WMC freezes at end of Netflix episodes

[CancelMan]

Almost every time a Netflix show I'm watching in Media Center reaches the end (final frames of video), the show freezes in full screen and WMC stops responding. The video remains full screen, frozen on the last frame played, and WMC's menus/buttons do not appear. WMC does not back out of the video to the Netflix browser.


I say almost because because a show has properly ended and backed out to the Neflix/WMC browser maybe once in all the episodes/movies I've watched (~10, mostly tv episodes, one movie).


Typically the freeze happens before the very end of the video (during credits, sometimes chopping the show short/mid-sentence if they're talking over credits).



The only way I can get out of the video and back to WMC is to alt-ctrl-del and end the Media Center process (it shows Running in task manager but eventually it comes up "Not Responding" then restarts).


I've rebooted several times with the same result.


I can properly back out of a running video to the Neflix browser any time prior to the lock up, but once it's frozen the only way to get out is to end the task in windows task manager.


Otherwise WMC is running fine, this is just a super deal breaker since I have to go through so many steps just to watch the next episode of the series.



Running Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit), latest updates installed including those for WMC and Silverlight. It's on a computer I just started using as an HTPC so the WMC Netflix plugin is freshly installed as well. Almost no applications running in background.



Dell Inspiron 1764 core i3 2.13GHz, 4GB ram, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330. Connected to HD TV at 720p (computer doesn't quite keep up at 1080p).


Internet/Netflix connection is tried and true- have been streaming Netflix via Nintendo Wii and web browsers for years- only experiencing playback issues in WMC.

 

[CancelMan]

I just uninstalled and reinstalled the Netflix plugin for WMC and Silverlight. Same issue, though this time the video went to black instead of freezing on one of the last frames.

 

[Neuf]

Same Thing

I'm getting the same thing - just started within the last week or two. Worked flawlessly for years before that...

 

[mojo718]

Yup. Same here. I would say started about 3-4 weeks ago. I think it was some Windows update that hosed it up.

 

[AtomicCEO]

I'm having this issue as well, same time frame. Acer PC, Win7 Home Premium x64.

The last time I searched, I didn't find anyone with it... so I'm relieved to see other people with the issue, because I was about to nuclear format and start over. Phew!

Since you guys thought this was related to a Silverlight update, I manually upgraded to the developer RC of Silverlight 5 (I was on the auto-updated Silverlight 4, I didn't note the full version number).

A quick test shows that the problem didn't happen, but I'll post again after a few more comprehensive tests.

 

[AtomicCEO]

I'm having this issue as well, same time frame. Acer PC, Win7 Home Premium x64.

The last time I searched, I didn't find anyone with it... so I'm relieved to see other people with the issue, because I was about to nuclear format and start over. Phew!

Since you guys thought this was related to a Silverlight update, I manually upgraded to the developer RC of Silverlight 5 (I was on the auto-updated Silverlight 4, I didn't note the full version number).

A quick test shows that the problem didn't happen, but I'll post again after a few more comprehensive tests.

Whoo hoo! Duplicated success. I'll post again if I have an issue going forward.

 

[jazzaus]

same issue here

i just installed silverlight 5 rc
hopefully that does it

 

[sdr984]

Same issue on some, where is the Netflix bug tracker?

I'm getting the same issue on some TV shows, but not others. I get the issue on Louis and Portlandia, but not on Breaking Bad.

Does anyone know where the Netflix bug tracking system is so we can at least bring this to their attention as a bug?

 

[sdr984]

update to SilverLight 5 did not fix problem

I tried updating from Silverlight 4 to Silverlight 5 at microsoft.com/getsilverlight and I still have the same problem. The test show I used was Portlandia episode 1.

 

[glenviewjeff]

Did anyone else confirm that developer RC of Silverlight 5 fixes this issue? I have it too.

 

[rab4433]

Having the same issue. I uninstalled and reinstalled the plugin to no avail. Have not tried to change Silverlight yet.

 

[fatbuttlarry]

Mats

I'm seeing word on the Microsoft forums, that uninstalling Silverlight using the MATS (Microsoft Automated Troubleshooting Service) is what actually fixes this (and then upgrade to Silverlight 5).

The posters say that a simple uninstall doesn't fix it, the MATS needs to be used. I don't know what this is (and not at computer to try) but will do it tonight.

Afterward, I will test this over the next week and report progress, as the problem is too intermittent to know for sure in one day.

Yesterday I turned off Microsoft Security Essentials in fear that that was causing the error. If only one single Microsoft developer would read these posts and review it from an application/developer perspective. I feel we're all shooting in the dark.

-Tres

 

[glenviewjeff]

I found that this is reported in the following other forums. Some have reported temporary success updating to Silverlight 5. Reportedly it's been officially released (not as a release candidate) in the past few days. The first link appears to have the most useful reports of people believing they've fixed the problem with a Silverlight update.

Windows Experts Community
View topic - Netflix freezing media center
Windows Experts Community

Netflix in WMC hangs after video is done - AVS Forum

 

[fatbuttlarry]

Just opened a new Microsoft Case #: 1169649153

I watched the Microsoft Support representative, he:

1. Verified I had upgraded to Silverlight 5
2. Opened Silverlight from Start Menu, went to Application Storage, clicked Delete All
3. Navigated to C:\Users\MediaCenter\AppData\LocalLow\Microsoft\Silverlight, deleted the "is" folder.

The case is still open and I was instructed to call back if problem persist.

-Tres

 

[SJMaye]

Just opened a new Microsoft Case #: 1169649153

I watched the Microsoft Support representative, he:

1. Verified I had upgraded to Silverlight 5
2. Opened Silverlight from Start Menu, went to Application Storage, clicked Delete All
3. Navigated to C:\Users\MediaCenter\AppData\LocalLow\Microsoft\Silverlight, deleted the "is" folder.

The case is still open and I was instructed to call back if problem persist.

-Tres

I have had this problem for a couple months now. I will track this thread in hope we find a solution.

 

[fatbuttlarry]

The fixes Microsoft provided did not work (big surprise).

I have to call again.

-Tres

 

[SJMaye]

Installed Silverlight 5. No change. I am glad MC has a Netflix plugin, but I wish either MS or Netflix would support it.

 

[Brian O]

Hi all,
New here but I have been researching this for a few months, and something about this kept saying "settings" to me so:

Not sure if it will work for anyone else, but I was having this problem on my Win 7 professional 64 bit machine. The fix for me seems to be adding http://www.netflix.com to IE trusted sites.

 

[SJMaye]

Interesting. I will give it a shot. Thx.

 

[Brian O]

Just for the sake of being exact, my entry in trusted sites does not include the http:// part of the url that my original post shows. The forum software added that.