0x - 4.7x for Macintosh?
  GOTO RealVideo Support 
  
  
  Troubleshooting "Low System Resources" error messages in RealPlayer G2 and later for Windows 
  GOTO RealVideo Support 
  
  
  Using RealPlayer with Firewalls
  GOTO RealVideo Support