Description: This problem occurs because Microsoft Windows Media Player automatically tries to detect whether the player is connected to a network. If Windows Media Player cannot detect a network connection, and if you try to play online content, you receive the error that is mentioned in the question.

• Often other settings may interrupt the player's ability to correctly identify whether or not an Internet presence is available.
• Windows Media Player checks for an echo from the default gateway. If there is no IP gateway, Windows Media Player may try to ping the HTTP proxy instead. If the HTTP proxy is outside your firewall and the firewall filters ICMP packets, Windows Media Player may determine that there is no connection.

Solution: Sometimes various media settings set by you, by another application, or another utility can disturb regular functionality of network communications by resetting the priority of where the player looks for media first. This error is caused by one of those scenarios. You can use the "Connect to the Internet" option to get back to good standing with the internet. The "Connect to the Internet" option gives you the ability to bridge the communication required between certain player functions and the network.

The "Connect to the Internet" option specifies whether Windows Media Player is connected to the Internet even if other commands, such as the Work Offline command in the File menu, are turned on. Selecting this option ensures that player features that require an Internet connection can always connect when your computer is online. Otherwise, your player can think that the optimum way to communicate is to look directly to a local piece of media to stream from, such as a hard drive or CD ROM drive.

To force the player to always assume that the player is connected to a network, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. On the Player tab, under Player settings, check the "Connect to the Internet (overrides other commands)" check box.

Installs:

Click here for Windows Media ® Player Installers