How to Improve Video Streaming

These days, watching a movie is as easy as a few clicks of a button. That is, until the film freezes and buffers just as the creepy slug monster sneaks up on the camp counselor. With a little fine-tuning, though, you can make watching streaming videos a lot easier. This can be as simple as closing some extra open windows, or as drastic as getting a new Wi-Fi service entirely.


Method 1 of 2: All Platforms

01. Download the video onto your computer. There are many utilities available on the Internet that will enable video downloads. When loaded into your computer, you bypass the entire streaming process.

02. Minimize your network resources. If you watch videos in an external player such as QuickTime, rather than in your Internet browser, close the browser while your videos are playing.

03. Be exclusive. If you are on a network sharing an Internet connection, shut down the other computers if you are able.

04. If you have cable Internet, your bandwidth could be affected by your neighbor’s habits. Try accessing the Internet when you know they are not using it.

05. Upgrade your Internet service with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). If your connection speed is too slow, this can be a significant bottleneck.

• Some ISPs will guarantee a minimum speed, some will not. Shop around before you commit.

Method 2 of 2: Windows

01. Free up memory. This will allow your computer to buffer more video and dramatically reduce or even eliminate pauses.

• Use the Windows Task Manager. You can access this by using theCtrl+Alt+Delete key combination or by using Start -> Run, typing taskmgr, and then clicking Enter. Examine which processes you are currently running, and end the ones you do not need.

02. Spybot - Search and Destroy (found at http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html ) is also a great tool.

• Using it in Advanced Mode, you can set what programs will run when Windows starts. Delete programs that you know aren't necessary. The fewer programs running, the better.

03. Disable hardware acceleration. Turning off hardware acceleration will allow your video playback application to set the resource requirements, instead of using your computer’s predefined settings.

• For Windows XP
  • Click Start
  • Click Control Panel, then select Display
  • Navigate to the Settings tab, then click Advanced
  • Choose the Troubleshoot tab
  • Drag the slider all the way to the left to disable hardware acceleration.
• For Windows Vista
  • Click Start
  • Click Control Panel, then select Appearance and Personalization
  • Choose Personalization and then click Display Settings
  • Select Advanced Settings
  • Navigate to the Troubleshoot tab and click Change Settings

04. Disable Video Acceleration. This will free up resources in your media player.

• • Open Windows Media Player
  • Click the Tools menu
  • Choose Options and select the Performance tab
  • Move the Video Acceleration slider to None