Netflix streaming stops loading at 98% on Revo 3700

Question

I'm trying to stream Netflix on an Acer Revo 3700 running Windows 7 Home Premium, but it hangs on the loading screen at 98% (after it has formatted the player to the right aspect ratio and added the controls, but before the video starts) with no error messages or failures.

I have two other machines on the same network, one running Windows 7 Home Premium and another running XP, which both stream faultlessly.

Things I have tried:

• Both a wired and wireless connection to the router
• Upgrading the video and audio drivers
• IE, Chrome and Firefox
• Boxee software
• Connecting with a VGA cable instead of HDMI (in case it is a HDCP thing)
• Uninstalling and reinstalling Silverlight.
• Getting someway into loading a HD movie and turning "Allow HD" off

Does anyone know what Netflix is doing at the 98% load mark? Are there any log files? Anything else worth trying?

Full disclosure:

I'm using Netflix from the UK through a US based VPN. I've tried multiple VPNs and the problem is exactly the same, also the other machines on the same network through the same VPN work fine so I don't think this is the issue, but it might be a factor. The region check happens at around 7% and I get past that.

Answer 1

I had a similar problem here in the US when they were barring HD video cards. The frustration was the process was nearly complete when it failed. I contacted them and they explained (no error message). My guess is you are also failing a final validation check. The behavior was the same and very frustrating. FYI I can now use my HD video card. Time may heal your problem too...

Answer 2

for me the problem was that Norton was checking the key files and had not finished that - onceit completed everything continued as expected

Answer 3

I have the same issue when I attempt to load from my US NetFlix and not my Canadian one. I use a proxy server but the download to the US never completes. However, when I use my Canadian one, it works perfectly. Go figure.

Answer 4

Netflix also verifies that your computer's clock time is consistent with the IP address it presents to the Netflix server. I get the same hang at 98% until I change my computer's clock from a European time zone to the New York time zone (where my VPN tunnel terminates).

By accident I learned something else interesting about Nexflix and VPN's. For some reason my (Windows L2TP) VPN once disconnected during the (Chrome) playing of a Netflix movie, but the movie continued to play anyway! So then I began disconnecting my VPN intentionally shortly after the preliminaries reached 100% and the movie began to play, and again, the movie continued to play.

This indicates that the test for North American IP's happens only during the preliminaries, and that the stream, once running, follows any changes in your IP address and port number. That's rather unconventional, but it makes sense if your device were a smartphone that might roam from one provider to another during the playing of a movie.

This is good news indeed. Disconnecting the VPN reduces the latency and increases the bandwidth between you and the Netflix server (reducing jerkiness and skips), reduces the monthly data budget you need from your VPN server, and reduces the crypto processing load both in your own device and in your VPN server.