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View Full Version : I can't play Netflix instantly on IE 8


wdrbbq
Mar 24, 2011, 03:51 AM
I have 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium on an Acer Aspire 5517 with Verizon high speed internet. I also have Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox for browsers.
When I try to play Netflix instantly on IE 8 I get a screen requiring me to install Microsoft Silverlight before I can play Netflix instantly. Although Silverlight is already installed, the screen requiring me to install Silverlight still comes up every time. So, I uninstalled Silverlight and deleted its download file and tried again. When the screen requiring me to install Silverlight came up again I agreed and redownloaded and reinstalled Silverlight. However, when I try to play Netflix I get the same screen requiring me to download Silverlight.
With Firefox there is no problem at all. I just click on the icon and I'm ready to watch. I don't understand why it's so easy with Firefox and so impossible with Internet Explorer.
When I took this problem to Microsoft Answers it became instantly obvious that the tech I dealt with was more interested in establishing that the problem couldn't possibly lie with Microsoft than with actually solving my problem. I asked if the problem could be that Windows 7 is 64 bit and IE 8 is 32 bit but he said that wasn't it. However, with the defensive posture he took I found myself not trusting his objectivity. When I suggested that I forget about IE 8 and just deal with Firefox as a solution, he never responded. Now it's become a quest for knowledge. I want to know why this is a problem for IE 8 but not for Firefox. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.

Curlyben
Mar 24, 2011, 03:54 AM
Honestly, both Firefox and Chrome and infinity better for watching online streaming content.
Give up on IE..
If you MUST stick with IE, then upgrade to the latest version 9, available from windows update.

wdrbbq
Mar 24, 2011, 04:01 AM
I just got an email saying that Curlyben has an answer to my question but when I click on the link I come back to my question but I don't see his answer.

wdrbbq
Mar 24, 2011, 04:08 AM
Hi. Thanks for your response. As I stated, I have no problem with Firefox at all. My question stems from curiosity more than anything. It should work. Why doesn't it?