QuickTime 7.1.6 special report: QuickTime, Flash content in Web pages not playing (Question mark error)

Several users have reported that they are unable to view QuickTime and/or Flash media embedded in Web pages after applying the QuickTime 7.1.6 update -- an issue typified by a watermarked QuickTime logo with an overlaid question mark (see screenshot at right).

MacFixIt reader Doug writes:

"After updating via Software Update most websites show a big light blue 'Q' with a question mark (?) in the middle of the 'Q' somewhere on the various web pages. Comcast.net loads nothing but a blue screen with the 'Q' and '?'.

"Have repaired permission 3 times now. DiskUtility shows that no permissions needed repair. Re-applied the Quicktime update and repaired permission several more times. No change."

Fixes for QuickTime content

Delete QuickTime plugin .plist file The first thing to try if you are experiencing this issue is to navigate to the directory:

• ~/Library/Preferences (the tilde [~] represents the current home user directory)

and delete the file:

• com.apple.quicktime.plugin.preferences.plist

log out and back into your account, then check for persistence of the issue.

Remove VLC plug-in Failing the above, quit Safari (or your current browser) and look in the following folder:

• /Library/Internet Plug-Ins (this is the Library folder at the root level of your hard drive, not the one inside your home user directory).

Try removing the following file from that directory:

• VLC Plugin.plugin

Restart your browser and check for persistence of the issue.

If the problem is not resolved, a different plug-in may be causing the issue. Keep removing files from this directory (start with any third-party plug-ins present) until the issue disappears.

Re-install QuickTime 7.1.6 We've now received word from some users that re-installing QuickTime 7.1.6 from the standalone download link rather than through Software Update (as recommended in our guide to applying system updates) resolves this issue.

MacFixIt reader Ned Soltz writes:

"I also was bitten by the QuickTime 7.1.6 bug of inability to display QuickTime movies in browser page. I tried trashing the plist as well as the Quicktime plug-in within Internet plug-ins library. Still could not display. I then downloaded the complete 7.1.6 from Apple site and reinstalled, without removing old QuickTime components, rebooted, and then everything worked fine."

Fixes for Flash content

In some cases, the broken QuickTime image (watermarked QuickTime logo with an overlaid question mark) can appear when attempting to play Flash files embedded in Web pages. This only occurs if your system is configured to to play Flash media through QuickTime. This issue can sometimes be resolved by removing the file

• /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/QuickTime plugin.plugin

The reason this resolves this issue in most cases is that the system will default to using the Adobe Flash plug-in in the absence of this QuickTime plug-in, which is unable to play some types of Flash media.

For more information on manually disabling QuickTime's Flash playback and otherwise controlling your system's playback of Flash, see our tutorial: "Flash content will not play in Web browsers, resolving".

Index:

• Release Notes
• Getting the update off your Mac

• Finder quitting then re-launching
• Flip4Mac broken
• QuickTime, Flash content in Web pages not playing (Question mark error)

Resources