Here is the deal. They keep us locked down in here except for a few approved websites. The problem is I can't watch the embedded video feeds on the news pages (ie www.usatoday.com, www.wgal.com) If I am on a different computer in the plant I can watch them. Any ideas what might be wrong with this one? I can't exactly ask IS to fix a problems with watching the news if you know what I mean.

So far I have downloaded and installed the lastest versions of

direct x
java

I am limited on what I can do because they can monitor what I am doing if they want to. Help with that might not be a bad idea either...

What is your Company's computer use policy? If the policy says "accational personal use is allowed", then threre could be several reasons for your problem:

They may allow access only to text, but not to sound or vedio. This could be for copy right vilolation preventation (i.e. music is not downloaded), or simply to preserve Company's network bandwith.
or, There might be some setting problems in your computer.

If you do not know the policy, You can find something work related that involves vedio. Let say your company repairs tractor. You find this site that has this new tool for fixing tractor. There is a vedio showing how to use the tool. If you can not play that vedio, I do not see any reason why you can not ask your IT dept to tell you why you can not see it.

On the other hand if they do not allow personal use, it might be to your advatage not to use it for non-work related purpose. Nowadays, with storage so dirt cheap, every single click is recorded and kept for future reference.

I hear ya on the computer use thing. They allow for some personal use just not excessive. I am sure they can use anything against you if someone wants you out of there. They have certain things in the registry to prevent automatic updates and even going to the update site. I am sure there is a whole host of other things in there as well. I can use media player to watch videos, this computer has media player 9 because it doesn't log you off for inactivity like 11 does. Its something that they look for to lock the computer. I tried restoring settings to default. Maybe its hopeless with out asking IT. Thanks for the help.