Site Requirements
In order to use this site, you must use be using a recently-released browser with Javascript and cookies enabled. You will also need the most recent version of Windows Media Player and/or the Real Media Player. If you have a legacy browser or an older version of the Windows or Real Media Players, please upgrade now.
» Download Internet Explorer
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» Download Windows Media Player
» Download Real Player
Note to Macintosh Customers:
At this time Microsoft does not offer a DRM solution for Macintosh. Therefore, Windows Media streams will not work for Mac users. Mac users, please select the RealPlayer option to watch movies.
For Mac users, our site works best when you're using Internet Explorer. You can get a copy of Internet Explorer for OS X here.
Get Answers To Your Questions
We've split out F.A.Q. up into sections to help you find the answers you need.
Account Questions
Wondering how to update your account information? How your password works? This is the place to find the answers.
Technical Questions
Error messages, broken links, software problems: check out the technical support area to find answers to these issues.
Video Playback
Check here for any problems with your video player, either
Windows or
Real.
Can't find your answer? Submit a
Trouble Ticket.
Windows Media Player Support
| W1. | What is Windows Media Player and how do I install it? |
| W2. | How do I resize a movie? |
| W3. | What is "buffering" and "net congestion"? |
| W4. | The movie rebuffers, stalls, stops or looks like a slide show. |
| W5. | How do I improve picture quality of the movies? |
| W6. | Is there a Help Page for Windows Media Player? |
W1. What is Windows Media Player and how do I install it?
Windows Media Player is a software program that allows movies to be played on most home computers. You can
download it free from Microsoft.
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W2. How do I resize a movie?
To resize the Windows Media Player window, you can click on the small icon located in the lower left of the player. You can also drag the size of the window by adjusting the small "grip" area also located in the lower left corner.
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W3. What is "buffering" and "net congestion"?
First, an explanation of how the Internet works. Information is sent from computer to computer over the Internet in "packets". Packets travel at different speeds and arrive in jumbled order. They are then reassembled and interpreted on the receiving end by your computer. Text files and static pictures are easily reassembled, but large video files are difficult to reassemble in a smooth, continuous stream. The process of reassembling the arriving packets is called "buffering". When starting a movie, Windows Media Player buffers for only 5-10 seconds with a fast connection.
If there is interference or interruption of packets traveling, Windows Media Player has difficulty reassembling the packets into a smooth continuous stream. Interference can be caused anywhere along the line from your modem, phone line, ISP, or any place on the Internet the packets travel on the way to their destination. "Net congestion" is just what the name implies. The Internet is aptly nicknamed the "information superhighway" because there are often traffic jams and slow-downs.
Performance problems are not always our fault! If you're getting a lot of re-buffering or net congestion, blame it on those damn kids downloading Brittney Spears MP3s!
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W4. The movie rebuffers, stalls, stops or looks like a slide show.
You may be trying to watch a movie that is too fast for your connection: go to the movie player preferences and select a smaller video file in your preferences. If you have selected the highest size stream (500k), for example, and your Internet connection is not capable of maintaining a speed of at least 450k, then you will see stalls or a slide show effect during playback.
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W5. How do I improve picture quality of the movies?
If you are having problems playing movies, test videos from other sites to determine if the problem is with this site or not. You can test movies at Microsoft, or NakedSword.com. It can also be helpful to test from a different computer.
If you are having trouble with Windows Media Player movies on other sites as well, test NakedSword from a different computer at a friend's house or a local Internet café. Compare their settings with yours.
If the problem is with your computer, here are a few simple suggestions:
Upgrade to the latest version of Windows Media Player. It is not unusual that you would need to re-install the same version more than once. If you are upgrading from an earlier version or doing a re-install, do not delete the old files.
Upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer.
Set your monitor to 16-bit (thousands) or 24-bit (millions) color.
Make sure Windows Media Player is your default player. If you have recently installed Quicktime or Real Player, they may have forced you to change your default setting during installation. Check Preferences on each.
Make sure "cookies" are enabled in your browser. In Internet Explorer, go to View/Privacy Report/Settings. Privacy should be set at Normal or Lower.
Update the system's video driver regularly.
Close unnecessary applications on your computer.
Test at different times of day or avoid peak hours.
The player is designed to download about 30 seconds of the clip and then start playing it. This is called buffering. If you are connected to the Internet on a steadily slow connection and the buffering fails, Windows Media Player will try to buffer more than 30 seconds of the file. The waiting time before you can see of hear the file will be longer, but there should be less interruptions once the clip begins to play.
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W6. Is there a Help Page for Windows media Player?
You can search the
Microsoft Knowledge Base for additional support not found here. Type in a question and get an automated response. Microsoft does offer individual technical support by email, but they need 24-48 hours to respond. If you ever send them an email, include as much information as possible the first time to speed up the process.
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Real Player Support
| R1. | What is RealPlayer and how do I install it? |
| R2. | What is "buffering" and "net congestion"? |
| R3. | The movie rebuffers, stalls, stops or looks like a slide show. |
| R4. | How do I improve picture quality of the movies? |
| R5. | I tried to watch a movie and was told "Requested file not found." WHY? |
| R6. | RealPlayer keeps asking me for a username and password; it's really annoying or it locks me out. |
| R7. | I watch one movie and after that every movie I click on plays the movie I just watched. |
| R8. | Is there a Help Page for RealPlayer? |
| R9. | What is Real Alternative? |
R1. What is RealPlayer and how do I install it?
RealOne Player is a software program that allows NakedSword movies to be played on most home computers. You may choose either the free RealOne Player Basic or the deluxe RealOne Player Plus at $19.95, however the free Player will work just fine with NakedSword.
Click here to download the latest version.
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R2. What is "buffering" and "net congestion"?
First, an explanation of how the Internet works. Information is sent from computer to computer over the Internet in "packets". Packets travel at different speeds and arrive in jumbled order. They are then reassembled and interpreted on the receiving end by your computer. Text files and static pictures are easily reassembled, but large video files are difficult to reassemble in a smooth, continuous stream. The process of reassembling the arriving packets is called "buffering". When starting a movie, Real Player buffers for only 5-10 seconds with a fast connection.
If there is interference or interruption of packets traveling, Real Player has difficulty reassembling the packets into a smooth continuous stream. Interference can be caused anywhere along the line from your modem, phone line, ISP, or any place on the Internet the packets travel on the way to their destination. "Net congestion" is just what the name implies. The Internet is aptly nicknamed the "information superhighway" because there are often traffic jams and slow-downs.
Performance problems are not always our fault! If you're getting a lot of re-buffering or net congestion, blame it on those damn kids downloading Brittney Spears MP3s!
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R3. The movie rebuffers, stalls, stops or looks like a slide show.
You may be trying to watch a clip that is too fast for your connection: select a smaller video file in your preferences. If you have selected the highest size stream (500k), for example, and your Internet connection is not capable of maintaining a speed of at least 450k, then you will see stalls or a slide show effect during playback.
If you're still having problems, it is likely that the problem is due to Internet traffic. See the above question.
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R4. How do I improve picture quality of the movies?
If you are having problems playing movies, test videos from other sites to determine if the problem is with NakedSword or not. You can test movies at Real.com, or Atom Films. It is also helpful to test NakedSword from a different computer.
If you are having trouble with Real Player movies on other sites as well, test NakedSword from a different computer at a friend's house or a local Internet café. Compare their settings with yours.
If the problem is with your computer, here are a few simple suggestions:
Upgrade to the latest version of RealOne Player. It is not unusual that you would need to re-install the same version more than once. If you are upgrading from an earlier version or doing a re-install, do not delete the old files.
Upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer.
Set your monitor to 16-bit (thousands) or 24-bit (millions) color.
Make sure Real is your default player. If you have recently installed Quicktime or Windows Media Player, they may have forced you to change your default setting during installation. Check Preferences on each.
Make sure "cookies" are enabled in your browser. In Internet Explorer, go to View/Privacy Report/Settings. Privacy should be set at Normal or Lower.
Update the system's video driver regularly.
Close unnecessary applications on your computer.
Do not use the Zoom button on lower bandwidth clips.
Test at different times of day or avoid peak hours.
The player is designed to download about 30 seconds of the clip and then start playing it. This is called buffering. If you are connected to the Internet on a steadily slow connection and the buffering fails, RealOne player will try to buffer more than 30 seconds of the file. The waiting time before you can see or hear the file will be longer, but there should be less interruptions once the clip begins to play. Increase this setting to 90 seconds:
- In RealOnePlayer, click Tools and select Preferences.
- Click the plus (+) sign next to Connection in the Category panel.
- Select Playback Settings from the Connection list.
- In the Playback Settings panel on the right, find the Buffered Play section. Change the default of 30 seconds to 90 seconds.
- Click OK.
- Try to play the file again.
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R5. I tried to watch a movie and was told "Requested file not found." WHY?
What this means is that you've asked for a movie that wasn't there. Although we've tried to make sure everything was in place before we launched, we're only human and some times things get missed.
Report the Problem and we'll be sure to fix the movie or you.
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R6. RealPlayer keeps asking me for a username and password; it's really annoying or it locks me out.
First make sure your billing is current. Your account may have recently expired if your credit card expiration date has passed and you have not updated this information with the billing providers CCBill or Epoch/Paycom.net. Refer to the
Account Questions above. After you are sure your account is in order try typing in your password and not cutting and pasting it. Sometimes pasting adds a space that is rejected by Real Player.
The second login is dependent on your platform/browser combination. Some of you won't need to do two logins. For the rest of you, we will gradually eliminate that second login for the vast majority of platform/browser combinations. Real's security requires your login information for each film.
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R7. I watch one movie and after that every movie I click on plays the movie I just watched.
Check your browser's cache. In IE:
Go to Tools in the menu options and select Internet Options
Under "Temporary Internet Files", click the radio button that says "Automatically".
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R8. Is there a Help Page for RealPlayer?
You can search the
Real Video Knowledge Base for additional support not found here. Type in a question and get an automated response. RealPlayer does offer individual technical support by email, but they need 24-48 hours to respond. If you ever send them an email, include as much information as possible the first time to speed up the process.
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R9. What is Real Alternative?
Real Alternative will allow you to play RealMedia files without having to install RealPlayer or RealOne Player. Supported formats are: RealAudio (.ra .rpm), RealMedia (.rm .ram .rmvb .rpx .smi .smil), RealText (.rt), ReadPix (.rp). It also supports RealMedia content that is embedded in Web pages.
At this time, NakedSword does not support the Real Alternative Player.
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