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Video Format or MIME Type error - only when started from script /crontab

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Hello. I have searched and tried to solve this for days now and I simply can't figure it out.

Firefox version: Mozilla Firefox 31.5.3 ESR Firefox plays a presentation with MP4 video.

At first we got this error generally when we tried to play MP4: Video Format or MIME Type is not supported Adding: "AddType video/mp4 .mp4" to the .htaccess file on the server solved that. After this we have been able to play mp4 inside Firefox without any issues. We can even start Firefox from within a script as long as we run this script from the command line or Desktop menu as the standard user.

However running the exact same script using crontab for the standard user, again results in the "Video Format or MIME Type is not supported" error. Export display is set and Firefox does open as it should. Youtube videos and everything else in the presentation is working. We simply just can't play MP4 video content. Just as if the .htaccess information is ignored or what ever else could be the cause.

Anyone who can explain what the differences between opening Firefox from users crontab and users Terminal console could be in terms of playing MP4 video?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

Kind Regards, Kevin

Hello. I have searched and tried to solve this for days now and I simply can't figure it out. Firefox version: Mozilla Firefox 31.5.3 ESR Firefox plays a presentation with MP4 video. At first we got this error generally when we tried to play MP4: Video Format or MIME Type is not supported Adding: "AddType video/mp4 .mp4" to the .htaccess file on the server solved that. After this we have been able to play mp4 inside Firefox without any issues. We can even start Firefox from within a script as long as we run this script from the command line or Desktop menu as the standard user. However running the exact same script using crontab for the standard user, again results in the "Video Format or MIME Type is not supported" error. Export display is set and Firefox does open as it should. Youtube videos and everything else in the presentation is working. We simply just can't play MP4 video content. Just as if the .htaccess information is ignored or what ever else could be the cause. Anyone who can explain what the differences between opening Firefox from users crontab and users Terminal console could be in terms of playing MP4 video? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks. Kind Regards, Kevin

All Replies (4)

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?


What do these pages report?

Flash Player Test Page YouTube Test Page: What video does this browser support

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FredMcD said

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

It is the same in safe-mode but again ONLY when Firefox is launched from a crontab job.

Kind Regards, Kevin

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And the test pages from my last post?

Please post the script you are using, and how it gets called.

I've called the big guys to help you. Good luck.

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In the past after applying a change, a Firefox Refresh changed this however it was for an individual video embedded in a page.

It might be the mimeTypes.rdf file. First try a test with a new profile on the computer and launch the cron job with this profile open: Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles

Add a plugin that installs native support for the file type so that its not new. Reference: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/que.../973142