QuickTime .MOV movies don't play on Windows PCs

Question

Level 1

4 points

QuickTime .MOV movies don't play on Windows PCs

The site I've been building works fine on Macs, but not on PCs.

Here's the site: www.vidacomunidadecrista.com
Click on the "Celebrações Online" link.

On PCs, clicking on the Audio buttons, usually works.
But clicking on the Video links won't.
Once one of the links played the movie, but I had to wait a long time.
The other Video links never worked...

These video files were made on iMovie '06 and are prepared for Internet streaming.

Thank you very much for your help!

iMac G5 2GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 14, 2007 4:12 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 14, 2007 4:50 AM in response to pregalla

If you copy the movie files to a PC locally and try to play them, do they play?

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Answer 2

pregalla Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 14, 2007 6:25 AM in response to pregalla

William,

Yes, if I take these video files on a USB pen or CD they play normally on PCs with QuickTime installed.
Thank you for your interest.

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Answer 3

Sep 14, 2007 6:33 AM in response to pregalla

Some of the videos are really large (>100Mb) and therefore take some time to load. Did you give them sufficient time before playing?
Which one went OK and which never played?

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Answer 4

Sep 14, 2007 7:42 AM in response to pregalla

Your files are very large and also use H.264 Video. H.264 requires the viewing machine have QuickTime 7 installed.
Your page code uses "link to file". When a viewer clicks any link some viewers browsers will try and open the file in a new browser window. Those that do not have QuickTime installed will have the linked file downloaded to their computer.
You should instruct your visitors to "right click" on the link and "copy URL". They should then open the QuickTime Player, Open URL (File menu) and paste your URL. This will open the file directly in the Player. Viewers can then continue browsing while your file downloads and come back to the QuickTime window when to file is complete.
They can even view your file at double size or even full screen.

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Answer 5

pregalla Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 15, 2007 3:31 PM in response to pregalla

@ William
Yes I gave more than enough time for them to play. Some more than 20 minutes. I think the problem lies with IE. Everything works on the Mac, but not on PCs.
I'm sorry, I cannot remember which one went OK, and I don't have a PC to test it...

@QuickTimeKirk
For the machines without the latest QT I have a button there advising and linking to download QT.
But the problem remains with PCs with QT!
It only works if Windows users download the files and then open from their hard disk.
But it was meant to work like it was supposed to:
- Left click to open the file
- Right click to download the file.
Apparently, it is working with the MP3 but not with the videos.

On my iMac G5, the site works with Safari and FireFox.
Unfortunately I don't have a PC to test the site...

Thank you all for your time and effort to help with this!

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Answer 6

Sep 15, 2007 3:57 PM in response to pregalla

A "left click" may download the file and display it in a new browser window. For PC's that do not have QuickTime and a properly configured browser the file may just download to their default download location.
Your best option is to have your viewers copy the link and open it directly in the QuickTime Player.
If you're really brave you could use QuickTime Media Link (.qtl) files. They have more features:
http://homepage.mac.com/kkirkster/.Public/Lemon_Tree.qtl

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Answer 7

Sep 15, 2007 5:03 PM in response to pregalla

For those of you dealing with this issue.

Various iterations of IE deal with Quicktime files differently. I have posted a tip and code to deal with this. Give it a try and let me know if it works for you. It does for me.
In fact, if several people want to test it and let me know I would appreciate it. I won't post it on my main tip page until some of you have success with it.

It's here: http://web.mac.com/catucker/InsideOutside/inIE.html

and... the required Apple Forum disclaimer...“I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.” My site has Google ads on it.

All the Best!

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