Why can't I play video from my browser?

First clear your browser cache, your Temp files, and your Temporary Internet files. I can explain how to clear them up correctly (not just from your browser) if you want to funmail me. Then run any adware removal programs you might have. If you don’t have any then download free copies of AdawareSE and Spybot S&D. Run both and get rid of things that are clinging to you that won’t normally be cleared so easy. Then try to use YouTube to run a video and see if it still is freezing on you. (Make sure you restart computer after clearing everything) If it isn’t fixed then pop open your task manager and check your system performance. Compare the memory usage in mb to what you have installed on the computer in RAM. If it is using close to the number (say 600 out of 750 or 700 out of 1gb) then you may want to add more memory or up the virtual memory set on the hard drive that windows uses for similar tasks. If the CPU is taching at 100% or close to it…..there could be a number of problems. Shut down your browser and see what the readings on the Task manager say when it is closed. If it is still using a lot of memory and there are no other programs running there could be autoupdater programs running or other annoyances. Download HIjackThis from Merijn.org and funmail me the text from the logfile results. There are ways to use less memory in XP that you might try as well. Turn off active desktop and switch to a ‘Windows Classic’ theme. Switch off the automatic updates for windows. Make sure there aren’t too many programs running in the bottom right taskbar next to clock.

Your issue sounds like a simple memory problem, but that can (as you might have gathered) not be so simple. Best case, you remove a few programs that were running that you didn’t want running to begin with (ie adaware). Worst case, you go buy a bigger stick of RAM.

Good Luck