Netflix Website Won't Load

Question

Level 1

8 points

Netflix Website Won't Load

I've been having trouble loading the Netflix website recently. It used to load just fine until 3-4 months ago. Now it simply tries to load indefinitely without success. Just goes to a white screen. I've tried using Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome all with the same problem. Also tried loading the site from different locations to make sure it wasn't just my network, and the problem is the same.

When the problem started, I used to be able to load the Queue directly, but now I can't even do that. I can access the login page, the account information page, and a few individual movie pages, but that's about it (no search functions, no queue, no watch instantly, etc).

I ran a route trace on http://movies.netflix.com/Queue at DNS Stuff, and here's what it says in the analysis summary (fyi, i turned off all my firewall settings before running the trace):

+Number of hops: 17+

+Last hop responding to ICMP: 12, UDP: 13, TCP: 0.+

+There appears to be a firewall at 216.182.225.75 (hop 13) that blocks ICMP (ping) packets.+

+There appears to be a firewall at (hop 14) that blocks unwanted UDP packets.+

+There appears to be a firewall at 70.86.70.33 (hop 1) that blocks unwanted TCP packets.+

Any ideas?

Macbook 2.13GHz 2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 26, 2011 3:57 AM

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Answer 1

TeenTitan

Level 4

2,640 points

Jan 26, 2011 8:35 PM in response to ahelgeso

You could try resetting your DNS cash. You can use a program like DNS Flusher to do so.

Have you tried re-installing SilverLight? Netflix uses silverlight to play video; if your silverlight is out of date, or damaged, it would explain why you have the issue on multiple web browsers. After SilverLIght is installed, you can go to Microsoft's Website to verify silver light is installed and up to date.

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Answer 2

ahelgeso Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2011 10:02 PM in response to TeenTitan

Yup, already tried updating Silverlight. Tried using DNS Flusher, but it didn't help. Thanks for the suggestion, though. I'll keep it in mind when I'm troubleshooting network issues.

Any other ideas?

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Answer 3

TeenTitan

Level 4

2,640 points

Jan 27, 2011 7:41 PM in response to ahelgeso

Have you checked to make sure you have "Arial.ttf" in /Library/Fonts/
Also make sure "Arial.ttf" is not in ~/Library/Fonts/
If that doesn't work you could try removing silver lights preferences ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Silverlight

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Answer 4

ahelgeso Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 28, 2011 5:13 AM in response to TeenTitan

TeenTitan wrote:
Have you checked to make sure you have "Arial.ttf" in /Library/Fonts/
Also make sure "Arial.ttf" is not in ~/Library/Fonts/
If that doesn't work you could try removing silver lights preferences ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Silverlight

Tried those too a while back, but they didn't work.

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Answer 5

Feb 20, 2011 5:25 PM in response to ahelgeso

ahelgeso, if you're using a Time Capsule or other Apple router, I think I have your solution! I had this same problem as you, and reverting the firmware on my 500 GB Time Capsule from 7.5.2 to 7.4.2 fixed the problems I was having loading the netflix website. I hope it works for you!

1. In the Finder, go to Applications, Utilities, Airport Utility.
2. On the left, click on the device whose firmware you want to revert.
3. Click Manual Setup.
4. In the AirPort section, Summary tab, click on the word "Version." It is not immediately obvious that you can actually click on it. But when you do, a window will pop up that will walk you through the process. Couldn't be easier. Your router will restart.
5. Restart your computer, just in case.
6. Enjoy. (If it doesn't work yet, you could try restarting your modem and then your router again.)

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Answer 6

ahelgeso Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2011 5:47 PM in response to JayPritchard

Thanks, but no dice. I do have an Airport Express router, but downgrading the firmware didn't help.

Could there be some exotic hardware issue that's causing this? That's just about the only thing I haven't thought of...

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Answer 7

Ziatron

Level 5

4,214 points

Feb 20, 2011 5:57 PM in response to ahelgeso

Any more ideas?

You are not alone, I know others that are having the same difficulties.

I now find that renting the physical DVD is easier, the disk typically arrives in 12 to 16 hours anyway.

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Answer 8

Ziatron

Level 5

4,214 points

Feb 20, 2011 6:58 PM in response to ahelgeso

Right, but it's not just the Watch Instantly function that doesn't work. I can't even access the website to update my queue.

Wow, that is high up on the "weird scale" I love and hate technology at the same time.

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Answer 9

Feb 20, 2011 8:27 PM in response to ahelgeso

1. I'm assuming you aren't having any consistent trouble with any other websites besides Netflix - is that right?
2. And the Netflix trouble is both at home and away? I think you already said yes, which points to your computer, not router - my bad.
3. Do you use an Internet Content Filter on your computer, like SafeEyes or something?
4. Could you get your hands on a USB wireless internet adapter to see if that changes anything?

If Netflix worked at Starbucks or elsewhere I would suggest a hard reset of your AirPort Express. Get back to us on these 4 things.

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Answer 10

Feb 25, 2011 5:50 PM in response to ahelgeso

I'm having this exact problem- has anyone found any success? I've spoken with both Netflix and Apple at length and inconclusively about it. I can occasionally get a movie or page to load but it's very rare. Suggestions?

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Answer 11

TeenTitan

Level 4

2,640 points

Feb 26, 2011 10:48 AM in response to ahelgeso

have you tried un-installing silver light; reboot, then re-installing it?
have you tried another browser such as google crome and or firefox?
You could also try cross posting your question on MS SilverLight forums. There seems to be a thread about a similar issue on their forums. One of the things listed as being helpful by other users in the thread is to re-install "Flip4Mac" if you have it already installed on your computer.

Message was edited by: TeenTitan

Message was edited by: TeenTitan

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Answer 12

May 16, 2011 7:07 PM in response to JayPritchard

My PS3 and my iPhone (while on WiFi) wouldn't load Netflix. Reverting the firmware on my Airport Express fixed the problem. I have two young children and no cable, so I was kinda freaking out. Thanks so much.

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Answer 13

lastlegs

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2011 11:04 PM in response to the_guy_from_that_movie

I WAS having a similar problem where i couldn't view netflix, apple, new york times and a few others, only the text of the webpages would come up, nothing else. I recently updated my router, now the websites load pretty well, minus a few images here and there.

Any help with that!?

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Answer 14

Jun 11, 2011 11:13 AM in response to ahelgeso

Well, let me make it even stranger: running a MacMini w/ Snow Leopard. When logged in as administrator = no problem reaching Netflix. I can log in. I can search. I can watch instantly. But if logged in as a non-admin user = no images load on the netflix.com page, and the browser (Firefox AND Safari) fails to connect to Netflix server when I try to sign in.

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Answer 15

truedat

Level 1

0 points

Aug 8, 2011 8:10 PM in response to ahelgeso

What's happening here is that netflix is shutting you out for using too much of their bandwidth. This problem started for me when my two roommates started using "Watch Instantly". Before that it was never a problem, but the increased traffic caused netflix to shut out my entire network, and one day no device connected to my wireless router could load netflix, not even my cellphone. I tried clearing my DNS cache as someone suggested, and that didn't work. Then I tried getting a new IP address from my dhcp, but that didn't work either of course because my whole network was blacklisted. The solution I came upon was to connect by proxy.

In firefox, go to:

Firefox > Preferences... > Advanced (tab)

Under "Connection", click Settings...

Check Manual Proxy Configuration

Under HTTP, write in the address of any proxy (list of free proxies is here). I used "teatunnel.info." You can leave all other fields how they are.

I'm sure the set up for safari is similar.

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