Skip to main content
A
Anonymous
March 15, 2012
Answered

Problems with BBC iPlayer Desktop and Adobe Air for Mac

  • March 15, 2012
  • 4 replies
  • 33912 views

I would be grateful for anyone who can help me with a problem I have on my Laptop running Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3.I am having difficulty running BBC iPlayer Desktop and I suspect it is caused by Adobe Air.

Recently I was prompted to update Adobe Air to the latest version (as of February 2012) and after I successfully updated the program, this began to cause problems when I used BBC iPlayer desktop.

The first problem I noticed was that I was unable to play any downloaded programmes in full screen - only the sound played, not the video.

Secondly, a few weeks after this problem began, all my TV programmes mysteriously disappeared.

My final problem is that everytime I launch BBC iPlayer it is unable to download new programmes - when I am connected to the internet, the application still says it is "offline".

I have tried to resolve the problem by restarting my computer, uninstalling and reinstalling BBC iPlayer, disabling and re-enabling my firewall, connecting to the internet in different locations but this has not resolved the problem.

I tried to uninstall Adobe Air, but the installation package tells me it is 'corrupt'. So I tried to download and reinstall the application from the adobe website, but the computer already recognises that the app is installed. i.e. - I can't uninstall or reinstall Adobe Air.

I contacted BBC iPlayer support and they were unable to help - directing me to your website. I have read several other discussion topics posted on this website but not found the solution I am looking for.

Please can some help me to solve this problem, by helping me uninstall and reinstall Adobe Air for Mac?

I am not very technical minded - for example - I don't know what log files are or how to find them - so please explain it as simply as possible.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Ryan

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer chris.campbell

Hi Ryan,

Could you try deleting the BBC iPlayer preferences folder and then restarting iPlayer to see if that helps?  You should be able to find this in ~/Library/Preferences.  Look for the folder starting with BBCiPlayerDesktop and a long series of characters and move or rename this folder.

Thanks,
Chris

4 replies

R
royrashbrook
Participating Frequently
July 6, 2012

Just had the same thing happen AGAIN. Suddenly - a blank iPlayer Desktop which failed to download new programmes. All previous programmes were still in the repository folder. This time the sequence I outlined previously didn't work.

What eventually got things working this time was to reinstall Adobe Air as part of the BBC iPlayer Desktop installation process - and not separately.

So:

a) Move iPlayer to trash.

b) Find and delete the following folder: Users/Yourname/Library/Preferences/BBCiPlayerDesktop.61DB7A798358575D6A969CCD73DDBBD 723A6DA9D.1

c) Find and delete the following folder:

Users/Yourname/Library/Application Support/Adobe/AIR/ELS/BBCiPlayerDesktop.61DB7A798358575D6A969CCD73DDB BD723A6DA9D.1

d) Find and delete the following folder:

Users/Yourname/Movies/BBC iPlayer/repository/cache

e) Find and run: Applications/Utilities/Adobe AIR Uninstaller

f) Empty the Trash. I found that bits and pieces of BBC iPlayer were still running despite having been quit and dumped in the trash - and so it wouldn't allow me to complete this part. Restarted the computer, then empty the trash.

g) Find the folder: Users/Yourname/Movies/BBC iPlayer/repository and rename it repository2

h) Reinstall iPlayer. It will tell you that you have no programmes to view. Quit the programme.

i) Find and delete the folder: Users/Yourname/Movies/BBC iPlayer/repository

j) Find the folder: Users/Yourname/Movies/BBC iPlayer/repository2 and rename it to repository.

k) Relaunch iPlayer

It would be terribly nice if the BBC or Adobe stopped buggering about with this . . .

U
ukkid76
Participant
November 14, 2012

Hi there royashbrook

I did everything you suggested and everything worked just fine........ for 5 minutes!!! I then watched as all my "available now" programms dissappeared in front of my very eyes!!

Ok so I can delete everything again as before but when I re-install iplayer desktop do I also install adobe Air at the same time  or is it best to find and install an earlier version of Adobe Air?

chris.campbell
Community Manager
chris.campbellCommunity Manager
Community Manager
November 19, 2012

There is a problem with AIR 3.5 and the BBC iPlayer.  We apologize for the bug and are working to correct it asap.  In the meantime, if you have AIR 3.5 installed we recommend that you uninstall it and use AIR 3.4 instead.  Here's a post that goes into detail and includes links.

Update on playback problems with AIR 3.5 on desktop

R
royrashbrook
Participating Frequently
June 17, 2012

Although I didn't need to delete the repository:

Here's what eventually worked. I haven't the faintest idea which bit was the crucial nudge iPlayer needed, so here's the whole lot:

a) Move iPlayer to trash.

b) Find and delete the following folder: Users/Yourname/Library/Preferences/BBCiPlayerDesktop.61DB7A798358575D6A969CCD73DDBBD723A6DA9D.1

c) Find and delete the following folder:

Users/Yourname/Library/Application Support/Adobe/AIR/ELS/BBCiPlayerDesktop.61DB7A798358575D6A969CCD73DDBBD723A6DA9D.1

d) Find and delete the following folder:

Users/Yourname/Movies/BBC iPlayer/repository/cache

e) Donload and install the latest version of Adobe Air.

f) I think this bit is crucial: Empty the Trash. I found that bits and pieces of BBC iPlayer were still running despite having been quit and dumped in the trash - and so wouldn't allow me to complete this part. So I restarted the computer, quit the iPlayer desktop as soon as it started, then emptied the trash.

g) Find the folder: Users/Yourname/Movies/BBC iPlayer/repository and rename it repository2

h) Reinstall iPlayer. It will tell you that you have no programmes to view. Quit the programme.

i) Find and delete the folder: Users/Yourname/Movies/BBC iPlayer/repository

j) Find the folder: Users/Yourname/Movies/BBC iPlayer/repository2 and rename it to repository.

k) Relaunch iPlayer

This worked for me!

Good luck.

J
Jane Haselden
Participating Frequently
June 18, 2012

hey royrashbrook

Thanks. That post above worked a treat for me.

Jane :-)

R
royrashbrook
Participating Frequently
June 17, 2012

Same problem here - OSX Snow Leopard on MBPro with intel wossname. Tried everything above - but it seems the chaps at BBC or Adobe have really screwed it up this time. No access to previously downloaded programmes on iPlayer desktop or ability to download anything new.

Many thanks for any new bright ideas!

A
Anonymous
June 17, 2012

Me again. One solution that was suggested (and worth trying) was to use Finder to locate the iPlayer repository (Movies/BBCiPlayer/Repository) and remove everything in the repository directory. Downloads (and playing the stuff) will then work again.

I tried, and it worked for me. Now downloading things I have been missing for some days.

(BBC iPlayer, MacMini, Snow Leopard OSX)

K
kknb2275
Participant
June 18, 2012

Many thanks, this worked for me (I just moved the folder to a different location). Had previously unsuccessfully tried deleting/renaming the iplayer preferenced folder, but your suggested worked a treat!

chris.campbell
Community Manager
chris.campbellCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
March 22, 2012

Hi Ryan,

Could you try deleting the BBC iPlayer preferences folder and then restarting iPlayer to see if that helps?  You should be able to find this in ~/Library/Preferences.  Look for the folder starting with BBCiPlayerDesktop and a long series of characters and move or rename this folder.

Thanks,
Chris

A
Anonymous
March 27, 2012

Hi Chris,

I followed your advice, and I have successfully resolved the problems with BBC iPlayer desktop.

Thank you!

Ryan

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices