When I watch online videos often times the video screen is filled with squares, so it is impossible to watch. I also cannot watch live streaming videos. I have Windows XP. I have the newest version of Media Player and Real Players.

 

What type of connection do you have? Broadband?
Many times, the pixilation you describe is a result of a bad connection to the source through the ISP, or, the source may have a slow connection speed..

How about a link to a sample video you have trouble with..

 

I have SBC DSL. Is there anything I can do? I was just trying to watch streaming video from a news site and posted home videos of a puppy I am thinking of adopting.

 

are u using an lcd?

 

I'm really a novice at this -- what is an lcd?

 

its a liquid crystal display..those real thin monitors...or are you using a crt..Cathode Ray Tube..those big bulky monitors?
do you know the resolution setting your monitor is using?

 

And again I ask, How about a link to a sample video you have trouble with?

 

I think a lot of issues with video on computers boils down to 2 things.
1. How much memory you have in your system
2. What video card is in your system
I can tell you this because I am a DJ/VJ and use a computer to play music videos.
So please answer those 2 questions heres how
For #1 you will find this info by Going to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information... You are looking for Total Physical Memory. Give me that number
2. You will find this by going to Start, Control Panel, Look for the System Icon and hit that, Hardware, Device Manager, Look for the "+" nest to Display adapter and click on that. That will tell me what graphics card you have.
There are a lot of other factors we can look at to get you running if you have a good enough GPU and enough memory.