Window Media 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: Content Won't Play. 
  A: The server may be down, the content may have been moved, or the URL to the content is wrong. In these situations you can do nothing. If the content is embedded in the HTML page, try clicking on the player's video screen. In some cases, network congestion could cause the player to time out; keep trying, or try again later when the network is less congested. 



• Q: Content plays, but there are a lot of pauses and the player says "buffering." 
  A: The player is most likely experiencing network congestion, meaning there is not enough available bandwidth to stream the selected file. When using a TCP connection, the data in the player's buffer will be used to supplement the stream until the buffer is depleted. Once the buffered data is gone, the player will pause, replenish the buffer, and resume playing, using this new buffer to supplement the playback stream bandwidth. This cycle will continue until network conditions improve. Try again when the network is less congested, or select content that is authored for lower bandwidths. 
  
  Another option is to use UDP as your protocol by ensuring that it is the only protocol option selected in the advanced properties. This will reduce the amount of buffering but will have the adverse effect of dropping data in cases of high congestion or insufficient bandwidth. If you are located behind a firewall, you may not be able to use UDP as your protocol. 



• Q: Content plays, but the quality is poor. 
  A: Content served by Windows Media Technologies is created for specific bandwidth ranges. If the content is created for a 28.8 Kbps or 56 Kbps connection but Internet traffic is heavy, the NetShow Services server will start to drop the frame rate (frames per second) to compensate for increase of network congestion, causing the video to be jerky and uneven. Try again when the connection is better, or be sure to select content that's targeted for the bandwidth you have available. 
  
  The quality of the audio or video may also be poor because of the content creator's compression choices. In order to compress content for play over constrained bandwidth networks such as the Internet, mathematical algorithms called codecs are applied to the content. The content creator's codec selection greatly influences the quality the user sees or hears. For example, if the content creator prioritized audio quality over video quality or frame rate, you may enjoy the audio but be frustrated by the video. 



• Q: I can play content from some sites but not others. 
  A: Most likely you are behind a firewall that has not had the appropriate ports opened for use with Netshow Services. However, if a server has HTTP streaming enabled, the Windows Media Player can take advantage of its protocol rollover capabilities and receive the file via HTTP rather than the normal (and optimal) streaming protocols. This is why you can receive content from some sites but not others. For best quality and consistent results, encourage your administrator to open the appropriate ports on the firewall to allow streaming. 



• Q: Does Windows Media Player 7 require a connection to the Internet?
  A: No. Windows Media Player 7 is best experienced with an Internet connection, but it is not required. Certain features, such as the display of CD information and retrieval of AMG music and artist data, may be unavailable until the consumer connects to the Internet. 



• Q: What speed Internet connection do I need to get digital media?
  A: Any speed from 28.8 Kbps to broadband is acceptable to receive digital media. Most content providers offer a variety of connection speeds. Naturally, the faster your connection speed, the better the quality of the audio and video. 



• Q: How do I uninstall Windows Media Player 7 on my Windows 2000 computer?
  A: To uninstall the Windows Media Player 7: 
  Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 
  Double-click Add/Remove Programs, click Windows Media Player 7, and then click Change/Remove. 
  In the Windows Media Components Setup dialog box, make sure the Remove Windows Media Components option is selected, and then click Next. 
  In the Windows Media Components Setup dialog box, scroll down the list, select the Windows Media Player check box, and then click Next. 
  
  Additional FAQ at Microsoft