Resolved PC freezes when streamed video played

It seems that every time (almost) I try to play-back streamed video, eg Utube,
my pc freezes.

I have a Core2 Duo E4500 processor running at a stock 2.2 GHz. (See profile for the rest of my spec).

Isn't this fast enough? Or might there be some other cause?

 

Done.

Thanks.

 

First, I would check you have the latest version of flash player and that your video card drivers are up to date.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

I first installed the latest NVidia driver. Result was that the pc crashed even quicker!

How do I check this please?

 

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Hope this works

 

Well, I installed it and at first there seemed to be a distinct improvement.

Sad to say, it didn't last long!

The video now - after a very short time - "jams ". What I mean is the picture doesn't totally freeze-up (or hang the whole pc), it just stops and then sort of oscillates back and forth between the last and penultimate frames. Meanwhile audio continues without a hitch.

Part of the download was an .xpi file (which I gather is a self-executing installer like .msi) filename gp.xpi. It seems to be for an Adobe product called "getPlusPlus "; I've no idea what it does so I haven't installed it.

Ought I to?

 

Other possible causes for flash not running smoothly.

CPU overloaded. Otherwise yours is more than fast enough.
Hit ctrl-alt-del (for task manager) and see what the cpu usuage is during playback.
If it’s 100% there’s too many other things happening – eliminate some.

Adobe flash might not like your video board. Right click on it when playing. Settings – uncheck ‘enable hardware acceleration’ or check it if it was already unchecked. Restart browser.

Slow internet.
Is it site specific or everywhere.
If everywhere check your internet download speed - speedtest.net.

Gremlins.

 

@Ephemarial

Thanks for the suggestions.

The solution turned out to be your second suggestion ('enable hardware acceleration' was checked - now unchecked).