Youtube videos buffer but won't play

Ok so this is the first time I've ever posted a question asking for technical support. Typically I can google whatever I need to and fix the issue, but this one is strange and I've tried everything. Youtube works just fine and then all of a sudden one night (~1am EST) every single video buffers but won't actually play (looks like it is paused but nothing happens, can't skip around video either). Strange part is the next morning it will work fine, and this cycle has continued for about a week now (works fine during daylight and then nothing at night).

This issue is on my Lenovo G780 laptop running windows 8.1 and unfortunately I do not have another computer I can check with to see if the issue is only my laptop. I do however have a PS4 and it can load videos just fine at all times of the day.

I have tried Firefox, Chrome, and IE.
Other video websites work just fine.
I have tried reinstalling Firefox.
I have tried disabling all browser addons as well as creating a new Firefox profile.
I have checked for Windows updates and installed.
By default I use HTML5 but download an app (Youtube Flash Video Player) to convert videos to Flash, same issue.
I'm the only one on my network.
I have tried wireless and wired connections, as well as resetting the router.
Speed tests show a perfectly normal up/down.
Pings of both Google and Youtube show no packet losses.
I have tried disabling Antivirus.
Ran a virus scan with Avast Pro as well as a scan with Malwarebytes.
I can download the Youtube videos and watch them that way with an app.

This issue is quite frustrating as I cannot troubleshoot it during the day, since the issue only seems to occur when I want to lay down for bed and watch a video. The only thing I can think to try that I haven't yet is a Windows restore, but unfortunately the only restore point I have is from 3 days ago and the issue started before then.

Never mentioned if ever using Adobe Flash player or have most recent version as most of the videos may still require it. if so check hardware acceleration in browser and Adobe. Does seem you done all other diagnostics, sure nothing scheduled to run at that hour on PC, like updating program or Anti-Virus and even it's scan Adobe - Flash Player

Try html5 version.
If you find Flash has problems....

David Bailey said:

Try html5 version.
If you find Flash has problems....

Click to expand...

Does list in first post html5.

jds63 said:

Never mentioned if ever using Adobe Flash player or have most recent version as most of the videos may still require it. if so check hardware acceleration in browser and Adobe. Does seem you done all other diagnostics, sure nothing scheduled to run at that hour on PC, like updating program or Anti-Virus and even it's scan Adobe - Flash Player

Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.

I forget to mention it but I did try with and without hardware acceleration. Adobe is updated to most recent version (18.X). Nothing is setup to run at that hour, but 1 am was just an approximate, it occurs anywhere from 1am to 3am and seems to be fine when I wake up around 8am.

I did however read another forum with somebody have a similar issue and the suggestion that worked for them was to add "&fmt=18" to the end of the Youtube video url which apparently forces it to play in HD, so I will try that tonight and update tomorrow.

Like I said before, I've never once had to create a post or hire somebody to fix a computer issue for me, this problem is so strange and seems to have no solution. I even ran a registry cleaner even though I didn't think that would fix anything (Flash and HTML 5 both work on other sites, just not Youtube). Seems like I will have to do a clean install which is what I was trying to avoid.

(If uncomfortable disclosing, politely decline to)

What is your ISP?

What type of internet connection is it? (Dialup, DSL, Cable, Fiber, Public Wireless, unknown, etc)

What city do you live in?

Do you live in an apartment, in the urban/inner-city, in a suburban neighborhood, or in a rural area?

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Have you tried rebooting, when the behavior started?

hydranix said:

(If uncomfortable disclosing, politely decline to)

What is your ISP?

What type of internet connection is it? (Dialup, DSL, Cable, Fiber, Public Wireless, unknown, etc)

What city do you live in?

Do you live in an apartment, in the urban/inner-city, in a suburban neighborhood, or in a rural area?

--------------

Have you tried rebooting, when the behavior started?

Click to expand...

ISP is SpartanNet
Lansing, MI
Apartment
And I knew you had to ask but of course I tried rebooting haha.

Exploring the ISPs site for any info that may be related...

This is unrelated, but since when do you need a solid state drive and Graphics card with "GDDR5" to utilize high speed internet? -_-


Still looking into your issue, nearly ruled out ISP.


Edit:
Most likely not the ISP.

hydranix said:

Exploring the ISPs site for any info that may be related...

This is unrelated, but since when do you need a solid state drive and Graphics card with "GDDR5" to utilize high speed internet? -_-


Still looking into your issue, nearly ruled out ISP.

Click to expand...

Haha that's funny. Unfortunately it is the only ISP offered at my location

Ensaneas said:

hydranix said:

Exploring the ISPs site for any info that may be related...

This is unrelated, but since when do you need a solid state drive and Graphics card with "GDDR5" to utilize high speed internet? -_-


Still looking into your issue, nearly ruled out ISP.

Click to expand...

Haha that's funny. Unfortunately it is the only ISP offered at my location

Click to expand...

That's a shame.

Policy:

You may not run on Spartan Nets network any program that makes a service or resource available to others, including but not limited to port redirectors, proxy servers, chat servers, file servers, web servers, torrent servers and IRC bots.

Click to expand...

Since it's probably not your ISP, next link in chain is your modem and/or router. Did you try resetting it/them when the buffering problem occurred?

hydranix said:

Since it's probably not your ISP, next link in chain is your modem and/or router. Did you try resetting it/them when the buffering problem occurred?

Click to expand...

Yep, both soft and hard resets.