When I click on video files (eg., mpeg or mov), instead of playing them, IE7
downloads the file and then gives two error messages ("Invalid character" and
then "Object expected") and then does nothing (instead of displaying the
video). If I download the video file and click on it in Windows Explorer, it
opens correctly (so I presume the file associations are OK).

Firefox has no problems on these same links. For example, when I click on
this link: http://www.weru.ksu.edu/new_weru/mul...s/dust003.mpeg
with FF2, a Quicktime logo is displayed briefly and then the video plays in
the FF browser window. That's what I expect to happen with IE7 as well.

When you click on the above link with your IE7, does it work?

I've searched around but cannot find an explanation for this. Any ideas?

I'm running IE7 on Vista Home Premium, all up to date.

Thanks for any help!

Hi,

This is a problem that arises out of a conflict between a new IE7 Security
feature called "Cross Domain Protection" and the "Local Machine Lockdown"
settings on your machine.

There are two ways to get around this problem you are having linking
directly to a .mpeg file on the web and have it open and play in IE7.

1. You can remove the checkmark in the following:
Tools||Internet Options||Advanced||"Allow active content to run in files on
My computer"
Removing that checkmark enables "Local Machine Lockdown" again, and you
should be able to click on the link you supplied to the .mpeg file and have
it open in the Browser in QuickTime.

2. If you don't wish to enable "Local Machine Lockdown" again(or keep
turning it off and on in order to link directly to .mpeg files on the web),
then you will have to tweak the Registry in order to Opt IE7 out of the new
"Cross Domain Protection" feature as described in the following MS Knowledge
Base article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/934366

In other words, you can't have it both ways with IE7. Either you enable
Local Machine Lockdown by removing the checkmark next to "Allow active
content to run in files on My Computer", or, you Opt IE7 out of the new
security feature by using the Registry tweak described at the KB article
above.

Once you've performed either step 1. or step 2. above, you should be able to
click on the link you supplied and see the .mpeg file open up in the Browser
in the QuickTime Player:

http://www.weru.ksu.edu/new_weru/mul...s/dust003.mpeg

Good luck,

Donald Anadell

"Baffin" <Baffin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:24AACF63-E80C-4245-B12C-52C53FEAA15C@microsoft.com...
> When I click on video files (eg., mpeg or mov), instead of playing them,
> IE7
> downloads the file and then gives two error messages ("Invalid character"
> and
> then "Object expected") and then does nothing (instead of displaying the
> video). If I download the video file and click on it in Windows Explorer,
> it
> opens correctly (so I presume the file associations are OK).
>
> Firefox has no problems on these same links. For example, when I click on
> this link: http://www.weru.ksu.edu/new_weru/mul...s/dust003.mpeg
> with FF2, a Quicktime logo is displayed briefly and then the video plays
> in
> the FF browser window. That's what I expect to happen with IE7 as well.
>
> When you click on the above link with your IE7, does it work?
>
> I've searched around but cannot find an explanation for this. Any ideas?
>
> I'm running IE7 on Vista Home Premium, all up to date.
>
> Thanks for any help!

Now that you've given me something solid to search upon, I see you've been
active on this problem in many places, and that I'm talking with an expert!

For example, a discussion appears here:
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/...e7--flash.aspx

Unchecking "Allow active content to run in files on My computer" causes IE7
to open the mpeg link in the browser window as expected/desired, as you
predicted (well done!, and thank you).

I'm now wondering how to present MOV files (quicktime) to IE7 users reading
web pages I'm authoring. Is there any way to serve people Quicktime MOV
files regardless of their setting of that IE option?

It appears that the default setting for that option is unchecked -- is that
correct? (I'm wondering what setting most IE users would have)

Thank you very much for what you've provided so far -- I spent hours trying
to figure this out. I had searched on "Invalid character" at MS and
elsewhere but must have overlooked the MS article you quoted, perhaps failing
to link the title with my problem.




"Donald Anadell" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> This is a problem that arises out of a conflict between a new IE7 Security
> feature called "Cross Domain Protection" and the "Local Machine Lockdown"
> settings on your machine.
>
> There are two ways to get around this problem you are having linking
> directly to a .mpeg file on the web and have it open and play in IE7.
>
> 1. You can remove the checkmark in the following:
> Tools||Internet Options||Advanced||"Allow active content to run in files on
> My computer"
> Removing that checkmark enables "Local Machine Lockdown" again, and you
> should be able to click on the link you supplied to the .mpeg file and have
> it open in the Browser in QuickTime.
>
> 2. If you don't wish to enable "Local Machine Lockdown" again(or keep
> turning it off and on in order to link directly to .mpeg files on the web),
> then you will have to tweak the Registry in order to Opt IE7 out of the new
> "Cross Domain Protection" feature as described in the following MS Knowledge
> Base article:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/934366
>
> In other words, you can't have it both ways with IE7. Either you enable
> Local Machine Lockdown by removing the checkmark next to "Allow active
> content to run in files on My Computer", or, you Opt IE7 out of the new
> security feature by using the Registry tweak described at the KB article
> above.
>
> Once you've performed either step 1. or step 2. above, you should be able to
> click on the link you supplied and see the .mpeg file open up in the Browser
> in the QuickTime Player:
>
> http://www.weru.ksu.edu/new_weru/mul...s/dust003.mpeg
>
> Good luck,
>
> Donald Anadell

"Baffin" <Baffin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F7DA8630-26DF-4137-873E-FB4FA5CAC426@microsoft.com...
> Now that you've given me something solid to search upon, I see you've been
> active on this problem in many places, and that I'm talking with an
> expert!
>
> For example, a discussion appears here:
> http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/...e7--flash.aspx
>
> Unchecking "Allow active content to run in files on My computer" causes
> IE7
> to open the mpeg link in the browser window as expected/desired, as you
> predicted (well done!, and thank you).

You're welcome.
>
> I'm now wondering how to present MOV files (quicktime) to IE7 users
> reading
> web pages I'm authoring. Is there any way to serve people Quicktime MOV
> files regardless of their setting of that IE option?

I'll preface my remarks by stating that I am not a Web Page Developer.
As long as the .mov file is embedded in your document, it should be
displayed properly regardless of the "Local Machine Lockdown" settings.

>
> It appears that the default setting for that option is unchecked -- is
> that
> correct? (I'm wondering what setting most IE users would have).

That's correct. And it has been the default setting since the release of
SP2, the vast majority of IE7 users would not have "Local Machine Lockdown"
disabled by having placed the checkmark in "Allow active content to run in
files on My Computer". Usually, only those who do not(for what ever reason)
want to add the "Mark of the Web" to their local .html files(to allow active
content to run on the local machine) would need to disable "Local Machine
Lockdown".

The problem with IE7(and it's new Cross Domain Protection feature) only
arises when you try to link directly to files on the web such as, .mov,
..mpeg, .swf, .wrl,...etc. in the form of www.someserver.com/some.mpeg or
"some.swf", "some.mov"...etc. As you found out trying to link to your .mpeg
file directly with Local Machine Lockdown disabled.

IE7 comes Opted in to this new security feature by default, and there is
mechanism in the UI to Opt IE7 out of this feature, it can only be done via
the Registry Tweak described at the MS Knowledge Base link I supplied. As
long as your media files are embedded in the document, there is no conflict
between Local Machine Lockdown(regardless of setting) and the new IE7
security feature(Cross Domain Protection). The conflict only arises when
you try to link directly to the Media file as described above, then you must
either enable Local Machine Lockdown, or Opt IE7 out of the new security
feature using the Registry Tweak in order to get the file to display in the
Browser.

Sorry this is so long winded:)

Good luck,

Donald Anadell




>
> Thank you very much for what you've provided so far -- I spent hours
> trying
> to figure this out. I had searched on "Invalid character" at MS and
> elsewhere but must have overlooked the MS article you quoted, perhaps
> failing
> to link the title with my problem.
>
>
>
>
> "Donald Anadell" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> This is a problem that arises out of a conflict between a new IE7
>> Security
>> feature called "Cross Domain Protection" and the "Local Machine Lockdown"
>> settings on your machine.
>>
>> There are two ways to get around this problem you are having linking
>> directly to a .mpeg file on the web and have it open and play in IE7.
>>
>> 1. You can remove the checkmark in the following:
>> Tools||Internet Options||Advanced||"Allow active content to run in files
>> on
>> My computer"
>> Removing that checkmark enables "Local Machine Lockdown" again, and you
>> should be able to click on the link you supplied to the .mpeg file and
>> have
>> it open in the Browser in QuickTime.
>>
>> 2. If you don't wish to enable "Local Machine Lockdown" again(or keep
>> turning it off and on in order to link directly to .mpeg files on the
>> web),
>> then you will have to tweak the Registry in order to Opt IE7 out of the
>> new
>> "Cross Domain Protection" feature as described in the following MS
>> Knowledge
>> Base article:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/934366
>>
>> In other words, you can't have it both ways with IE7. Either you enable
>> Local Machine Lockdown by removing the checkmark next to "Allow active
>> content to run in files on My Computer", or, you Opt IE7 out of the new
>> security feature by using the Registry tweak described at the KB article
>> above.
>>
>> Once you've performed either step 1. or step 2. above, you should be able
>> to
>> click on the link you supplied and see the .mpeg file open up in the
>> Browser
>> in the QuickTime Player:
>>
>> http://www.weru.ksu.edu/new_weru/mul...s/dust003.mpeg
>>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> Donald Anadell