This document applies to:
"Cannot connect" errors generally mean that RealPlayer did not connect to the computer that serves the media content (the server); they may also mean that the link you clicked is out-of-date. Common "cannot connect to server" errors include:
Connection errors that occur on specific sites or that only occur once in a while are not usually a cause for concern. Occasional errors tend to occur when traffic is high on the Internet, the site hosting the files is down, or the site hosting the file has been moved.
Connection errors that occur at all sites on a recurring basis indicate a problem with RealPlayer connection configuration or your Internet connection. To allow RealPlayer to connect, you may need to reconfigure RealPlayer or your security software.
If you get one of these errors, it may mean that RealPlayer did not receive enough information to maintain a connection to the server or that RealPlayer stopped receiving information from the server for an extended period and could not maintain the connection. The problem could be caused by excessive network traffic on the Internet, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), or a local area network (LAN) connection.
Solution 1: Determine if the problem is with the specific file.To rule out a problem with the file itself, try playing sample files:
1. Open http://service.real.com/test/ in your Web browser.
2. Click the links that match your connection speed. Dial-up modem users should choose the 28K or 56K links.
If the sample files play, then the problem may be with the specific Web site, or with the file you were trying to play. This may be a temporary problem of high traffic or technical difficulties. Try again later, or contact the Webmaster of the site to alert them to the problem.
Solution 2: Check RealPlayer's online status setting.RealPlayer detects online status by default. If this detection fails, RealPlayer may be incorrectly set to Work Offline mode. If you are using a network connection or have a cable modem or DSL connection, you can override this detection and force RealPlayer to assume you are online all the time.
To change the online status of RealPlayer:
1. In RealPlayer on the Tools menu, click Preferences. The Preferences box opens.
2. In the Category pane, click Connection.
3. Click the Assume I am online option.
4. Click OK.
5. Restart RealPlayer.
1. In RealPlayer on the Tools menu, click Preferences. The Preferences box opens.
2. In the Category pane, click Connection.
3. Under Network Time-out, increase the time-out settings by 10 seconds.
4. Click OK.
5. Try to play the clip again.
6. If you still have problems, increase the time-out settings by another 10 seconds and try again.
Keep trying until the clip plays or it becomes obvious that increasing the time-out settings will not resolve this problem. Increasing this time also increases the time you wait for a time-out message to appear.
Solution 4: Play the clip when the network and Internet are less busy.If you are unable to play the clip after trying these suggestions, try connecting to the clip at a different time.
Solution 5: Configure your personal firewall or security software to allow RealPlayer access to the Internet.Personal firewall software will often block RealPlayer from connecting to the Internet. You will have to configure the software to allowrealplay.exe to have two-way access to the Internet so RealPlayer can have full access to the Internet. Please see Unblocking RealPlayer behind a firewall for details, or consult the manufacturer of your firewall software if you are unsure how to grant this access.
Solution 6: Manually configure RealPlayer to use HTTP only.On some networks, you may need to configure RealPlayer to use the HTTP Only option to connect to the Internet. This option allows a copy of RealPlayer operating behind strict firewalls to access RealPlayer traffic; however, quality may not be as good as with other connection options.
1. In RealPlayer, click the Tools menu and choose Preferences. The Preferences box opens.
2. In the Category pane under Connection, click Network Transports.
3. Select the Manually configure connection settings check box.
4. Click the RTSP Settings button.
5. Clear the top three boxes, then make sure the Attempt to use HTTP for all content check box is selected.
6. Click the PNA Settings button.
7. Clear the top three boxes, then make sure the Attempt to use HTTP for all content check box is selected.
8. Click OK twice to save your changes, then try to connect again.
Corporate local area networks (LANs) or commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) often use a firewall or proxy to limit traffic and protect their users' computers from unauthorized access. If these ports are specifically restricted by your firewall, you will need to configure your Connection Preferences to use your firewall's settings.
Please review the default ports for RealPlayer. RealPlayer configurations will override these defaults. Contact your network administrator for further assistance.
Solution 8: Contact your ISP or network administrator for assistance.If you are still unable to connect, the problem may be with your computer network settings. Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or network administrator for the information you need to regain connection.
