Netflix error in Windows 7

[Indymil]

I have been using Windows 7 media center to watch Netflix without any problems. Within the last couple of days, when I try to open Netflix I get the message "Internet Connection. There was a problem retrieving data. Verify your internet connection and try again." I've rebooted, still the same. I can access the internet with Internet explorer so that is not a problem. This is occurring on both of my media centers. I use InfiniTV 4 PCI cards; cable works fine with these.

[abigrock]

I'm seeing the same issue on all of my media centers. Maybe it's regional as others have said they are working fine. I'm in the Midwest.

[Indymil]

I'm in Indiana. Have BrightHouse cable but don't think that should be material; again, regular cable works fine.

[barnabas1969]

Can you watch Netflix in a browser on the same computer?

[abigrock]

Well I'm in Illinois with charter and if either Netflix or a shared ISP component is having an issue it could just be effecting a somewhat "small" area relative to the country. I can view Netflix in the browsers on every machine as well as from multiple iOS devices on the same network.

[Indymil]

I can watch Netflix in Internet Explorer.

[abigrock]

Ok so I have setup media center on a computer at my work and have installed Netfilx under WMC7 and was able to login and play a movie. We have a different ISP here so I am starting to think it is something with my ISP at home, Charter.

[mdavej]

Still working fine for me on Charter.

[Indymil]

I was able to watch Netflix using Internet Explorer with Media Center closed; however, If I minimize Media Center (and do not close it), when I try to log onto Netflix in my browser I get "Internet Connection Problem - Error Code N8157-3142". Additionally, I went to Programs in the control panel and uninstalled the Windows Media Center Netflix program and then reinstalled it ... still got the error message in Media Center. Any input would be appreciated.

[barnabas1969]

Try clearing your cache in Internet Explorer. Also, make sure that your IE connection settings are correct. The Netflix plugin in Media Center uses the IE cache.

[Indymil]

I cleared the Internet cache and DNS cache ... same response, cannot get Netflix in media center. I'm not sure what you mean by IE connection settings, but I have no problem connecting on the Internet. I can log onto/watch Netflix in my browser with Media Center open/minimized. I have two media center computers ... both respond the same.

[barnabas1969]

I don't know what to do for you then. I haven't tested it on mine... I just use the Roku for Netflix now. It's much more reliable than the Netflix app in Media Center ever was, and I get 5.1 audio too.

[mdavej]

... and 1080p instead of just 720p.

[barnabas1969]

I really liked the transport controls in the Netflix app in Media Center. It's much better than the experience on my smart TV and Bluray players' Netflix apps. The Roku Netflix "channel" has very similar transport controls to the ones in the Media Center app. I'm very happy with the Roku so far.

[abigrock]

okay, I have figured out what was causing my issue. It ended up being a DNS problem. I use manual IPs on all my media centers and I had been using Google DNS. I changed my DNS server settings on my media centers to my routers IP and rebooted my media centers and Netflix started working normally. While I do not like using my router for a DNS if it gets Netflix working in WMC I suppose it does not matter.

[echo14612]

I've been having the same problem since 2/20/2014. I'm in New York. Clearing cache, cookies, etc. didn't change anything. Streaming works fine inside the browser.

So what happened on 2/20?

[smalltownguy2]

Also using Charter cable internet, here in Wisconsin. My Netflix plugin for WMC stopped working two days ago. What gives?

Yes, I can watch using IE. But my kids don't like having to launch a browser to watch netflix. They prefer the 10 foot interrface that WMC gives them. We do not have any other devices other than our HTPC to watch Netflix on the big screen TV.

Anyone else figure this out yet?

[smalltownguy2]

Interesting. I launched Media Center, tried sigining into Netflix again. No dice.

So I brought up a browser, signed into my Netflix account, and clicked on the "call us" link to get the customer service phone number. While I was on hold, I went back to Media Center.

I clicked on 'get started with Netflix' and was brought back to a browser page at Netflix in IE. I was asked to select 'who's watching' (since I have multiple profiles). I selected my own profile, and my web browswer loaded my account. Then I signed back out again and returned to WMC.

Then I went back to the Netflix plugin in WMC, and tried logging into my account again. I was immediately greeted with a fully functional Netflix plugin again.

Weird. Must have had something to do with the fact that I had not selected 'who's watching.'

This IS the first time I'm using Netflix on this PC, having just installed Win7 on it. So maybe there's some kind of setting that gets established by choosing your watching profile in IE that allows the WMC plugin to work properly.

[3rob3]

Yeah, if you have enabled profiles that would definitely cause an issue. I have avoided creating any other profiles for this exact reason.

[gavinuf7]

Uninstall Silverlight and re-install