I was wondering if someone can advise me how to view and download YouTube clips. Seems like everyone is now using YouTube and I cannot view any clips at all. Whenever the clip finished downloading, I press the play button. The picture starts and stops after a few seconds. Someone advised me to clear the Temporary Internet files, but the same thing happens. I'm missing out on all the clips that are on on YouTube. I appreciate any help.

What do you mean with downloading youtube clips?


Because you can download clips (and save it on your computer) but you need a special program for it. It you look type 'youtube' in search thing on videohelp.com you can find it and download it.

But if you just want to view clips, you don't need that program at all. It sounds like you have a slow computer and or internet connection. I have that problem too, especially with large files. The thing to do is just wait for the whole clip to be 'downloaded' in your temporary files and when that is done; watch it then.

Jules 2:
I have a dialup connection so it is very slow. When I click on the YouTube link, I wait till it finished downloading. Then I press the play button to start the video. It start playing but stops after a few seconds. That is why I thought if I can download and save the clip on my computer, I can view it from there. The only thing is then I would have to download and save every clip I wanted to see. I would much rather view the clips like everyone else does.

Thank you for the videohelp.com info. Will go check that out.

I don't use I.e. but you should figure out how to check whether or not you can ask the program to buffer more information before it starts to play videos. This means it stores up more before it runs them so they're less choppy, basically. -e

ekny:
Thanks for your input. Does anyone know how I can do that?

Yes I can post instructions on how to download YouTube clips. I will get my information together and post it for you all. :hug2

I have my own instructions..but I just found this on YouTube. If it doesn't work, let me know...and I can tell you how I did it, which is pretty much the same except maybe a variation on a program or two.

Instructions To Download YouTube

BadGurl :hug2

BadGurl: Thank you for the instructions. I had to watch this YouTube instructions at my work computer since I can't see it on my home computer. Anyway, I followed the instructions and finally able to watch my first YouTube video clip on the rivaflv player. I converted the flv file to wmv to download the clip. I can hear the audio but there was no visual on the wmv. Do you know how to correct this problem?

BadGurl: Oops, I just found out that only about 50 seconds of the flv file was downloaded, not the complete video. What am I doing wrong?

I don't know what would be stopping the download, except it is possibly related to only having dial up?

As an aside, I've always found when saved and converting the files seem to work better saving as a avi file, not a wmv file as some recommend. I've found some files won't save the picture otherwise. I've not yet converted the avi into other file types because of not needing to, but thought it might be worth a mention.

Dont know if this will help anyone. But I was just shown how to do this and I cannot believe how simple it is.

OK go to

www.rivavx.com

go to downloads

download both the flv player and also the flv decoader.

when you have done this go to youtube. watch the entire video you want to save. especially with dial-up. If you dont and your dial-up is to slow it will stop the video from downloading. as mentioned by aloner.

When you have watch the entire video. Copy the url.

go to

www.keepvid.com

paste the url in the green box select youtube from site. hit download.

Then underneath this in grey another box will appear with download link flv flash video. right click on this go down to save target as...
then select where you want to save the video.

I have been saving them in a folder in my documents. Remember when you are saving them though to put .flv after the name.

When you then go to where ever you have saved the video double click on it to open it. The first time you do this you will be asked which program to use to open it. You may have to browse your computer to find the riva flv player. You will also be asked if you wish to use this program to watch all flv files. I recommend ticking yes.

If you still need help email me.

Just to add to this - you can now also go to a neat site that gives a link for a decoder as well. Easy to follow and use:

http://www.saveyoutube.com/

If you use mozilla you can download DownloadHelper from the official site

It's very useful not only for downloading youtube videos,but for every other video in the net. And it's free.

Other option is a plug-in for Firefox called UnPlug, sometimes works on stuff Downloader doesn't get. I use them both. --e

Thanks for this informative thread. I had wondered about how to save YouTube files, should I want to, but I hadn't researched it yet. Now, I have a good resource for when I want to check it out.

Thanks, ekny, I just installed Unplug.

Two are better than one I think ! :D

Me too, liusi, that's why I got them. Sometimes it's impossible no matter what--but usually I can get 1 of these to work. Now, if anyone figures out a SANE way to convert FLV files to any other format.... please let me know! (Remember: I said "sane"!) :D --e

Second link down on this page from the save you tube site

Brings you to a free download converter which is pretty good

Thanks S, I didn't realize Riva was a converter--I thought it was just a player. And freeware, YAY. Cheers again!-e

VDownloader-very small and very effective.It converts .flv files in what you want(avi,dvd,ipod,svcd,vcd and a lot more).For example it downloaded and converted 1 youtube clip for about 2 min.

liusi444 neat little decoder that. Thanks for the link.

faaantastic! i popped into this thread to ask about programs that do exactly this and found your advice straight away. thank you so much, this is a simple yet very effective tool :D

Glad to help.
I had another problem- how to convert already downloaded flv files because I'm a little lazy and don't like to do 1 job twice. And I found a decision - Total Video Converter. You can convert everything- including iPod,music,Mobile,dvd and avi of course.