 |
How can we help?
To make your experience of bbc.co.uk as enjoyable and useful as possible, we use the latest technologies across a wide range of media (audio, video, animation, interactive games and news tickers). For easy-to-follow advice about technical issues click on the relevant subject below. For other help subjects look in the left/right-hand columns.
- Plug-ins
- Downloading and Installing the Shockwave player
- Getting quizzes, games and tickers to work
- Cookies
|
|
|
|
Plug-ins
Some parts of site use Shockwave and Flash - usually for animation. If you see a broken jigsaw icon on your page then you do not have the required plug-in installed. The latest version of the Shockwave player also includes a Flash player and you can download this free from Macromedia.
NB: Please note that Netscape 6 is not currently compatible with the latest Macromedia Shockwave Player.
Plug-ins general
Plug-in doesn't work
Is there more than one copy of the browser on your computer? If so, determine which browser you use all the time and note where it's located. During installation, select this path when the program asks you where you wish to place the plug-in file.
Find out more about plug-ins.
^ Top of page
|
|
|
|
Downloading and Installing the Shockwave Player
Can't download Shockwave player
Your browser may have a Shockwave player already installed. This may be damaged and could prevent you downloading the latest player. This can be fixed by uninstalling the old player.
- Find an uninstaller for Windows here or for Mac here.
- Remove the player and then re-install it.
- For more detailed information go to Webwise download guide.
Shockwave player isn't working
If your Shockwave player doesn't work after installation, it may be because:
- You have more than one copy or version of your browser on your hard drive. Make sure the plug-in is installed in the copy or version you are using.
- You're not using the right plug-in for your system and browser. A 16-bit browser will not support a 32-bit version of the plug-in, and vice versa.
- You have a version of the Shockwave plug-in that is no longer supported. Uninstall the old one and install a new version, and check that your browser can support this newer version.
- If none of this works, detailed help is available here.
For the BBC's guide to plug-ins go here.
^ Top of page
|
|
|
|
Getting quizzes, games and tickers to work
bbc.co.uk uses small programmes such as pop-up windows, interactive games and news tickers, which require applications such as Java, JavaScript and Jscript to be active in your browser. If you have problems with the interactive parts of the site you may need to check that they're turned on.
The way you do this depends on your browser:
- Netscape: Go to Edit in the menu bar and select Preferences. Click on the word 'Advanced' and select the appropriate boxes.
- Internet Explorer: Go to Tools, choose Internet Options and select the Security tab. Click the Custom Level button and scroll down until you see the Java and Scripting options. If the Custom Level button doesn't become available then Java and JavaScript are constantly active.
- Opera: Go to preferences and select Associate. Click on Find Plug-ins and a box will appear showing you which plug-ins you have. To get a plug-in, choose from the Type menu at the top of the box. (In this case you will need to select the JavaScript option.) Click the Save to Disk option and then OK.
Please note: older browsers may not support these scripts, in which case we recommend that you upgrade your browser.
What is Java?
^ Top of page
|
|
|
|
Cookies
Cookies are very small text files placed on your hard drive when you visit most websites. They contain information that enables sites, such as MyBBC or Becoming Webwise, to remember details about your browser and any previous visit you might have made. They are now a standard feature of the Internet.
Accepting cookies
You can order your browser to accept all cookies or to alert you every time a cookie is offered. Then you can decide whether to accept one or not. For more details on cookies please read our Privacy Policy.
^ Top of page
|
|
|
|
|
More help with:
|
|
