The Steel Guitar Forum

I've had intermittent problems with downloading videos from YouTube. My ability to do so seems to come and go without my having done anything that I know of to change anything related to it. (No one else uses the computer for video purposes).

I've been using the "Video Downloader" extension to Firefox. When it doesn't work for YouTube videos, when I click "Download" it says "Not a valid URL--please visit our website to see in detail what websites are supported", or words to that effect. When I check on the website, YouTube is on the list of websites it can supposedly download from (And indeed, sometimes it does).

When I copy and paste the link into the appropriate blank on the Video Downloader home page, then click "Download" it opens some website in Spanish titled "hmmm". ???? (The website isn't porn or anything, it's a blog--I'm generally too aggravated by that point to try reading what it's about.)

If I try to right-click I don't get "Save Target (or link) As"--just some menu about "Flash Player 9", if I click on the video, or a menu that only includes "Save Page As", which only leads to a chance to save "watch.htm"..

I can play YouTube videos I've downloaded in the past. I can WATCH videos in YouTube. I just can't download new ones (now).

Does anyone know of a downloading program I could use instead, that might not have these issues?

Brit ,
I've found that when I've had problems such as this that they have a newer version up so I download it and they work OK. Maybe this will help you some as I have suffered the same frustration.

I found one called DownloadHelper. It works on YouTube. (At least for now.)

Brint, Also try one called Easy Video Downloader. Just make sure you get the latest version

I just wanted to mention and reinforce the fact that applications that interact with YouTube and Yahoo need to be updated fairly often, to respond to attempts to boot their users (of unauthorized downloaders) from those services. If you use a video downloader and it suddenly stops working, and nothing else seems wrong with your computer, or browser, check for an update for that program.

The same goes for the ability to watch a YouTube video, which requires Adobe Flash player; the current version. Sometimes security researchers find and report vulnerabilities in various media players and the software companies respond by releasing a new version, or patch. When that happens YouTube and others using that format will also upgrade their streaming Flash movies to the new version, requiring viewers to also upgrade, if they want to see the video content.

So, if your media player suddenly cannot playback a video presentation, look for updates from the manufacturer. These security updates may also save your computer from getting taken over via an exploit in that player! Major players are available from, and supported by these sources:

Adobe (Flash and Shockwave players)
Apple (QuickTime and iTunes)
RealMedia (Real Player)
Free-Codecs (RealMedia and QuickTime alternatives)
Microsoft (Windows Media Player and DirectX updates)

If you have plug-ins for these players in your browser(s) you must close and restart the browser for the new player to take effect.