IE9 Breaks Netflix Streaming for Windows Media Center – FIX is here

With the release of IE9 coming next week all of you Media Center folks might like this, if you use it for netflix. Honestly I can’t say I use Internet Explorer very much but I did have this issue yesterday. Just beware you will have to change registry settings. The fix has been posted on Microsoft website KB2512239. Please make a backup of your registry first:

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start 

    , type Regedit.exe in the Search programs and files box, and then press ENTER. Click Yes in the UAC prompt dialog box.

  2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_USE_LEGACY_JSCRIPT

    Note Create the FEATURE_USE_LEGACY_JSCRIPT subkey if it does not exist.
  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  4. Type ehexthost.exe, and then press ENTER.
  5. Right-click ehexthost.exe, and then click Modify.
  6. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  7. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  8. Type ehexthost32.exe, and then press ENTER.
  9. Right-click ehexthost32.exe, and then click Modify.
  10. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  11. Exit Registry Editor.

Microsoft

  • This issue only effects the

    This issue only effects the Release Canidate version and Microsoft has said they expect it to be fixed in the RTW version next week.  I hope that proves true, because although a relatively easy fix overall, it does require mucking about in parts of Windows that most would rather leave be.

  • I don’t know about that. I

    I don’t know about that. I just did a new install of Win7 HP and had NOTHING but issues getting Netflix working. First was the DNS error issue and just now I had to fix an IE/WMC?Netflix sign in issue where, once a movie is selected in WMC, it would prompt me to sign in again into Netflix but I am unable to do ANYTHING on the sign in page. I wouldn’t let me type in the text boxes at all.

     

    This was with a standard install, no beta IE at all and the issue happened with and without SP1 installed.

     

    Week long issues, just trying to figure out what was wrong. Majorily annoying.

    • Crim wrote:

      I don’t know

      [quote=Crim]

      I don’t know about that. I just did a new install of Win7 HP and had NOTHING but issues getting Netflix working. First was the DNS error issue and just now I had to fix an IE/WMC?Netflix sign in issue where, once a movie is selected in WMC, it would prompt me to sign in again into Netflix but I am unable to do ANYTHING on the sign in page. I wouldn’t let me type in the text boxes at all.

      I’m having the exact same issue, but this fix does not solve it.  Where you able to fix the problem?

      This was with a standard install, no beta IE at all and the issue happened with and without SP1 installed.

       

      Week long issues, just trying to figure out what was wrong. Majorily annoying.

      [/quote]

       

      I have the exact same issues and this fix does nothing.  Where you able to solve this?

    • I have not personally

      I have not personally encountered that specific problem, but I have seen some reports about it.  The suspicion is that it related to an improperly registered cookie that Netflix is using.  As always, YMMV, but I have seen others have some success by taking a few steps with IE.  First, open IE and completely clear your browsing cache by deleting everything in your browsing history.  Restart IE and go to Netflix.  Sign in and begin watching something in your Instant Queue.  Let it run for a moment and then pause it.  Leaving IE open and logged into Netflix, open Netflix in WMC and navigate to that same title in your Instant Queue.  You should be able select resume and have it pick back up where you left off in the browser.  At this point the troublesome cookie should be properly saved and registered with WMC allowing you to close the browser and continue on with WMC.  Test with a reboot to ensure the cookie sticks.

      • That didn’t work at all for

        That didn’t work at all for me. I have no idea why that solution is going around when it does nothing for those affected (at least from what I’ve been able to tell).

         

        To fix the issues I’ve had:

        [url=http://digitalmediaphile.com/index.php/2011/01/31/how-to-fix-missing-netflix-and-internet-tv-on-wmc/]Netflix/internet TV won’t install[/url]

        Netflix won’t log in: Open up IE and clear all cookies, security certificates and SSL cache. Open Netflix and log out and then log back in. That’s what worked for me.

        • Glad to hear that you found a
          Glad to hear that you found a fix for your specific issue. As I pointed out with the fix that I suggested, Your Mileage May Vary. For the folks at the Green Button and at Amy’s Blog who were also trying to troubleshoot a WMC Netflix login issue, that seemed to help. Evidently you were not experiencing the same issue they were.

  • I am suprised people are

    I am suprised people are putting unreleased software on their HTPC in the first place. I watch Netflix via the Media Center Netflix button on the movies toolstrip. And risking WAF drop scares me. 

    Everytime I get a netflix issue I do the following.

    Delete mspr.hds to fix the DRM date error, Netflix will create a new one the next time it’s started.
    The mspr.hds file is located in “C:ProgramDataMicrosoftPlayReady”

    • PAPutzback wrote:

      I am

      [quote=PAPutzback]

      I am suprised people are putting unreleased software on their HTPC in the first place. I watch Netflix via the Media Center Netflix button on the movies toolstrip. And risking WAF drop scares me. 

      Everytime I get a netflix issue I do the following.

      Delete mspr.hds to fix the DRM date error, Netflix will create a new one the next time it’s started.
      The mspr.hds file is located in “C:ProgramDataMicrosoftPlayReady”

      [/quote]

      The issue was there before/without IE9 RC installed.  I installed IE9 RC to see if the issue went away, it did not.

      I’m at work but will attempt the fixes provided and report back.

    • PAPutzback wrote:

      I am

      [quote=PAPutzback]

      I am suprised people are putting unreleased software on their HTPC in the first place.

      [/quote]

      It’s not just issues with beta software or “unreleased” software. I’ve had this isue with CLEAN INSTALLS.

  • Clearing the cache and

    Clearing the cache and webhistory in Internet Explorer fixed the issue.  Thanks everyone.  

    My girlfriend was getting really upset about this it worked one day and then next day it didn’t and assumed that it was me messing with stuff again.

    • solo8788 wrote:
      My girlfriend

      [quote=solo8788]

      My girlfriend was getting really upset about this it worked one day and then next day it didn’t and assumed that it was me messing with stuff again.

      [/quote]

      Wow does that sound like my wife..why do you try to upgrade stuff if is already working??

  • George L. Schmauch Jr.

    One of the best lines I ever

    One of the best lines I ever read (think I first saw in on the SageTV forums) was “If it ain’t broke, fix it until it is.”

    So true.

  • I performed this registry

    I performed this registry edit, activated the ActiveX, and deleted my cookies/history and everything worked fine after that.

  • I know this issue is old, but

    I know this issue is old, but I’m having an issue with installing the Netflix plug-in.  It gets to about 4% or 6% and then says it encountered an error.  Any ideas?  I don’t think it’s the DNS issue because I’ve known about that for the guide update, and I put in a DNS address after re-installing Windows 7 the other week.  Updates have been working fine.