yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Trouble shooting + faq

TROUBLE SHOOTING + FAQ

If the flash content is embedded as an iframe, be sure to also add the domain of the source of the flash content. E.g. be sure to also add the website where the iframe links to to the whitelisted sources, this is what will eventually determine whether flash will be activated or not for this website.

If 'website.com' uses a standard flash plugin (e.g. if you can view the flash content on a normal desktop with just the standard adobe flash player plugin) it will work with this method. All this method does is activating the built in flash plugin for any website you have added to the whitelist.

If you can't find this file be sure to enable "show hidden files", this folder will show up now. Alternatively you can find it by searching C:\ for the query "iecompatdata", the file will now show up.

Be sure to delete your browsing history and refresh the page. If it does not work now, please be sure to check if you have added the website correctly (e.g. within <domain> tags).

Make sure you have UNCHECKED the last checkmark in "Compatibility View settings" which says: "Download updated compatibility list from Microsoft". If you have done this, you will be able to locally change the whitelist without IE overriding it automatically.
[Microsoft Surface] xirsteon:
Thanks so much for this work. I remember u from ur past work on wp7/7.5 on here. Thanks again. I almost called MS lite to return my surface because of this stupidity. Are they like apple or what? Trying to decide what u can do and what u can't is a v.stupid idea and whoever decided this at MS should be fired. If I wanted a prison garden, I'd buy an iPad.

---------- Post added at 12:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

Now if I can find an easy way to block the ads ill be really happy. These ads are so invading. I didn't realize how much firefox with adblock was until I had to us IE for the last 3 days. quite annoying as it makes content loading so slow.
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Your welcome. Glad it was helpful, yes I have been less active due to obligations at the univerisity. If we find a better solution we will let you know.

Some kind of adblocker is also integrated in Internet Explorer. Go to Manage add-ons and then to Tracking Protection. Now download a couple of adblock lists. It is not as good as chrome/ff, but it gets the job done for the most part! :)

And take some time to get used to your new machine, its a beautiful device and only yet people are starting to explore it and develop for it. It will for sure be a highly demanded device and will most likely reach a lot of developer/hacker interest.
[Microsoft Surface] Digital Man:
The restriction against other browsers is equally disturbing.

See here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57431236-92/microsoft-bans-firefox-on-arm-based-windows-mozilla-says/

Even Google, who loves to push their own brand name through Chrome, saw the wisdom of allowing the customer freedom.

Lets not forget what, in large part, created Android's success - people jumped ship from Apple because they saw Android as an OS that allowed the consumer as much or as little customization as you want - you want it simple - they present a good out of box experience - you want something more, you can make changes.

We don't need two walled gardens.
[Microsoft Surface] GoodDayToDie:
Eh, that's just the restriction against third-party desktop apps. Mozilla even acknowledges that they could build a Windows Store app, and in fact they're apparently doing that (http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57376421-264/coming-in-2012-firefox-for-windows-8s-metro/)... just for some reason they're doing it only for x86. Since Store apps, even for RT, are allowed to use native C/C++ and the compiler supports building them for ARM, I'm really not sure why they don't just recompile it for RT. Yeah, their JavaScript JIT would need to be changed, but they already have a JIT for ARM don't they? That's equally relevant for Firefox on RT in the Desktop or in "Metro" anyhow, so it would be a stupid thing to complain about. In any case, they could just fall back to interpreted JS.
[Microsoft Surface] davehries:
Installed Chrome Browser

I am not sure if this adds anything to the discussion. I don't own a Windows RT machine, but I was in Office Depot the other day looking at their devices. They had a Samsung ATIV Smart PC on display. So, I messed around with if for a while. I had read that other browsers were forbidden on the RT. I thought, I wonder if Google Chrome will run? So I installed it off the internet and it worked.

My question is this: Is it just the MS RT the locks itself down? Why did the Samsung allow me to D/L and install Chrome?
[Microsoft Surface] nbates66:
the software restrictions should be the same, the other limitation is that you can't just download x86 software and install it on the RT because x86 doesn't run on ARM processors, are you absolutely certain you were on an ATIV tab running Windows RT or just a samsung tablet running Windows 8 with an x86 processor? If it was already possible to install chrome on Windows RT it'd be all over the internet.
[Microsoft Surface] adiliyo:
it's the samsung smart PC running on x86 hardware? (clovertrail or i5) if it is, then it's running full windows 8 and you can install any legacy apps (like chrome/ff) to your hearts content.

not to go off topic too much, but as to the earlier comment about freedom and choice being the reason android gained so much marketshare so fast. it has more to do with the combination of cheap handsets and carrier penetration, at a time when the iphone was locked to one network in the US and blackberry was slowly falling out of the consumer mindshare. yes, people like us who frequent xda might have moved to it because of the openness of the platform, but the mainstream market really doesn't care about that.
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Guys, we are wandering too far off topic. I appreciate the discussion, but please let it be (somehow) related to ways of enabling flash on IE10 on Win RT and 8. The limitations of Windows RT are better to be discussed in appropriate threads :)

Did anybody do an experiment with this compatibility list? Or tried to deactivate it in its entire? A systems admin or IT pro might no some more details on this?
[Microsoft Surface] xirsteon:
I added several websites and it worked fine. I'm a bit bummed as I think MS will find a way to over write the xml file in a masquerade windows update. As far as deactivation is concerned, I thought about making a backup of the xml file, and completely deleting the original to see if it works at all. What do u think?
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
It might work, but I assume it will just deactivate compatibility view in its entire and hence disable flash for all sites. But its worth the try :) Let me know if it works!
[Microsoft Surface] xirsteon:
Well I created a local account to test this. Backup the file and deleted the original. All the blacklisted sites didn't work. So its not 100% possible yet but I bet there's a reg option or even a security policy (secpol.msc) that will turn this check off completely. Perhaps a bit of poke around will yield some insights. I looked in secpol and didn't find anything. So that leaves the registry up for grabs unless they're pulling that wp hidden / reg lock down thing.
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
i bet its hidden, since if you want to add a developer website to test flash on you will have to create a reg key in a non existing folder in the ie registry settings called FLASH, so I guess thats the hidden folder. But I wonder if it is possible to somehow trace these folders. I personally dont know anything about the entire mechanism behind the comapibility view. I just discovered it by accident by figuring out where the whitelist was located. So far it seems that it does not take wildcards for domains and also shutting down the list in its entire does not seem to work. We can try to add a 'blank' domain but I doubt it will work.
[Microsoft Surface] mechmouni:
Doesn't work for me

I am doing just as instructed. I do not know why it doesn't for me. I tried movie2k.to and myp2p, ibliz. None of them work :(
[Microsoft Surface] dragon_76:
More likely is that it will download the default list, or the current list. I don't really see compatibility view as an issue. What you are getting is the ability to use the major Flash-enabled sites without any of the ad sites, built-in as opposed to using third-party solutions.
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Make sure you follow each step correctly. It has been tested and confirmed working by lots of people, on both Windows RT and Windows 8. Make sure you delete browsing history.
[Microsoft Surface] jessenic:
Here you can add sites: http://minecraft.digiex.org/flash/

And here is the list itself: http://minecraft.digiex.org/flash/iecompatviewlist.xml

Working with Nuduaa on a auto downloader script to autoupdate it every now and then on the surface.
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Awesome! Now I just have to wait for MS to ship me a damn Surface ;)

If it is done (and there is some automation) I will add it to the first post!

Thank you for maintaining the list. This is great guys... good work!

Does anybody know if Windows RT allows the creation of custom extensions?
[Microsoft Surface] severinca:
help

I am following the steps yet I can't find the place in c drive as described on my surface.
[Microsoft Surface] lilivo:
i'm having the same problem. when I do the search using the charms feature it finds the file, but I am trying to find the locations so that I can delete and replace it with the file off the digiex site. any help on how exactly you all were able to find that file location? consider me a NOOB to this registry edit thing.
[Microsoft Surface] hoodoomagic:
No need to mess with the registry. Just make sure hidden items is checked in windows explorer (under view), then navigate to: C:\Users\[USER_NAME]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\iecompatdata.xml
[Microsoft Surface] danchar4:
100% MS-blessed and documented way

For the XML file edit method please use this path - the environment variable makes it universal:

%HOMEPATH%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\iecompatdata.xml

to open the doc for editing cut and paste the following to the command-line or to the Winkey+R run box:

notepad "%HOMEPATH%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\iecompatdata.xml"

If you are content testing one site at a time, there is a 100% documented way of doing this:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ie/jj193557.aspx

If you find this helpful vote up and get this added to the first post.
[Microsoft Surface] gropich:
hi , i try to do these step in first page,but dont work's here,can someone try to open this site?

http://www.motogp.com/it/videos/latest+videos#MotoGP+Rewind+Phillip+Island+2012

thank's
[Microsoft Surface] juanjo767:
This doesn't work.

I have a Samsung Series 7 Slate PC running Windows 8 Pro. I have tried to add the following link: cinehoyts dot cl

That site has flash ads and images along the right hand side that only appear when running the desktop app. Can someone please try out that site to verify if it works?

In addition to that, I completely removed the XML file from the directory. However, after removing the file and deleting the browser history inside of the metro browser, youtube still works.
[Microsoft Surface] morpheuszg:
It seems that this file reverts itself back to default after a reboot. My entries are completely gone. Now I will try to set this file to "read only", maybe this will help.

EDIT: Please never mind, issue has been resolved ;)
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Guys please dont ask for a specific site whether it works or not. The method has been described pretty thoroughly and works universally. If it dows not work on a specific site there are 2 possible scenarios:

1) the flash file is embedded in an iframe

2) you did something wrong.

Solutions

1) also include the domain of the embedded website (i.e. youtube, vimeo, putlocker, sockshare, gorillavid, etc.)

2) read my steps again and be sure to execute every single one of them in respective order.
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
are you sure that you unchecked the checkmark to prevent redownloading the list from the microsoft servers? (e.g. the compatibility settings option, see first post)
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
it seems like you did not delete the browsing history... Deleting the xml file is not a good idea as you will lose flash support afaik.
[Microsoft Surface] morpheuszg:
Well, I have indeed missed that one, thanks.
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
No problem! I have restructured the first post to make it more clear. The method has been spread around online without the notion that each consecutieve step will have to be executed in respective order, otherwise the method will not work as intended.

I have also added a trouble shooting/faq in the second post. If there is anything I have not covered, please let me know and ill add it!

Ciao!
[Microsoft Surface] juanjo767:
Now that I am home, this is now working for me. Not sure why it didn't work in the office. Works like a charm now though.
[Microsoft Surface] wolf1306:
What we need now is a thread with websites names that works now, especially for streaming movies and tv shows online
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
It should work on every website which uses flash to stream. I've tested it on putlocker, sockshare, gorillavid, etc. etc. and it all works flawlessly. Pretty much every source from those "shady" video streaming sites worked just fine ;)

So I prefer not to keep a list here, but there is some work going on to make a "community" maintained whitelist, to which anybody can add a website. This should allow the list to grow pretty fast.

Regards
[Microsoft Surface] twisticles:
Just to add from my own experience:

I found the <flash> tag and inserted

<domain> mydomain.com </domain> immediately above the first entry which is

However I couldn't get it to work no matter how many times I followed the instructions.

Then I scrolled down to where the list starts without the other tags:

I inserted there, saved, deleted history in IE Metro and then it worked.

Hope that helps someone ;)
[Microsoft Surface] juanjo767:
I place all my links before:

<domain>13.cl

<platform>x86</platform>

<platform>x64</platform>

</domain>

However, I use this format:

<domain>mydomain.com

<platform>x86</platform>

<platform>x64</platform>

</domain>
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Well the platform tags means that it is a special exception for the x64 and x86 architecture afaik.

I've just added all links right before the closing </flash> tag in the simple form of <domain>blabla.com</domaim> which should work for any platform. It seems odd that it will not work if you put it right after the opening tag though. Ill do some testing later see if the same occurs for me. If you want to be sure it works, just add it right before the CLOSING TAG.

:)
[Microsoft Surface] deeman:
Can someone check if xhamster.com works "NSFW" i need it only for research purposes
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
What the hell, I opened that site on the University to confirm whether it would work, thank god its late and nobody was here... haha. Everything which utilizes flash should work, including x-rated sites for biology research purposes.
[Microsoft Surface] zanix:
This seems to work as a wildcard for any website.

<domain>*</domain>

Where adding .com does not

<domain>*.com</domain>
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
mmm I tried exactly that on one of the first posts. I dont believe it works... However I will try it again, seems odd that it did not work for me earlier.

EDIT: Wow it does seem to work! I can't believe why it did not work when I tested it earlier! Good you double checked.... ill update the first post.

EDIT2: Actually it does not seem to work... As has been found before, adding

<domain>*</domain>

Will not enable flash for every website. (At least not on my system).
[Microsoft Surface] deeman:
Hi were in ie10 do I type ALT --> Tools --> Compatibility View settings ?
[Microsoft Surface] lilivo:
does anyone know about sites like mymathlab that requires more than just that? I have tested this on a lot of sites and it works fine, but for instance, when I go to mymathlabs it takes me to a login. then it goes to course compass website. after that I try to access my homework, but it gives me an error saying adobe needs to be installed. I put the domain for mymathlabs, coursecompass and another one. is there something special that I have to do with those sites? school sites. has anyone been able to get that to work, and if so can you tell me how please? thanks so much.
[Microsoft Surface] oldpueblo:
I've tried an online training website and it didn't work there either, I suspect there are more plugins necessary or some back-end domains I need to figure out to also add to the whitelist. I'll keep messing and see if I figure it out.
[Microsoft Surface] goan0900:
Does this work on Windows Phone 8?
[Microsoft Surface] guitar1969:
I am kind of confused on the status of this hack at this point in time. Have we figured out a way to allow flash on all websites thorugh a wildcard or was that a false positive. I am hopeful it can be opened up because adding individual websites to the list is not really practical.

I also notice there was an IE 10 Flash update pushed to my surface 2 days ago - Do we know what this was for. Hopefully not closing the loophole.
[Microsoft Surface] Hardcore73:
There is really only one flash site I need to work so please can someone check and see if it works. I guarantee there are thousands of people with the same question. www.logmein.com They do not have an RT version and we all need this for support work.

If someone can check it out and let us know that would be huge to the community I guarantee it.
[Microsoft Surface] bazanime:
Holy crap it actually works on almost every site I tried it on, even the one that I thought had a java plugin but didn't actually. if this was turned on by default it would really change everything when it come to perception of the surface's browsing capabilities, (which is already awesome anyways) this just makes it super awesome.

metro ie10 can actually do desktop ie10 stuff, its amazing. it doesn't even reduce the performance, but don't recommend you enable flash heavy sites like crazy pr0n sites.

the only sucky part of this is remembering all the sites I need to enable and having to enable manually every time.

I don't drink but I'd pay for a drink for the person that found out this hack.
[Microsoft Surface] wolf1306:
Last update killed the flash hack
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
As far as my (limited) testing will allow me to conclude is that it is not possible to add a wildcard. It was most likely a false positive (i.e. browser history not deleted prior to testing).

So unfortunately no I have not yet found a way to activate flash on any website...

I have not experience with extensions unfortunately, so I can not attempt to make an automated process for the method. Nor do I have Windows RT to test if extensions even allowed on ARM chips to begin with...

So yeah there is kind of a dead end here until I (or anybody else) will find a way to add a wildcard or disable whitelisting in its entire.

No further progress thusfar...
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Glad it is working well for you. You are welcome :)

Unfortunately it is not as versatile as I would have liked it to be... it is just annoying that Microsoft did not leave it up to the user to decide and just implemented a setting to enable flash in its entire. I understand performance and security issues, but is this really desired over limiting the browsing experience by default.
[Microsoft Surface] lumpaywk:
Instead of having to remember then typing them all in, why don't you put the list in a text file somewhere then when the file gets overwritten you can just cut and paste the list back in. Will take seconds to do.
[Microsoft Surface] apatcas:
Can someone please update a iecomplist.xml that has the *domain in it and working please? I want to make sure I'm not doing something wrong.

Thanks in advance
[Microsoft Surface] hsalps:
Thank you. This is really useful.
[Microsoft Surface] Chida:
I use the procedure, but don't work...

I check the file and there is two site standar like 13.cl and adventmedia.net , but flash don't work.

Flash component is enabled.

Help please!
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
Please follow the 3 steps from the main post. Follow each step in respective order. If it does not work, please read the FAQ in post 2.
[Microsoft Surface] Chida:
I did what are in main post and 2 post, but the problem is not seeing new sites, I do not even see the ARM flash sites even restoring standard automatic downloading list
[Microsoft Surface] Chida:
the soluction is Resetting windows!
[Microsoft Surface] twisticles:
Hmm this was working for me before the firmware update, but now when flash videos play I get the audio but only black screen instead of video. Any ideas?
[Microsoft Surface] skwarek:
yes. you have to redo the steps again. After the update, IE downloaded the new whitelist. At least that's what happened to me.
[Microsoft Surface] twisticles:
Of course I tried that, same as before...didn't work for me the second time...
[Microsoft Surface] killall:
Can someone try and see if it works with the Facebook app page?

I followed all the steps and added a number of sites including Facebook, but when Facebook tries to load an app (Bubble Witch Saga), it states that I need to install Adobe Flash.

Please help, my life isn't worth living if my wife doesn't get her game fix daily.

:fingers-crossed:
[Microsoft Surface] GoodDayToDie:
I assume you've enabled "facebook.com", so the problem is something else. It might be a matter of the site that the Flash applet is coming *from*; check the source of the FLV file loaded in the OBJECT tag, and add *that* domain.
[Microsoft Surface] killall:
Yeh tried that. No difference.

Ah well, she will have to go back to her laptop ?
[Microsoft Surface] lanwarrior:
So look like the new OS update "broke" this hack?

I tried and no go....
[Microsoft Surface] GoodDayToDie:
I don't know about this hack (I didn't want to disable the compat list updates) but it *should* still work...

The hack that I prefer (specifying one domain at a time in the registry) still works fine. Grab my scripts for it if you want ease of use. When I come across a site that doesn't work, I just switch to cmd or powershell (I always have at least one open) and type "enableflash", then the site domain when prompted. See my post in this thread for more info and download links: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1961568
[Microsoft Surface] Marvin_S:
That is not a hack, thats a hidden configuration added by Microsoft for flash web developers to test their sites on Metro IE. Its officially documented on msdn here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ie/jj193557(v=vs.85).aspx

The difference is that this hack (used to) allow(ed) adding every domain you desire and never have to look back.

I have not had the time to test if it still works or if the mechanism has somehow changed, so I can not deny nor confirm whether it is still working.
[Microsoft Surface] guitar1969:
What new OS update are you referring to ? The last firmware update I got was 11/13 and my Surface says I am current. the rest are just defender updates.

i noticed in the Surface Forum we need a changelog stick to keep track of what updates there are and what has been fixed.

I quote honestly was expecting MS to be a little quicker on fixes and updates.