Embedded video not working in Win 8

Win 8 issue ( new work computer so not in my signature yet). I can't get any video to play from websites (You Tube, BBC etc.) although I can hear the sound. So I've installed Chrome and it all works. I have the latest Flash version and have enabled the add -on. I've changed the setting in IE Advanced options to use software rendering instead of gu. I've disabled Active-X filtering in the safety menu too. Anything else I can try? It's an HP Pavilion laptop. Same issue with desktop and app versions.

Has the laptop been built and installed etc by work? If so anyone's guess what they might have done to it.

Try resetting IE back to defaults... (Internet options > advanced)